Bengal Lancer

Exactly what I expected from a local Indian food restaurant. Friendly and attentive service — good portions of tasty food.
The kitchen is a bit slower than I’d expect — I’d defiantly call ahead of you want to order take away.

I love local Indian restaurants in London and the Bengal Lancer is definitely a new favourite in Kentish Town.
The food was excellent, they did prepare a special request which was not on the menu, the dishes that are supposed to be spicy are spicy, the staff is very friendly and the pricing is good.
Just great, will come back!

I fear writing a review for the Bengal Lancer as I don’t want it to get TOO popular: D. This place looks so unassuming, plonked near Kentish Town station, flanked by random chicken shops and charity shops you would half expect it to be crap. Oh boy how wrong you would be. It has a really cheapy feel interior with the faux high backed leather chairs and the bright lights, but looks may be deceiving!
The food they serve in there is by far the best Indian food I have eaten in London, when we asked if they could make the 4 chilli hot curry slightly less spicy as the flavours sounded amazing but our poor British tummies cant hand 4 chilli ratings, they were so happy to do so! Since eating there the first time we have tried the 4 chilli rated curry (it was freaking amazing, but as previously thought, you have to have a strong tummy to take it hahah…).
My favourite dish here is the lamb pasanda, they do lots of non typical dishes which is so good for trying new things. They also offer a takeaway service too.

The best tandoori we’ve found in the area, the chicken and prawn tandoori especially.
If you like really spicy, try the dhaba lamb, it’s amazing but will blow your head off. The green chilli mas is also really tasty with plenty of heat.
The only con is that the food can be inconsistent, sometimes it’s really oily and the ingredients aren’t always fresh (tinned spinach)

Sentimentally, I am giving this place 5 Stars, but I am trying to keep this review credible.
The Bengal Lancer looks a lot like a 3-​star London curry restaurant. It differs in two respects:
– the food is terrific. Terrific.
– the staff is very attentive to your whole dining experience
It’s a local spot with extremely good food and very nice/​thoughtful staff. You know what? Screw it: 5 Stars.

Would have been three stars but the old gastrointestinal system is feeling the pinch this morning.
They try really hard but the waiters don’t seem to understand quite clear requests — cue comedy around bringing several wrong permutations of 2 drinks (yes 2! I didn’t think there were 5 permutations of 2 but there are!) to our table, and ensuing tugs-​of-​love as they tried to take the right beer away again.
Food average. Is that really chana masala? Those are VERY small chickpeas?
«Yes sir they are special small chickpeas». I now feel guilty about feeding the guinea pig pellet food when I was 8.

A friend who used to live in the area recommended this as THE local spot for curry. After eating here once, then having a taste of a friend’s take away another time all I can say is this is a totally solid curry house. The food is good: My favorite dish was a lamb in coconut sauce, which was mild, yet full of flavor — not the kind of dish I’d normally be enthusiastic about, but well prepared. A chicken curry was also delicious.
This is a three star place that picks up an extra star for very good (and efficient) service. The Christmas card that came with the cheque was an endearing touch. Looking for curry in Kentishtown? Look here.