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Spice up the end of summer with a trip to the Islington branch of this highly respected modern Indian. Authenticity is at the core of this home style cooking adapted, but not bastardised, for the Western palette. Their charming al fresco terrace is the perfect place to catch the tail end of our belated summer and the most secluded spot on Upper Street. Powerful heaters are on hand to stave off the onset of winter chills.
Smiling staff ensure that a meal there is an absolute pleasure and on our visit the manager wowed us with his incredibly detailed description of every dish and its history. Masala means spice and each dish we sampled was bursting with an array of unexpected flavours. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by a menu that takes in everything from vindaloos to veggie burgers, we opted to start with a grazing platter piled high with perfectly crisp samosas, incredibly moreish sev puri (crunchy biscuits piled high with creamy spiced mash and three tangy chutneys) and other delicious morsels.
Thalis are the house speciality and give you the opportunity to try an array of different dishes. My vegetable option was truly sublime, chunks of sweet potato floated happily alongside fragrant bananas in an almost orgasmic combination of sweet and savoury flavours. My partner’s choice gave me grounds for concern as prawn dishes are often let down by amoeba sized pieces of seafood which remain undetectable to the naked eye. My worries were allayed by the arrival of a Prawn Thali piled high with the juiciest tiger prawns I’ve ever eaten in the capital.
Wonderfully full we contemplated their traditional dessert menu which serves as an initiation into the Indian concept of sweetness. The caramel kufti was a concoction of homemade ice cream served on a bed of summer fruits. Kheer was a chilled Indian chocolate rice pudding which teetered just on the right side of richness. Masala Zone is a treat at any time of year but autumn is the ideal time to indulge in their range of warming curries and refreshing starters and puddings. A mug of ginger teas provided the perfect finale to an evening of sumptuously healthy eating. |
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Alternative
Indian/South Asian Cuisine Near Masala Zone |
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| London Dining |
| Anakana |
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1
Olivers Yard,
City Road,
Shoreditch,
London,
EC1Y
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26 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Formerly serving Indian cuisine, Anakana has switched to offering Thai street-food although the décor remains as vibrant and stylish as before with its spectra red ...More...
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| London Dining |
| Hason Raja |
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84
Southampton Row,
Bloomsbury,
London,
WC1B
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32 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| There are so many curry houses serving the same food badly these days that it makes a change to visit a restaurant that does what ...More...
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Local
Dining Near Masala Zone |
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| London Dining |
| Rodizio Rico Islington |
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77
Upper Street,
Islington,
London,
N1
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0 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Rodizio Rico now operate two of these South American-style 'churrascarias', in Notting Hill and Upper Street. They are ambassadors for this hugely enjoyable cuisine to ...More...
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| London Dining |
| S&M Cafe |
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4-6
Essex Road,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| 1950s style sausage and mash café-come-restaurant.
If you know what you want from a meal and what you want is good old, British sausages and ...More...
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Local
Hotels Near Masala Zone |
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| London Hotels |
| Hilton Islington |
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53
Upper Street,
Islington,
N10UY
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1 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| The Business Design Centre next door is the obvious attraction for many of the guests at this smart, efficient Hilton Hotel, but Islington's excellent restaurants ...More...
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| London Hotels |
| Jurys Inn Islington |
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60
Pentonville Road,
Islington,
N19LA
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10 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| The decor when you walk into reception is fresh and modern and this first impression extends throughout the hotel to the bedrooms, bar and restaurant. ...More...
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Local
Event Near Masala Zone |
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| London Event |
| Terrorvision |
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O2 Academy Islington,
Parkfield Street,
N1
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5 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| A chorus featuring the lyrics "Ooh wop bop ba doo wop. Bop ba doo wop. Bop ba doo" is perhaps not the most likely way ...More...
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| London Event |
| Electric Six |
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O2 Academy Islington,
Parkfield Street,
N1
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5 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Danger! High Voltage! Electric Six are taking over O2 Islington Academy and turning it into a Gay Bar for one night only this December. Dick ...More...
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Local
Sights and Attractions Near Masala Zone |
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| The Little Angel Theatre |
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14
Dagmar Passage,
Cross Street,
Islington,
London,
N1
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4 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| This innovative children's theatre provides a showcase for the art of puppetry. Founded by master puppeteer John Wilkes in the early 1960s, this small, unusual ...More...
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Sadler's Wells |
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Rosebery Avenue,
Clerkenwell,
London,
EC1R
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12 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Modern contemporary dance and music performance space.
Occupying a site with a long tradition of entertaining Londoners, Sadler's Wells exists to bring the best of national ...More...
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Local
Shopping Near Masala Zone |
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| London Shopping |
| Paul A Young Fine Chocolates |
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33
Camden Passage,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Before he was a full-time chocolatier, Paul Young was patissier for Marco Pierre White. The drama and perfectionism demanded by a Michelin-starred restaurant are both ...More...
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| London Shopping |
| Jewel |
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16
Camden Passage,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| A showcase for two jewellery designers Lesley Vik Waddell and Kirt Holmes, this is a very pretty little shop and is filled with deliciously frivolous ...More...
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Local
Education Near Masala Zone |
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| London Education |
| The Make Lounge |
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49-51
Barnsbury Street,
Islington,
London,
N1
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7 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| The Make Lounge runs craft workshops where you can learn how to sew, decorate, stick and cook in a relaxed and friendly setting. With 'make ...More...
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| London Education |
| City Academy |
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35
Britannia Row,
Islington,
London,
N1
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7 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| City Academy is a performing arts schools which runs evening and weekend dancing, singing, acting and modelling classes with top professionals from theatre, film, television ...More...
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Local
Leisure Near Masala Zone |
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| London Leisure |
| Thames River Adventures |
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River Thames & Regents Canal,
Islington,
London,
N1
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8 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Danny Gillard and his team at Thames River Adventures offer kayak tours of the river Thames and London's canals. Early risers can see the city ...More...
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Local
Pubs Near Masala Zone |
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| London Pubs |
| The Old Queen's Head |
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44
Essex Road,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| A gorgeous antique interior, a delicious menu and some top DJs at weekends. The Old Queen’s Head opened with a fantastic recipe for success in ...More...
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| London Pubs |
| The North One Bar |
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1
Tolpuddle Street,
Islington,
London,
N1
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6 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| This refurbished pub / bar has been highly recommended by a number of readers, and we found it very pleasant. The interior is absolutely standard, ...More...
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Local
Nightlife Near Masala Zone |
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| London Nightlife |
| The Double Club |
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7
Torrens Street,
Islington,
London,
EC1V
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7 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| The Double Club is a bar, restaurant and disco "where the Congo meets the West" in an old Victorian warehouse around the corner from ...More...
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| London Nightlife |
| Electrowerkz |
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7
Torrens Street,
Islington,
London,
EC1V
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7 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| The Electrowerkz is the closest the capital gets to a legal warehouse style venue. Its grimy interior adds to the authentic raving vibe and a ...More...
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Local
Business Near Masala Zone |
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| London Business |
| British Red Cross Society Camden and Islington Conference Centre |
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5
Aztec Row,
Berners Road,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| ...More...
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| London Business |
| Business Design Centre |
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52
Upper Street,
Islington,
London,
N1
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3 minutes distance from Masala Zone
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| Exhibitors love this venue and it's easy to see why. The Business Design Centre in Islington is in a great location just one mile from ...More...
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