Chakra

"Kingston prides itself on being ‘upon’ the Thames. And we can see why when we head to the Riverside Walk on a sunny day. Think couples strolling down the river, watching people row by, and a strip of restaurants and proper pubs. At the start of this strip is Chakra, an excellent Indian spot serving Desi classics like kake da lamb rogan josh and fish moilee. You can’t go wrong with anything, but our go-to order is butter chicken and goan prawn curry, with saffron pulao and garlic naan. If the weather’s nice, sit outside." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak

"Kingston prides itself on being ‘upon’ the Thames. And we can see why when we head to the Riverside Walk on a sunny day. Think people strolling down the river, watching people row by, and a strip of chain restaurants and proper pubs. And at the start of this strip is Chakra, an excellent Indian spot serving everything from Desi classics like kake da lamb rogan josh and fish moilee to lamb chops and mixed grill platters. You pretty much can’t go wrong with anything here, but our go-to order is butter chicken and goan prawn curry with saffron pulao and garlic naan. If the weather’s nice, head outside." - Rianne Shlebak

"The buzzy riverside setting is the biggest draw here — but this contemporary North Indian diner, a new branch of the Kensington original, also benefits from gorgeous colours and textures, feel-good ambience, and a highly enthusiastic staff team. Sharbati atta roti made from wholemeal flour milled from sharbati, a superior golden variety of wheat grown in Madhya Pradesh, is a thinner, crisper, denser option to naan that’s well worth trying as it’s not available anywhere else. It’s perfect for scooping up aloo chana made from tea-infused black chickpeas with potatoes, and pahadi chicken spiked with cinnamon, ginger and fresh fenugreek leaves. Seating, both inside and outside, is an imaginative mix of high bar stools, round tables, and a converted pool table that’s something of a talking point." - Sejal Sukhadwala

"If going to a restaurant means more to you than just the act of eating, then this spot on the riverside is probably where you want to be. It’s got all the makings of an excellent meal, from a menu of great food, to foliage-heavy interiors, and a lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the Thames. Even though it’s not all about the food, the North Indian dishes here are probably the best in the area. And though the menu has everything from Desi classics like kake da lamb rogan josh and fish moilee, to lamb chops and mixed grill platters, you pretty much can’t go wrong with anything here. Our go-to order is butter chicken and goan prawn curry, with saffron pulao and garlic naan. Or head to Roz Ana, an Indian spot on Kingston Hill that makes an excellent karahi chicken and dal makhani." - Rianne Shlebak

"NHS workers can get 25% off when collecting food from Chakra." - Rianne Shlebak