Spice Village Tooting Pakistani Restaurant

"Tooting has no shortage of top-tier South Asian restaurants, but Spice Village is one of our favourites. This spacious Pakistani restaurant is a bit OTT, with samosa chaat arriving atop a cauldron filled with smoke, and mocktails presented in a top hat. But theatrics aside, the food is really great. Our go-to order is the spicy prawn karahi and pillowy, perfectly charred naan. While the space is big enough to accommodate groups, the moody lighting and velvet chairs scream date night. There’s a ‘special occasion’ energy to this place, where you’re just as likely to bring a third date as you are to celebrate a promotion." - rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley, daisy meager, sinead cranna

"We’re fans of this Pakistani spot in Tooting, not just for the OTT samosa chaat that arrives atop a cauldron filled with smoke, or the mocktails that are presented in a top hat, but for the top-tier Pakistani classics. During Ramadan, you can get a £35 set menu which includes the creamy butter chicken, or a buffet starting from £22 if you head to their Southall branch." - rianne shlebak

"Spice Village in Tooting is a bit OTT, with samosa chaat arriving atop a cauldron filled with smoke and mocktails presented in a top hat—with yet more smoke. But theatrics aside, the food is really great. Our go-to order is the spicy prawn karahi and pillowy, perfectly charred naan. While the space is big enough to accommodate groups, the moody lighting and velvet chairs scream date night. There’s a special occasion energy to this place, where you’re just as likely to bring a third date as you are to celebrate a promotion." - rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, jake missing, daisy meager

"Tooting has no shortage of top-tier South Asian restaurants, but Spice Village is one of our favourites. This spacious Pakistani restaurant is a bit OTT, with samosa chaat arriving atop a cauldron filled with smoke and mocktails presented in a top hat—with yet more smoke. But theatricals aside, the food is really great. Our go-to order is the spicy prawn karahi and pillowy, perfectly charred naan. While the space is big enough to accommodate groups, the moody lighting and velvet chairs scream date night. There’s a ‘special occasion’ energy to this place, where you’re just as likely to bring a third date as you are to celebrate a promotion. Just FYI, this is an alcohol-free restaurant. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Rianne Shlebak

"A huge place, beloved of locals (including native of and former MP for Tooting Sadiq Khan), and popular with families, with a North Indian and Pakistani menu very similar to those of Mirch Masala and Lahore Karahi." - Russell Burke, Sophie Dening