Namaste Kerala, Southampton

This restaurant is also South Indian - it is run by the brother of the chef at Kairala. We came with high hopes, and were not disappointed.

The restaurant itself could be easy to miss, if you weren't actively looking. It is wedged between a KFC and an STA travel, both of which have extensive marketing 'presence'. Namaste has a white and blue sign, above a doorway, and that is all.

Up the stairs and into the restaurant itself, is a different matter. My eyes were first drawn to the sofa and coffee table just in front of a rather well-stocked bar, serving Cobra and Kingfisher beer on tap.

We had the mixed vegetarian Kerala platter for entree: the potato and chickpea ball was delicious; the samosa only okay (I did not like the deep-fried pastry - although it was cooked very well); the pakora quite tasty but a little burnt. There was also a delicious spinach bonbon thing - spinach wrapped in pastry and deep-fried (of course): the spinach was great, but I'm not a fan of deep-fried pastry.

For mains, we had bengan baigan - eggplant curry - and meenporichathu - whole spiced fish, baked and accompanied by a red curry sauce. The bengan baigan was wonderful, but - oh! - the baked fist was magnificent. Its flesh crumbled away and was nicely flavoured with the baked on spices, and the accompanying red curry sauce complemented the spice flavours of the fish finely. There wasn't quite enough of the red curry sauve for me - but I did lather it on somewhat!

The rest of the menu was extensive: I was particularly impressed by the number of vegetable / vegetarian dishes.

Another place we can revisit in Southampton!

*****
Namaste Kerala

http://www.namaste-kerala.co.uk/

4a Civic Centre Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 7FJ

Phone: 023 80 22 4422