Veer Zara opens its doors most days at 5pm (at noon on Sundays), but the day starts much earlier in the kitchen. At this East Dulwich Indian restaurant, all the spices are roasted and ground by hand before being carefully blended and balanced by the resident masala masters. It is only then that the traditional tandoor clay ovens can be brought to life, ready for the orders from London’s curry connoisseurs to come pouring in. Located along Lordship Lane, Veer Zara’s draws a crowd for its authenticity and beautiful presentation, an approach to Indian and Punjabi regional cuisine that betrays a deep sense of pride.
Prominent on Veer Zara’s menu are delicacies from the Punjab and Kashmir, the northern regions of India where culinary traditions clash with those of Pakistan. While the region might often be subject to violent conflict, dining at East Dulwich’s finest Indian restaurant you can at least put thoughts of war aside and pick up instead a fork, and taste how the confluence of cultures can result in something beautiful. Tikka and tandoori dishes, for example, are specialties down here along Lordship Lane, and rank among London’s best.