Picture of Chai Naasto, BR3 3LD

Historical version 1 of Chai Naasto, BR3 3LD (view current version)

Indian restaurant in Beckenham, just off the High Street.

The decor is a mix of distressed painted wood, exposed brickwork, and corrugated iron. Large booths line one wall, beneath a wooden false ceiling; opposite are smaller tables lined up along a banquette. A feature wall at the back is covered with Bollywood posters, and stylised "bare bulb" lighting fixtures dangle from the ceiling on ropes.

Kake visited on a Thursday lunchtime in March 2018. Arriving just after their opening time of noon, I was the only customer throughout my visit. '80s music was playing, not too loud.

Bhel poori (£5) photo was OK though nothing special. I wished there had been more zing to it, and the two stale puri shells perched on the sides didn't add much, but it did the job. Chilli cheese bites (£5.50) photo were more interesting; a sort of nacho-style cheese sauce inside a thick, chewy shell soaked in a sweet (but not too sweet) chilli sauce.

Tap water arrived on request, in a large glass bottle with a metal cup. Overall, service was efficient but somewhat unwelcoming. No service charge was added to the bill.

Kake's verdict: Not sure if I'd come back. The food was OK, and their tea menu looks interesting, but the service was somewhat offputting.

Child-friendliness: They have an interesting-looking children's menu, and their website has an entire section urging people to "bring the kids".

Accessibility: The restaurant has two sides, on different levels. There's a steep ramp with a bend in the middle to get in to the upper side. There are no steps at the lower side, but the ground immediately outside is uneven cobbles. Toilets not checked.

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Last visited by Kake, March 2018. Opening hours taken from the Chai Naasto website, March 2018.
OS X co-ord: 537327 OS Y co-ord: 169420 (Latitude: 51.406662 Longitude: -0.025342)
This is version 1 (as of 2018-04-03 18:29:39). View current version.