Tucked away in a basement below King Street, close to the Bristol Old Vic, The Raj has long been one of the city’s most popular Indian restaurants. It first opened its doors way back in 1981, and little has changed – aside from the odd refurbishment, of course – since. It retains the same high standards it had when it launched over 30 years ago.
Menu wise, there’s little in the way of contemporary thrills. Instead, the emphasis is on British curry house favourites, cooked well, with a sprinkling of lesser-seen regional dishes – in this bracket, we’d recommend the minced lamb and peas of the Keema Matar, which is worth spicing up with the optional addition of chilies – and traditional side dishes.
The basement space is relatively intimate, so advance booking is recommended if you plan on heading down at weekends. For those willing to eat a little earlier, The Raj offers an “Early Bird Menu” seven days a week. This set menu includes a large number of options for starters, side dishes and main meals, and for £15.95 you’ll leave utterly stuffed.