Muniyandi Vilas

From the outside, there’s nothing that sets Muniyandi Vilas apart from the scores of other Indian restaurants crowded around the Gare du Nord. It’s small, a bit tatty, and the aroma wafting in from the kitchen a tad overpowering. Yet once you’re sat at one of the cramped tables, the place begins to work its modest charm on you: smiling waiters, eccentric murals, cute metal cups. And by the time the dishes arrive, generous and succulent, you’ll be glad you chose this place over the others. For a fistful of euros, you can order yourself a veritable feast: an impeccable cheese parotta (a sort of rectangular naan) for €2.50, a vegetable biryani for €6, a kottu parotta (a Sri Lankan chicken dish made with egg and bread) for €6.50 – and if you’re overwhelmed by the choice, place your faith in one of the various set menus. The best way to travel to the subcontinent without breaking the bank.