Mela (Closed Permanently)

30 seconds from Soho and once reputed to be Andrew Lloyd Weber's favorite restaurant, Mela offers unusually fresh and flavourful country-style Indian dishes, far removed from the typical muddy (but often tasty) variety one finds on every high street up and down the country. A bit pricey at night, while the 'Mini Meal' lunches are a stupendous bargain. Try the chicken tikka or rogan josh (no longer on the menu, but they will prepare it for you anyway) with a paratha or naan. And perhaps a side order of the delicious dhal. Mela changed hands in May 2015 but the quality remains the same, with certain original chefs still on board. There's also an excellent weekend-only deal for two people (£49.99 total) offering unlimited food from noon–3m and unlimited drinks for a 90-minute period. Sadly Mela shut for good in December 2015.