Pure Indian Cooking: restaurant review Putney Bridge

​Curry Night + Valentines Day = Romantic Night for the Life of Shayan Team. Invited to Pure Indian Cooking, which made it extra special, Laura and I met at Putney Bridge Station to visit this Fulham High Street restaurant.

Pure Indian Cooking is a restaurant by husband and wife team of Faheem Vanoo and Shilpa Dandekar. Inspired by real Indian food and their lovely memories this restaurant nestled on Fulham high street just across the bridge from bustling Putney town has been around for a few years.

This romantic evening, was also an evening for Fulham FC playing, so a few away fans and regular match goers were there prior to kick off. Laura and I nestled in and were ready for our experience.

Mixed platter for Starters

Sheekh kebab ZOOM

Shilpa heads the team of chefs at PURE indian cooking. What was evident from the off, was the freshness of the produce.

The aim of the chef and team is to present an whole array of Indian spices, textures and aromas while retaining its originality and simplicity. This meant that the food was/or at least seemed like it was made to order.


“Love of Indian Food with finesse and Quality” is the motto for Chef Shilpa and this is evident from the food. Her experience with Michelin starred Chefs like Sriram Aylur & Raymond Blanc, are on display and Chef Shilpa strongly believes that it is "a dream to start a small restaurant."

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Main course At Pure Cooking London

So from the pictures, you can see what we have eaten, descriptions of all and more are here:

• Try our Sharing Board 13 tandoori paneer & vegetables, chilli fried squid, spinach salad, curried cashewnut, malai tikka, seekh kebab
• Lamb sukke* 12 maharastrian style lamb preparation cooked in dry spices ​
• Mangalorean chicken 11 succulent pieces of chicken cooked with coconut and byadgi chillies 
• Asparagus and pine nut 7 asparagus and pine nut tempered with mustard and coconut 
• Home-made desserts include Apricot Halwa (apricot & cardamom crumble served with vanilla ice cream)

Between courses we had time to digest and wait. The food did take a while to come out, but I strongly believe this was due to it being freshly made.

Spicy Lamb

One word I would use to describe Pure and their food is: AROMATIC.
The smell of the spices, such as cloves, cardamons and cumins were strong in the air and on my pallate. From the kebabs to the crumble, the food was well presented and at the end of it, very filling.

The sharing platter to start was a good way to experience a bit of everything. The seekh kebabs were very refined and next time I would make myself a little roll with naan and chutney. I always like to try lamb chops at any curry house, but missed out this time. I feel this helps give me a good gage of the quality of a restaurant.

The seekh kebab and squid were the main stars on the platter. The chicken was very moist and a good generous size. I felt like the paneer was the only thing that let us down. I hope chef Shilpa takes my words as constructive criticism. Maybe ditch the pepper and a bit more char.

Apricot Halwa Crumble

Shipla and Faheem, good work and well done with a great restaurant.
​The name of the restaurant definitely fits the experience and what you are getting. Pure Indian Cooking, does exactly what it says and gives you what you need. Be it before a football match or on a romantic Valentines evening.

I have to say, Shipla and Faheem are quite inspiring as a husband and wife duo. I am not sure however, if I could do the same with my wife. I will leave the restaurant business to the professionals, especially when I can then sit and eat their food instead.