I loved the original Gunpowder near East London’s Spitalfields Market. By their own admission I’m sure, the place is a bit bloody small though. Rejoice then if you like a bit more space with your spice as they’ve just opened a second, much larger, Gunpowder down by Tower Bridge.

Inside it’s all warehouse chic as is often the case these days; exposed ducts and piping and bare concrete walls. We’re in a booth which always goes down well with me.

Some dishes long for a pint of beer like porzhi okra fries (£6), egg curry masala (£4.50) and peanut and flat chickpea chaat (£2.50). I’m doing a month of no booze but the exciting flavours in all three make me question my virtue.

My favourite thing in the world is a good lamb chop. Get the pink meat and soft fat just right and you’re onto a winner. Here, (£7.50 per chop), the cooking is spot on and the punchy spicing is rather marvellous.

Karwari soft shell crab (£9) is good but not quite as exciting as everything else. The spicing is more subtle, more delicate.

Bizarrely, I love the sigree grilled broccoli (£6) most. It cuts through the richness, fattiness and spice of everything else, in particular the chicken lollipops madras style (£6).

“Aunty Sulu’s rabbit pulao” (£15) is a hearty plate of rice, fried onions and chunks of delicate rabbit still on the bone. It’s similar to a Byriani with the same comfort factor.

For pud you’ve got two options; Old Monk rum pudding (£7), which is basically a bread and butter pudding drenched in custard, and a dark chocolate and cinnamon chocolate bar (£7). Get both.

For Indian food in a fun and casual setting I don’t think you can do better than Gunpowder. If you like noise and cramped seats then stick to Spitalfields. If you want a bit more room, head to Tower Bridge.

Would we go back? Yeah boy

Gunpowderlondon.com
We dined as guests of the restaurant