Really delicious. I had the lamb dalcha with coconut rice (£12.75), while my friends had roti and raita, papadums with chutneys, and a thali. It was all quite tasty and smelled amazing. From what I know of traditional South Indian cooking, it also was pretty authentic. From many Indian dining experiences in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where Indian is quite standard, I'd say this compares with what I'm used to in terms of deliciousness :) I liked the interior, which felt both trendy and laid-back at the same time. The location's nice, right near the Peckham Rye station. Service was friendly and I was given extra hot peppers to accompany my meal at no extra cost. The only drawback, for me, are the prices, which seem to be on the high side. Of course, since we aren't in Kerala, we can't get an entire, delicious, gigantic meal for under £5. We're in London, so prices are higher. But this place would be more of a gem if it's prices were a little more appealing. read more

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I think the pori salad was what had me almost fall over because not only did it taste so good that I almost shovelled the entire thing in my mouth, but the textures were out of this woooooorld!!!!! It was crunchy and delicious and oh my goodness- yum! So try the pori salad. We tried all of the appetisers except the vegetarian street snacks and all of them were very good- the vegetable paneer roll and prawn peera were also winners. For entrees we all split the Cochin prawn curry Chemeen manga Both were excellent and also balanced one another well. A VERY yummy place to eat! read more

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Tucked down a little side street in Peckham this is a hidden gem. I had a really interesting and delicious vegetarian thali .. I particularly liked the dahl as well as the beetroot dish. Friendly if a little slow service, and a touch more costly than the cheap South Indian places of Tooting .. However you get what you pay for with a comfortable ambiance and pleasant vibe. read more

Ganapati - They made a mistake on my order so gave me extra :) - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

Ganapati is a proper Indian restaurant serving classic South and Central Indian dishes cooked to perfection; a balance of distinct flavours. textures and colours that complement and contrast with each other. Too many so-called 'Indian' restaurants serve up slop that does a real dis-service to Indian food. Ganapati doesn't insult your palate, your intelligence or your wallet. This is a small local restaurant so seating is at a premium. You are advised to book in advance. There are three large bench tables if you don't mind sharing plus five indoor tables. In summer they have a further six tables outside which are just lovely . . . . shaded by palm and banana trees! The Thalis are great value (a tray with several small bowls of food). Try the vegetarian street snacks, just lovely. The service here is always delightfully charming. Drinks are good too, a small choice of beers from a local brewer matched to the food along with a few sensible wine options selected for their suitability to the food rather than some warped notion of sophistication. This place is run by people with some respect for Indian food, and it shows. Named for Ganesh, the elephant headed God who removes obstacles and brings good fortune, this place deserves it's good reputation and much success in the future. That one leaves here with a sense of well being says something very good indeed about the quality of food available here. UPDATE - A recent review in Metro has resulted in cascades of diners so phone ahead to book as this is a small and cosy place. The Guardian reviewed Ganapati in July 2010 - and raved about it! Ha! Qype (and me) reviewed it first! read more

A lovely restaurant with a special familiar atmosphere in the area of Peckham which is apart from that really poor with good places to go. Therefor Ganapati is more than a very welcome hideaway with its colorful rooms and its beautiful little backyard! Delicious dishes from south and central India, try the special warm bread as a side dish! The desserts are enough to make your heart melt and the coffee is remarkably full-bodied roasted! One of my favorite addresses! read more

Ganapati - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

We had a lovely feast of food inspired by Southern India at Ganapati on Easter Sunday evening. It has been a couple of years since I last had the pleasure of eating here and I'm pleased to be able to report that the standard of food and service are both still excellent. We booked a week or so in advance of our visit as this is a very popular local restaurant and on our arrival at 9pm we were shown to one of the long sharing tables, which seat 8 people in comfort, at the front of the restaurant. There are a few smaller tables available if you don't like sharing and there is a lovely outside terrace for when the weather is a little warmer in the evening or if you don't mind wrapping up well. The decor is simple but effective. Lots of light wood, very fetching light green walls, with the odd one in red, and a view into the bustling kitchen makes this a charming, chilled space in which to enjoy your supper. We started with a few poppadoms with some of the excellent home-made sauces and chutney while we tried to make our choice from the very appealing menu. Plenty of tasty options for vegetarians and some interesting fish dishes. We started by sharing a portion of the tasty street snacks which went down very well, although I seem to remember having a larger selection of snacks on previous visits. B moved onto the Chennai Kozhi Curry which came with a very rich almost sticky sauce. She teamed this up with a portion of the curd rice which was pretty divine and was in danger of bringing on a bad case of the food envy. However, as I tucked into my crispy masala dosa which came on a metal serving tray with separate sections for its various, very flavoursome, condiments I decided I was more than happy with my selection. We washed this down with plenty of tap water which came in a lovely metal jug for you to help yourself and was drunk from beautiful hand crafted "cups" made by a local potter (these were available to buy/order via the restaurant). We also ordered a bottle of the Sibarita Selection Riesling 2010 from Chile which was a great wine; a big mouthful with lots of rich fruit but a very dry finish. We liked that bottle a lot and it was a great compliment to the food. We shared some home-made vanilla and cardamom ice cream to finish which was expertly made with a delicate flavour and a fine texture. By now it was well gone 11pm and the restaurant was empty bar for ourselves but we didn't feel in any way rushed to leave by the very friendly, laid back staff. If you don't live in the area Ganapati is a special little place which is well worth making a trip across town to visit. read more

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This is one of those geuine hidden gems that makes London worth all the little hassles of living here. It's a very authentic South Indian restaurant. The food is exceptional, especially for the price with some regular classics and a good turnover of options on the rest of the menu. The chutnies are worth a visit alone, packed with flavour and originality (spiced beetroot and their signature pickled garlic) and none of your standard pickle fare. The atmosphere and service are what make's it stand out, it genuinely feels like you've been welcomed into someone's home, the staff are chatty and friendly, very laid back and of course very knowledgeable and passionate about the food. Excellent wine selection and meantime ales all designed to complement the strong flavours. No excuse, go...go!! read more

This is simply London's best-kept secret. Yes, you read that right: London's best-kept secret. I have been coming here for years and its success is grounded in the fact that good, fresh an seasonal food, coupled with friendly and empathetic service will always produce winning results. Firstly, book a table. There is no point in rocking up to this place, simply on the off-chance that there'll be a table available for the VIP called you. I've seen grown men turned away crying. In fact, i don't actually want to write this review as it'll alert you all to the fabulosity of the place, which in turn will make it harder for me to get a table when I fancy guaranteed good food. So what's so great about the place? The Banana Leaf Thali alongside other dishes such as the Kerala Khozi offers a sublime taste experience. I say this having been to, like you, some of the finest Indian restauarants in the land! Let's put it this way, compared to the Michelin-starred Cinnamon club you're getting the same flavours at Ganapati for a fraction of the cost. Though I don't have the bandwidth to understand vegetarians, i do tolerate them eating with me. Haha. Seriously though, i can confirm that the Waynad Veg Curry is reputedly as authentic as anything you'll find 'back home'. I love this place as you won't find anything like it anywhere else in the city, a true gem, a recent Open Table award winner too, to boot. Anyway, enough, I've told you too much! read more

One of the best Indian restaurants in London. Small and tucked away in Peckham, with loads of vegetarian options served in a Southern India style. It's probably smart to make reservations as sometimes Ganapati is really slammed. Vegetarian street snacks were delicious but small, so don't think you are going to share with the table. Savoury lassi was awesome. If the curry you order says hot, believe it. I had to order an extra side of raita to cool my burning tongue. read more

It's hard to find a good south Indian restaurant in SE London. Most places focus more on the North which, while good, is missing some key dishes: dosas and thalis. So when Katie B suggested I join her, Rob H, and her friend for dinner, I was sold. Ganapati (another name for Ganesh, the blue elephant Hindu god) is a small restaurant with a family feel. You can almost imagine that it's an extension of the matriarch's living room and she's doing her best to make sure you get fed well. It's a short walk from the train station so convenient to get to (or a 20 min bike ride from London Bridge area). Foodwise, I opted for a lamb thali and a mini-dosa along with my standard mango lassi. The thali was quite good with substantial amount of food. It comes with 5 dishes (4 veggie and one lamb curry with dal), a small mound of steamed rice, your choice of roti or paratha, and a little sweet to finish. Overall, I think this was better than the thali I recently had at Café Spice Namaste as the dal was flavoursome (undoubtedly aided by the lamb) and the black eyed peas and coconut veggie delicious. There was some random liquid without anything in it that was tasty but near impossible to eat with a paratha. It reminded me of the spiced water used in pani puri so maybe that was it. The mango lassi was superb although for £3 I expected a bit more than a small cup. I do appreciate it when they use real fruit as opposed to juice when making a lassi. Sadly, my mini-dosa never arrived and, as it wasn't on the bill, I can only imagine she thought I was joking when I ordered two mains. Tragic but maybe a good reason for a return vist. Prices are fair with the meal costing about £20pp. As a note, make sure to book as there are only 5 or 6 tables. Also, they keep to the 2 hour maximum and will politely ask you to leave once finished if another group has reserved the table. So not the best for a long catch up, but for a good meal with friends it's definitely a winner. read more

Having been on holiday to Kerala a few times now, I must say (although a cliché) the food at Ganapati is very authentic and the best Indian food I've had outside of India. The staff are really friendly, the masala chai is delicious, the decor is very pretty, great for any occasion! Also fantastic for vegetarians. I highly recommend! read more

There are some really good vegetarian curries here. I had a black bean and potatoe varient while my wife went for the green chilli and okra. Both very tasty as was the masala dosa that we started with, the mysterious orange sauce that came with it being particularly good! It's a very cute and pleasant place...not like any venue that I have been to for a curry before. read more

I am a keen patron of South Indian restaurants, and I have to say this a is the closest I've come to finding the smells and the tastes of Kerala. This is down to the food range on offer and minutiae like the stainless steel plates and beakers. The food was excellent and was definitely well researched. That said, I won't be returning. The place is a little over stylised and expensive for the fare. £15 for a vegetable thali is extortionate and limiting the alcohol selection to the pricey Meantime range is a complete unknown. There's an over-confident air to the delivery here, despite the backpacker vibe. You have to worry about any Indian restaurant that starts shouting about its stellar wine list. One half of my family are from Kerala, but I know they wouldn't enjoy this restaurant. It fits with the somewhat trendy Peckhamites, but not for traditionalists (I was the only diner with any Indian heritage here; always a telling sign). Best in class? No. Best in vicinity, for sure. read more

I really enjoy Ganapati, from the mint tea through to the cardamom ice-cream. As another review stated: it's a little pricier than your 'average Indian'. BUT WORTH IT! I think there are different little twists of spicing that make it really worth a try. A delicious crab and coconut cold 'salad' starter, for instance. Warm and zestily flavourful sauces for the papadums. I always go for the thali option - vegetarian or lamb - because it allows for so many little bits. Some cool raita. Dhal. Rice. Pappadum. Spicy meat in a sauce that is mild until it hits, with the warmth building and building. Do not forget the paratha. It's a flakey butter coil of perfection. GET IT. Service is friendly, and the place is an explosion of colour. Yelp note: only one unisex bathroom. Not always an issue, but can be during busy times. read more

This little place is a pretty popular place compare to its location, and I guess the lack of choices kinda leads you here. We couldn't get a table, so I told the lady to give me a call if something is available, which of course - she didn't. But good news everyone! just two blocks away they have a take away place, as everything is very crowded in little peckham, we found our selves over there. It takes forever to get the dish done, and I was so hungry already I could eat the whole menu. So the moment of truth has arrived and we finally got our dishes - they say it's no ordinary indian and this food represents south India if I remember correctly. Any how - the lack of salt is not representing anything, I also asked them to make my dish spicier - throwing in one dried pepper will not do friends. The pickled garlic saved the day and gave some flavor to my food! thanks for that. The lamb samosas were pretty good, well prepared. The lemon rice was a big disappointment - couldn't see any connection between this to lemon, And my main dish [one of the chicken curry dishes] was suffering from a big lack in taste, even though the chicken was very tender and well cooked. Sorry fellas, there were some high expectations. but it's a no go. Don't really see the fuss about this place, had much better indian before. read more

Delicious food in a very intimate and exotic setting. You will be delighted by the food you eat. Whether you are vegetarian or a meat eater you will be happy here. One advice though: make sure you book in advance. Pick a side with your main dish or you will starve. The dishes are quite spicy but very very tasty. One of the best restaurants in Peckham! In case you haven't booked but really feel like having Indian food, you can always walk for five minutes and try their takeaway cuisine at the Ganapati Takeaway shop- same price but don't stay there to eat, the setting is definitely not as nice. read more

When people come to visit me and they want Indian food, I take them here. I've been back with my parents, various friends, my brother... the food and service are consistently good and Ganapati continues to be a real hidden gem in London's Southern-style Indian cuisine scene. Plus the intimate and stylish ambiance (and the fact it is a bit of an adventure to get there) make this an excellent date location, imho. Try to save room for dessert, they are worth it. Mmm cardamom ice cream... It is also nice that they take online bookings on open table/top table. Now that Peckham Rye has been connected by the Overground, it is no longer is such a difficult to get to spot and I hope to come more frequently. read more

I ate here a couple of months ago with very high expectations - as it's so hard to get a table! There is a lovely atmosphere and the menu is short and very interesting, but have to say I was a little disappointed as it didn't quite meet my expectations on flavour. Maybe it was what I ordered. Definitely try it but if you can make it over to ma goa in Putney which, despite the name, seems to serve a wide range of 'high Indian', regional dishes, and is therefore in my opinion quite similar. See which you prefer! read more

A great little find in a gentrified pocket of Peckham, this tiny rustic, airy cafe serves top notch South Indian cuisine at great prices. The lunch menu is simple and great value at under £6 for a meal - chicken, fish or veggie option served with rice, poppadums. Can't get easier than that. Flavours are carefully balanced of sweet, sour, and that perennial heat blast that runs throat deeeeeep. I'd highly recommend the mixed Indian sweets - a small plate of multicoloured, fragrant, confectionary made from pulses, milk, ghee and jaggery. Full review here: http://cheap-eat-london.com/2010/04/06/ganapati-restaurant-peckham/ read more

Oh my goodness, who knew peckham had this little wonder. I've spent a few weeks in India and it's so hard to find authentic food. If you don't have a reservatiom, don't worry go to their takeaway they have a table there too. read more

Hands down one of the best Talis I have ever had! Food is cooked fresh and the smell when you walk in the door is enough to make you want to order most of the menu! There is a great selection of both meat and vege dishes and I would encourage you to try going meat free - really the spices in the vegetarian dishes make up for the lack of meat. I promise! This is a slightly more casual dining experience - which I love. Prices are great for the quality of food - this is not your local curry take out fodder. No curry sauce here! Staff are friendly and the bustle of the intimate restaurant is enough to make you want to come back time and time again. On a winters night get your self in, grab a bottle of wine, poppadum's and pickles = perfection! read more

There's something really satisfying about finding awesome food in 'unusual' areas. I will admit that I am often rude about Sarf Lahndan. However, I am all-too-happy to venture out to Peckham Rye to visit Ganapati, a true gem of a restaurant. Having been brought up on rather standard Indian food here, I first encountered Southern-style Indian food in SE Asia which I absolutely fell in love with on the spot (although I think my neighbouring diners were less impressed as I tend to leave a massive pool of sweat where I've been sitting. I can't help but eat the dried chillis.) Ganapati offers a range of southern Indian dishes and, in particular the thali, which I'm sure The Metro would describe as an "Indian bento box". I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've had here - first off, the poppadom chutneys are extremely tasty and much more interesting than your standard mango chutney/raita combo. I do think that the starters could be a little better as they tend to get overshadowed by the mains (although they've always been good). The mains are fantastic - the food has been excellently seasoned: off the top of my head, I've tried the Kerala chicken curry, Kuttanadu duck curry, and Pala fish. I've immensely enjoyed them all, but the duck has probably been my favourite so far, I really enjoyed the spice combination, and the duck was falling off the bone. The sides are also in keeping with the rest of the dishes - I'd definitely recommend getting a paratha (flaky, buttery flatbread) which is both flaky and not over-greased. I'm usually too full for dessert here, but they usually offer interesting ice creams and sorbets (I really like the white choc/cardomom flavour). Oh, and before I forget, try the lassi. As Andrew just said, they're not huge, but they're really tasty. It is more pricey than your average Indian, but it's worth both the journey and the price, I've never had a bad meal. Bookings are essential, and it does get quite warm (but I guess that adds to the experience...). As I've said though, if you're looking for something a little bit different and a little out the way, it ticks all the boxes. read more

Extremely exciting South Indian food. The taste of Kerala 5000 miles away in a brilliant little restaurant in Peckham. The owner is the most delightful person. Her travels around Kerala and the inspiration has definitely translated towards the best south India cuisine in London. Reservation a must in the evening but I love it during lunch when it feels like your at home!!! read more

Best Indian food I've ever had! The atmosphere in this small restaurant is great and the service is extremely friendly. I went on a Sunday and despite only having one server, she was extremely friendly despite being rushed off her feet! The food is fantastic. I had the special thali which gave me a great taste of different flavours. I particularly enjoyed the goats cheese paneer! Only downside would be the price, I won't be going here on a weekly basis! For a treat though I will definitely be coming back. read more

Eaten here a couple of times now. The food is very good and freshly cooked without being too heavy or oily, portions are a bit light but the service is very friendly. On the whole I preferred the vegetarian options on the menu to the meat ones. No value star though (not the best place to go when ravenously hungry...) but it's a good place for a fancy sit-down meal. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner and absolutely loved it. Everything was delicious and tasted very fresh. Lovely service. Will definitely return. read more

Ideal for big parties since everything on the menu is amazing and this way you can share. Get reservations because they fill up fast. Try the cardamom ice cream. read more

The food was ok, not great. The service was rushed. The waitress brought our bill while we were still finishing our meal. 2 minutes later, another person came with her card machine. I said we weren't ready to pay or leave, to which she replied that our booking was over, and that they needed our table for their next customers. Amateurish and disrespectful. These people are greedy hypocrites with total disregard for their customers. read more

Excellent curry. Tasty, good ingredients, good food. Definitely overpriced given it is Indian style (metal thali plate/metal cups), and the location (peckham). Unfortunately, the staff seem to think it's an honour to eat there, rather than being happy to have your custom. A real shame, because the food is excellent. read more

This was the greatest meal of my life, well worth the trip slightly outside the city center.

The food here is simply outstanding. You pay a little more than your average Indian restaurant but it's WELL worth it. The dishes are well balanced and fragrant, with very little grease unlike your bog standard fare. If it's your first time ask for the Thali, it's a good way to sample lots of dishes. read more

Amazing food! So many new and exciting flavours - Ganapati searves a really different type of Indian cuisine than you can find in a lot of places in London. Amazing for vegetarian options as well. Everything is fresh and home made with love. The staff are very friendly and efficient. Probably my favourite place to eat dinner in Peckham! read more

The food was authentic south Indian, and fresh. All 4 of us (3 South Indians and me the American) ordered the Thali. I generally find it hard to eat a full thali, but I ate every thing (did not eat all the rice). This was accomplished due to the fact that the food was great and I did not over load on the rice like I normally do. I would highly recommend this place. The only down side was that we sat at the end of a long table and the man sitting on the other end had to get out of his chair every time one of use needed to go to the loo. He was nice about it, but his meal was interrupted about 5 times because of this. Nice music in the background, server knew a lot about the food. read more

Great quality food. The real taste of Southern India. I need my fix at least once a month. The mixed Indian sweets get my vote too. Pleasant atmosphere. Except. when young kids are there it can be a problem and they really should stick them away from the front round the back please. If they banned Screaming kids they'd get 5 stars from me. read more

Excellent place with amazing food. I may be exaggerating a little but I truly like the place and its whole staff team. It would be a shame not to compliment them here. I recommend it highly due to the restaurant's big menu, full with interesting dishes. read more

Decent place where you can spend a lovely evening, dining with your family. I was really amazed by the quality of the food and polite attitude of the waiting staff. read more

Not only one of the most friendly neighbourhood restaurants in London but serves some of the most accomplished (South) Indian cooking anywhere in the city. Also, a great wine list. An absolute gem. read more

Wonderful authentic South Indian food, delightful friendly attentive staff, all served up in a quirky colourful setting. Booking ahead is much advised, especially at the weekend when there are only two sittings. All the dishes are fresh and exciting, the flavours and textures taking you on a whirlwind tour of the sub-continent in every mouthful, and being South Indian much is hotter than you might be expecting if you're used to the usual bland stuff to be had from curry houses. The savoury lassi, for example, isn't just salty but packs a punch of chili and coriander to boot, whilst the sweet one is a silky smooth fruit cocktail. The shrikkand on the pud menu is gorgeous. The menu changes every few weeks so food is seasonal and surprising on every visit. They do take-aways too though no delivery. I'd give it five stars but the drinks menu is a little steep to be honest, though the 50% proof Indian whisky and the masala tea are both worth a punt. read more

This seems to be a new breed of hipster-Indian restaurant. Food is extremely delicious and innovative. Lovely decor and great service too. Hard to get a table though. Also be warned chili-phobes, as far as I can tell, every dish is spicy read more

We love this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere and decor reminds me of my travels in India. The staff are really friendly and helpful. Good to book ahead if you want a table to yourselves, although we have had to share one of their big tables a couple of times and still had a great night. read more