Ann Purna
Edinburgh, Scotland
This family-run restaurant has been a feature of the Edinburgh scene since the early 1990s and continues to stick to its popular formula: Gujarati-influenced vegetarian cooking. Not far from the University of Edinburgh's George Square campus (and just off busy Clerk Street), it's popular with both academics and students. Its dining spaces are straightforward and unfussy, while the environment is homely and comfortable. The reasonably priced menu includes typical starters such as pakoras & samosas as well as patra (steamed green arvi leaves, stuffed with spiced gram flour and fried in batter) or light and piquant bhel poori with a tamarind sauce. Daal comes in assorted varieties (moong bean, white lentil, split chickpea) while the fresh, main course curries could be as simple as saag paneer (spinach with curd cheese) or a little more ambitious such as kofta malai (vegetable & ground nut ?cutlets' in a rich, creamy sauce). This is truly a great find and an excellent vegetarian restaurant for all.
