Paro

Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, Paro invites locals and theatre-goers alike to enjoy a ‘taste of Calcutta', singling out India's eastern border for special attention. Sandstone walls, floral decoration and dark leather booths conjure an image of a traditional Calcuttan home, allowing diners to enjoy a cosy, intimate experience whilst still feeling right at the heart of Paro’s lively atmosphere.

Greeted by a welcoming bar, follow the lights and buzz down to the restaurant, passing intricate, colourful murals of Bengal tigers. The dining room opens up into high ceilings and a vast expanse of greenery, which by design, feels like stepping foot into the jungle - the perfect warm up for anyone heading next door to watch The Lion King.

The evening starts with poppadoms - as every good evening should - served with a medley of refreshing dips. Pair your pappad crisps with a sweet blended coconut-carrot fusion, mango chutney and a crunchy onion salad.

Other dishes at Paro are bursting with flavour. The kitchen piles a whopping 48 spices into the spice mix for a gorgeous, braised lamb shank, and the results are wonderful - soft, tender meat which practically falls from the bone. This dish comes with a spice warning and is definitely not for the faint hearted, but if you’re not afraid of a bit of heat then this is one to try.

If you're struggling to decide what to eat, the meat thali platter is a great way to try the full Paro experience in a collection of small plates, the highlight of which was a creamy, melt-in-the-mouth butter chicken. These dishes are classics for a reason and you can see why some of these recipes have been passed on through generations. Portion sizes are pretty hearty too, so this would work as a sharer for two if you’re looking for a lighter lunch.

Paro isn't pushing boundaries by any means, but it does provide some very solid cooking, and counts among the best options in the area for pre or post theatre dinner with tasty food, attentive service and excellent value for money.

Theatre-goers and foodies alike can rejoice as the Lyceum Theatre, in the soul of London’s buzzing West End, boasts a restaurant ideal for pre and post-theatre dining. Nestled in the Grade II-listed building, which has seen over 200 years worth of striking shows, is Paro, which serves up traditional Indian flavours with a contemporary twist.

Dubbed ‘Calcutta’s love affair,’ Paro aims to encapsulate authentic Calcuttan ceremony and hospitality, bringing a slice of West Bengal to the beating heart of London. This ode to Calcutta is the first restaurant venture from the young Niaz Caan, executive chef at City Spice in Brick Lane, but promises to be just as popular. With an emphasis on sharing plates and small dishes, Paro offers up innovative takes on classic Indian flavours.

The menu boasts dishes such as slow-roasted lamb shanks with saffron, charred garlic, and coriander, mango chickpea chaat, toddy shop tiger prawns, and bally black dahl with slow-cooked black lentils and grandmother’s spice mix - taking traditional recipes and elevating them to new heights. While City Spice claims to be Brick Lane’s first all-vegan curry menu, and Caan’s cookbook also champions vegan Indian tastes, Paro will have a more varied menu - meat and fish dishes are on offer, but don’t worry, vegan and vegetarian flavours are still just as important.

The interiors also reflect this blend of modern and traditional. Inside the iconic Lyceum Theatre, which is home to the legendary Lion King musical, Paro’s space has been renovated by Studio G by Giorgia Pellandini, creating an intimate, romantic atmosphere, with red walls, plush seating, and low-level lighting, to get diners in the theatre mood. Alternatively, the bar area has three-metre tall windows, where guests can overlook the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden from their own, relaxed space. Tucked away in the theatre district, Paro promises to be a show-stopper of its own.