Ravi Shankar

Nice, unique food; bad attitude and somewhat dirty interior (sticky table top). The owner seated us at a table upstairs (4 of us). We were reading the menu and very quiet. But a big table of Indian customers in the back (just two tables: them and us) talked to the owner. All of a sudden out of the blue: the owner came to us and told us to sit downstairs. Very rude. No reason. No smile. As if we did something wrong. This is unacceptable. Food may be good but they need to work on their manners.

We came downstairs (crowded). A table just cleared out (guests left). We squeezed in. Then we placed our orders. Our dishes came quickly.

The paper dosa, an impressive dish, consists of a paper-thin crispy rice pancake, served with a separate vegetable filling, sambhar and coconut chutney. This is the highlight here. Will get this again (but will avoid the rude owner at all cost)

Incredible restaurant - Kamran is the best, amazing service and superb South Indian food, come here - it's the best on the street!

We needed a quick lunch near Euston before it was time for our cab ride to Heathrow. Yelp led us here.

My wife is very much into Indian veg cuisine. So this made her very happy.

Me, I tend to like more North Indian cuisine. But I found enough here on the buffet to make me happy.

But what really made me happy was the price. It was most definitely the most reasonable meal I've ever had in London.

I saw many locals here making numerous trips to the buffet. I imagine this is the type of place where people who live in the neighborhood know is a good place to load up for your money. One big lunch here and you're good for the day.

If I lived here, that's what I'd do.

Top Notch Indian Vegetarian!

I am not a vegetarian having always wanted meat on my plate. However if the vegetarian food was as good.. ahem.. well maybe not the main "I" chose... I would be a vegetarian every day.

Ravi Shakar was a famous traditional Indian musician so it is a bit sad that there is no music here but maybe that would make it too cheesy.

The starters are just amazing and most have yoghurt and tamarind and have a sweet and sour taste with a mixture of crunchiness. They are not spicy at all and I think we could have eaten each one and been happy without a main. It reminded me of the street food that Rick Stein had on his visit to India. We ordered three, the Bhel poori, the Paani Pooris and the Potato Poori. For some reason the staff gave us four dishes and when asked admitted to making the mistake with a smile and gave the fourth for free :-) Wow, that's the first time I can remember being treated so generously in a restaurant.

If you are going here try the Dosa's such as the Mysore Masala Dosa and the Spinach and Paneer Dosa. South Indian food to me is all about Dosa and not curry. The Dosas filled with spiced potatoes or with indian cheese (paneer) and spinach and are very generous. The Rava onion Dosa, which was my choice, I would not recommend as its full of what I thought was plain boiled Onions with no spices at all. Luckily for me my wife and our friend were willing to share :-). Sadly we could not indulge in the exotic Indian desserts as we were too full so will have to go there again soon.

The price is just amazing as the total between us was £12 each and we walked away with some leftovers for breakfast. Of course this did not include drinks which we brought with us as they do not sell alcohol. The service in Ravi Shankar was excellent as they were quick, they were friendly and happy to crack a joke. Well worth another visit.

I wish I knew more Indian food than some.of the basic paneer and curries I'd be able to explain all the flavors, textures, and complexities of the meal we had. My cousin did most the ordering as she had been to India and it was simply amazing. Everything well plated, generously served and distinct style.
I've had Indian at more than a few restaurants in the US and this blows them all away.

I went to the Wellcome Collection & was hankering for a nibble without a massive pricetag & got this as a recommendation. It was walking distance from the Euston station & The Wellcome Collection & was just right. There are daily rotating specials for under a tenner there with a main dish, salad, side, and dessert. I went two separate days and got to taste two separate equally delicious specials. Food was a wonderful middle dance of spices. It was the kind that make your tongue sing & your toes curl a bit as it dances along rather than the alternatives of so hot you need to drown multiple glasses of water or you're thinking that they might have gone easy on you for having an American accent.

Everytime I'm in London I'll go here. It's one of those must stops that's fab for everyone light on quid but wanting something filling and delicious.

They also happily gave me a takeaway box without issue or quabble which was massively positive as an American let alone someone lighter on coin trying to not waste their food.

Ravi Shankar is one of the many cheap, yummy Indian restaurants on Drummond street. I used to come here back when I was a student...but I don't think I have returned for more than 10 years (Eep!) I don't have a particular reason for not coming back. I just didn't consider it until I found myself in this area, with a vegetarian friend.

Although most of the reviews are about the bargainous lunch time buffet, in the evening they serve lovely thali as well as a whole range of dishes from around India, including dosa. I looove dosa, and there aren't that many places that offer it in the UK, so I ordered a spinach and paneer dosa for £7ish.

Noms:
- We ordered some onion bhaji and samosas which were both really good.
- My dosa was really tasty, and huuuge! It was cut into three sections, but two were enough for me, so I had plenty left for lunch the next day.
- The staff are friendly and speedy.

The only bad things are:
- The wine is expensive (£5.90 for a small glass) and not particularly nice.
- The décor has not changed for 10 years, and it looked pretty run down back then! Ah well...You can eat in scruffy surroundings if you get such nice, cheap food!!

+ Indian vegetarian buffet restaurant near Euston
+ Great value for money

Ravi Shankar is an Indian vegetarian restaurants on Drummond St. just off Euston.
The restaurant is situated on a street with at least four other vegetarian Indian buffet restaurants. I have no idea if they are in any way related to one another. In any case, for under £7, its buffet is exceptionally good value for the money. The décor is basic but service is friendly and efficient.
In addition to all the usual currys and naans, it offers a variety of warm dishes. It is delightful to see so many different ways to cook vegetables. Anyone who believes vegetarian food is just bland and tasteless would find a nice surprise at Ravi Shankar, and perhaps any one of its fellow establishments on Drummond St.

Great little spot for vegetarians if your in the area shopping for some Indian sweets at Ambala located directly opposite. Their variety of South Indian dosa are brilliant and good value for money, and very filling also. The thali dishes are great though two of the mixed vegetable dishes taste very similar. Should add some variety of pickles to complement the plate. Overall good value for money and a decent place even with the outdated decor.

DISCLAIMZ, PEEPZ:

I've only been here for the buffet. No a la carte for me, nosiree.

For just under a sevenner (if tenner is a thing, why can't this be the term for 7GBP?) you get full access to the buffet which consists of hot dishes and cold dishes (savoury), and a range of desserts. Don't miss the condiments though! I can't tell you what they are, but hot red and cooling white, and green and coconutty and and...ALL THE CONDIMENTS!

"Endless combinations" --- overheard from another table. FACT.

The hot dishes include dosas, chick pea curry, saucy paneer, fried pakoras, dhal, and deliciously fluffy naan to name a few. Don't miss the aloo palak, Indian potatoes with spinach! Cold dishes feature aubergine, various salads including my favourite with preserved lemon, and, well...some "mystery" things that I don't really know WHAT they are precisely, but they are worth some testing out. The basic premise is: you get a metal plate, canteen-style, walk up, fill to heart's content, repeat as needed.

Indian/Pakistani desserts are not my usual go-to as I find them overly sweet, but I appreciate that there is fresh fruit as an option here, as well as a loose rice pudding-ish option (YES) and the standard - wait because this is not the actual term - donut holes soaked in sugar-syrup. Even if not to your taste, worth doing a little culinary adventuring.

Someone else commented that the drinks are not the most competitively priced; both the wine and the lassis, for instance, I'd happily give a hard pass to. Instead, ask for a pint of tap water which appears at the table in a Cobra beer glass.

Yelp note: just to be clear, my carnivorous friends...this is vegetarian. Vegetarian!