If you are hunting for the best indian dishes covent garden london can offer, Paro is a sensible place to start. Set beside the Lyceum Theatre at 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DN, Paro was founded by Chef Niaz on a secret 48-spice mix sourced from Indian bazaars, rooted in Kolkata and West Bengal tradition while layering in contemporary technique. For anyone new to Indian cuisine, a menu built around dozens of curries, tandoor items and rice dishes can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down what a first-timer should order and why, and how Paro’s setting near the Strand makes it a natural pre-theatre stop.
Start With Onion Bhajis Before the Main Event
No first visit is complete without onion bhajis to open the meal. These are deep-fried fritters made from thinly sliced onions bound in a gently spiced chickpea-flour batter, giving a crisp exterior with a soft, sweet centre. They are a staple starter because they introduce newcomers to spice without any heat shock, and pair naturally with a chutney on the side. At Paro, starters like this pace you well before a pre-theatre dinner ahead of a Lyceum Theatre performance next door. Vegetarian and vegan diners can order bhajis with confidence, since Paro’s menu is tagged for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free requirements.
Move Into Tandoori Classics With Chicken Shashlik
Once the palate has warmed up, tandoori dishes are the next logical step, and chicken shashlik is one of the most popular. This dish sees marinated chicken pieces skewered with onions, peppers and tomatoes, then fired in the tandoor until charred at the edges and smoky throughout. It sits alongside other tandoor-fired classics on Paro’s menu, showing the kitchen’s approach to marination with the 48-spice blend worked into the meat before cooking. Shashlik also suits group bookings, and Paro welcomes groups up to 120 people with priority seating near the largest screen for sports evenings or celebrations.
Understand the Difference Between Chicken Jalfrezi and a Milder Curry
For first-timers deciding on a main curry, chicken jalfrezi is a useful benchmark dish, sitting at a bold, medium-hot spice level with a thick, semi-dry sauce built from tomatoes, onions and green peppers. It is stir-fried rather than slow-simmered, giving it a fresher, sharper character than a gravy-based curry. Ordering jalfrezi is a good way to gauge your heat tolerance before committing to spicier options. Paro’s kitchen, shaped by Kolkata and West Bengal traditions, brings a distinct regional character to jalfrezi, since the spice mix itself is unique to the house.
Try Chicken Madras Curry for a Proper Regional Heat Test
If jalfrezi is the entry point, chicken madras curry is the next step up in heat for anyone wanting a more traditional, deeply spiced experience. Madras curry is a South Indian-style preparation built on a tomato and chilli base, slow-cooked so the sauce thickens and the spices fully infuse the meat. It is hotter than jalfrezi but still balanced, making it a fair test of spice tolerance. Alongside butter chicken and lamb shank, madras curry is one of the traditional dishes that draws repeat visits at Paro.
Order Chicken Dum Biryani When You Want Rice, Not Just a Side
Rice is not always just a side dish, and chicken dum biryani proves the point. Biryani is a layered rice preparation where part-cooked basmati rice and marinated chicken are sealed together and slow-cooked, or “dummed,” so the rice absorbs the meat’s juices as it finishes cooking. The result is fragrant and substantial enough to be a meal on its own. For first-timers unsure whether to order rice alongside a curry or as the main dish, dum biryani answers that by being both at once.
Getting Familiar With a Full Indian Curries List Beyond the Basics
Butter chicken, lamb shank, jalfrezi and madras are only a slice of what a proper indian curries list can include, and first-timers are encouraged to look beyond the names they already recognise. Curries vary by region, cooking method and spice combination, from dry-fried preparations to slow-braised gravies, and Paro’s menu reflects that breadth through Kolkata and West Bengal tradition alongside contemporary interpretations. Reading the full list before ordering, rather than defaulting to the first familiar name, is the easiest way to find a dish that matches your taste. Dietary tags also make it simple to filter the list to halal, gluten-free or dairy-free options.
Pair Your Meal With Paro’s Tipples and Cocktails Menu
A first Indian meal is also a good moment to explore drinks designed to complement the food. Paro’s Tipples & Cocktails menu includes an Espresso Martini made with Indian coffee beans and the Jab We Met Martini, alongside gin, whisky, vodka, rum, tequila, brandy, cognac and liqueurs. There is also a dedicated lassi and juice section, a specialty tea section, and a wine list covering red, white, rosé, sparkling and champagne, plus beer and cider. A lassi alongside a hotter curry like madras helps balance the heat, while a cocktail pairs naturally with lighter starters like bhajis.
Plan Your Visit Around Paro’s Location and Hours
Because Paro sits beside the Lyceum Theatre at 21 Wellington Street, within walking distance of the Strand, it is a popular pre-theatre and post-theatre dining spot in Covent Garden. Opening hours run Monday and Tuesday from 3:00pm to 10:30pm, Wednesday through Saturday from midday to 11:00pm, and Sunday from midday to 10:30pm, giving flexibility for early dinners and later meals. The restaurant seats over 90 guests, with private dining for groups of 10 to 60 and larger bookings welcomed up to 120 people. Booking online or by phone is recommended, particularly Thursday to Saturday and on theatre nights, though walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Final Thoughts
Working through the best indian dishes covent garden london has to offer does not need to be complicated for a first-timer: start with onion bhajis, move into a tandoor dish like chicken shashlik, test your spice tolerance with chicken jalfrezi before stepping up to chicken madras curry, and round off with a chicken dum biryani. Paro’s grounding in Chef Niaz’s 48-spice mix and Kolkata heritage gives each dish a distinct character, and clear dietary tagging across halal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options means most groups can order together. Given the location beside the Lyceum Theatre and flexible hours across the week, it is an easy stop to build a pre-theatre or post-theatre plan around.
FAQs
What is the best starter for a first-time visit?
Onion bhajis are a reliable first order, offering a crisp, mildly spiced introduction to the menu before moving on to tandoor items or curries.
Is chicken jalfrezi very spicy?
Chicken jalfrezi sits at a medium-hot level with a thick, stir-fried sauce, making it a good way to test spice tolerance before trying hotter dishes like chicken madras curry.
Can vegetarian or vegan diners find enough options?
Yes, Paro’s menu is tagged for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free diners, so suitable dishes are easy to identify.
Does Paro suit pre-theatre dining near the Lyceum Theatre?
Yes, Paro is located beside the Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street, within walking distance of the Strand, and its hours accommodate both pre-show and post-show meals.
Should I book ahead, especially for groups?
Booking online or by phone is recommended, particularly Thursday to Saturday and on theatre evenings, and group bookings up to 120 people can be arranged with priority seating near the largest screen.
