Barbers Bazaar Review
There is a new neighbourhood eatery in Crouch End and it is generating quiet a buzz. Barbers Bazaar from award-winning chef Abdul Yaseen offers a fresh perspective on hearty and authentic Indian dishes. Named in honour of the families of barbers working in food markets in old Pakistan and India before the partition, Abdul tells the story of the deep-rooted connection between these two countries through his creative cooking.
Already known for offering outstanding meat dishes, the team obliged my plant eating ways with a spread of vegan goodness. Papodums with tamarind sauce and tomato chutney, samosa chaat, onion bhaji, aloo tiki, rajwadi aloo onion tomato sauce, chanamasala, aubergine crush, Tadka dal and Pilau rice, we perhaps over ordered but it really was so hard to choose.
Even before we opened anything we were already happy with the delivery; durable cardboard made from recycled materials (we checked the label) it was so refreshing to receive our food in something more sustainable than the usual single use plastic. A clear focus on aesthetics, everything was so well put together, filled with colour and thoughtful details and garnishing. We started with the aloo tiki, bhajis and punabi samosas, classic onion bhaji with kale and coriander, ginger and tamarind chutney.
All beautifully presented, the samosas were a key talking point, creatively deconstructed and finished off with a sprinkling of pink pomegranate seeds. Absolutely delish, we could have made a meal of these starters alone; super fresh ingredients cooked to perfection, the bhaaji’s were the winner for me. Big juicy bundles which were crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, I’m usually not a massive bhaji fan but these were superb.
The mains were also a colourful mix; Rajwadi aloo onion tomato sauce, chanamasala, aubergine crush, tadka dal, served with a side of pilau rice and big popedom baskets (which were a bowl in themselves), everything was so crisp and in terms of spice, fairly mild with a spicy after tone. I am a spice person myself so would have be happy for the spice to be stepped up a notch, but it certainly wasn’t lacking without, and a good option for a group with differing tastes when it comes to heat. The chickpeas really stuck out to me, usually chickpeas are served from the can and have a slight stodginess to them but these were clearly the real deal, no short cuts here. The Aubergine crush was an absolute winner, super smoky and creamy it felt indulgent but was clearly actually pretty good for you.
If Indian food is your jam then Barbers Bazaar should be on your list. Fresh ingredients and creative dishes, this place really does have its own distinctive flavour, a cut above the rest. The team were super accommodating and veganised my order but their meat and paneer dishes come highly praised. Chef’s recommendations include devil wings, lamb biryani, caramelized beef and paneer korma so give them a try if you prefer something meatier.
Order online here: https://barbersbazaar.com/shop
Written by Jordan Crowley
