by Will Davies Indian restaurants are hardly in short supply in Hammersmith s King Street. In fact anyone looking for a pre-cinema munch could go dizzy choosing from a vast array of restaurants from across the globe. Shilpa, just west of

by Will Davies

Indian restaurants are hardly in short supply in Hammersmith's King Street.

In fact anyone looking for a pre-cinema munch could go dizzy choosing from a vast array of restaurants from across the globe.

Shilpa, just west of the Cineworld, is not much of a looker - at least from the outside.

It kind of looks like a newsagents from a distance, but a peek at the street-side menu - and proud display of newspaper reviews in the window - it is instantly more alluring.

Inside is an awkward blend of contemporary crisp and traditional; large flat screens at each end of the restaurant play exotic Bollywood music videos on a loop.

Shilpa serves not just north Indian dishes but also south Indian - meaning a decent choice for veggies.

Potato bonda - deep fried mashed potato with chilly, curry leaf and ginger and served with coconut chutney - was particularly tasty, as was the onion pakoda.

Grilled sea scallops were very fine and a steal at £4.95.

For the mains, erachi mappas - a lamb speciality of central Kerala prepared with freshly ground spices called 'Erachi Kootu' was succulent and tender.

Although Shilpa boasts a good quality, comprehensive menu to suit all pallets, its seafood is surely the main draw.

King prawns cooked with green mangoes and coconut milk is great value at £8.50 and the grilled sea bass wrapped in a banana leaf was so tasty it almost felt as if I were shaking my hips on a tropical Bollywood film set - instead of a grubby street in west London.

RATING: Food 4 stars, Ambience 2 stars, Service 3 stars

w.davies@archant.co.uk