Sema Indian Balti Cuisine

rigilbert

Balti Magic 22nd August 2008

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From the outside the Sema looks as run down as the shops and buildings that surround it. Go inside and it's much the same. The walls are covered in newspaper clippings of seemingly unrelated stories and photos.There are also maps and postcards from different parts of the world. The latter sent by former diners who, when in far-flung shores and in need of a good curry, have obviously longed for the Sema.

The tables and chairs are rickety and old: a legacy of the elderly landlady who, for some unknown reason, insists that they cannot be replaced, and who, for the last 15 years or so has only ever extended to the proprietors a lease of six months at a time. This has made life very difficult for them: they're not in a position to invest in smartening up the place because they are at the half-yearly whims of a miserly old crank who cares nothing for the livelihood of the people running the place and their faithful clientele.

Regardless of these difficulties, the Sema excels in its cooking. Not only is the food great, but the prices are cheap. The menu comprises the usual Indian dishes, from Chicken Tikka Masala through to fish curry to a range of biryani's. Whilst the menu is very much Curry House circa 1990, it's the quality of the food that attracts. It's damned good and consistently so. I've eaten here regularly since it first opened a decade and a half ago and have never had a bad meal. I recommend everything on the menu - it's all wonderfully flavoursome.

What's even better about the place - as if the wonderful food and great prices weren't enough - is the helpful nature of the people running the place. Want your curry made hotter or less fiery? No problem. Want to have your dish balti'd even though it's not on the menu? No problem. Want to substitute one of the dishes in the vegetarian or non-vegetarian thali for something else? No problem. If they can do it they will, and with a smile.

One down side here is the toilet. It's really not up to standard - never has been in the 15 years I've frequented the place. To flush you need to give a quick hard yank, sometimes two in quick succession. Don't let that put you off from coming here, though. The food is worth it.

The place is more café than restaurant. It's also bring your own booze as they have no drinks licence. You'll be delighted to hear that they do not charge corkage! For convenience there's a supermarket and an off licence nearby, so you won't go thirsty. Some nights you can go in here and have the place to yourself. At other times it's heaving, in which case it'll be elbow to elbow or back to back. In every scenario you'll enjoy yourself.

The clientele are mixed. One night the heaving crowd can be made up of musicians (invariably classical) from the nearby Barbican Centre, at other times it'll be a few tourists interspersed with the loyal customers who, like me, have been frequenting the place for years.

In conclusion I have to say that the Sema is one of those secret finds that you hear people talk about. The exterior and interior might be a bit of a shambles, but this is all part of the charm of what for years has been my favourite curry house in London. Like all Indian restaurants they also do take-aways, which is great as sometimes you just can't get enough of a good thing! Ah, if only I hadn't moved to the Netherlands I wouldn't be missing a good curry from the Sema Balti Indian Cuisine. Perhaps it's time I sent them a postcard, too...