12 Jun 2024
James Cameron has nothing but praise for the alleyway eatery…
The problem is, there are just too many nice restaurants in St Albans. Following amazing meals in Hatch, La Cosa Nostra and The Boot I am running out of synonyms for nice food, and at risk of losing my reputation as a hard-edged and formidable judge of cuisine. Without wishing to spoil the review, Tikka Nation is not going to break the cycle.
Nestled down Waxhouse Gate, the charming little alley linking the Clock Tower with the Abbey, Tikka Nation could be described as a hidden gem were it not so well sign-posted. Its location is one of its strong points, with a wall of large windows it is a perfect spot for people watching.
It is also the birthplace of the game of hat-beard-baby. To explain, each of you chooses either hat, beard or baby and every time your chosen item walks past you get a point (double points for twins, moustaches or especially elaborate hats). I would say that this is a perfect way to pass the time whilst you wait for your food, but it all came so quickly it was difficult to get a full round in.
Tikka Nation specialises in Indian street food, ironic as they are actually located on a passageway. The menu is extensive, so much so that the vegan contingent had the rare feeling of the existential agonies of choice. It’s also great value, especially on Monday to Thursday lunchtime when you can get a Chaat, Loaded Fries or Tortilla Wrap (though not a Naan wrap) for only £5. We took advantage of this offer, but then undermined the thriftiness somewhat by ordering every other thing on the menu.
To pick a few highlights from the loaded table of food that our greediness led us to, the Samosa Choli was probably the pick of the bunch. This was a couple of samosas peeking out of a sea of chickpeas and pomegranate seeds, with the latter’s sweetness contrasting well with the sourness of the tamarind.
I would also recommend the Paneer Tikka Loaded Fries, good quality chips heaped (or loaded I suppose) with not just paneer but melty mozzarella and a particularly fine spicy mayonnaise.
The Tikka Platter came on a sizzling tray of the sort that I am always jealous of if someone else in the restaurant has one, and had a great range of meats including a particularly flavoursome Afghani chicken.
The range of interesting flavours continues onto the drink menu. They have some very refreshing smoothie options, and the Ginger Chai is a fantastic spiced marvel, warming your soul like the final episode of a beloved sitcom.
A slight warning on the spiciness, however, as it is definitely not for those with particularly sensitive palates. Half of our party were defeated by the heat, although for those of us with colds it was manna from heaven.
Once again, the meal from start to finish was less than 45 minutes, so this combined with the deal makes it another stong recommendation for a lunch break spot. It was empty when we arrived, but for some reason soon filled up with solitary male diners, whose lack of companions must have made it impossible for them to play hat-beard-baby.
In the relatively short time since it opened we’ve been to Tikka Nation a bunch of times and have never been disappointed. For a quick, easy and above all tasty family dining experience it is hard to beat. My challenge now, then, is to find a terrible restaurant that I can really lay into to restore my credentials, preferably a large chain so I don’t have to feel guilty about it.
