15 Jul 2025
James Cameron discovers a hidden oasis of culinary delights tucked away behind an unassuming Hatfield Road exterior…
I have often made the mistake of walking past Cha & Nasta, thinking that the small section at the front is all that was going on with it. The last time we visited, when it was the Hideout Kafe, that was all we had experienced and I had no idea what I was missing. Take a trip through the beautifully illustrated side-gate, though, and you enter an Alice in Wonderland style magical garden, complete with bicycle rickshaw.
Though you could choose to dine outside we were wise to the tricksy ways of British Summertime so went for a table in what I can only think to describe as a shack, beautifully decorated again but with enough of a shanty air to make it all feel terribly exotic, despite being smack bang in the middle of town. Soon after this we were justified in our decision, as what I would call a Wimbledon Shower (given the time of year) swept over us.
The sense of magic is further enhanced by the welcome you receive from Bushra, the owner and driving force behind Cha & Nasta. She is like a black belt in hospitality, talking you through the menu, recommending her favourite items and generally making you feel like you are an honoured guest in a family home. This is not surprising as it is definitely a family affair, with the artwork that guided us in by her daughter, a fact that she is clearly and justifiably proud of.
Bushra talked me through the specialty tea menu, something that was very necessary as there are six different options, none of which I had heard of before. I was given the option to try a few before settling on the pink cha, an amazing sweet concoction giving you a first blast of marshmallows before settling into something akin to liquid Turkish Delight. I was also intrigued by the date cha, but as this takes half an hour to prepare it is advisable to call ahead if you are as interested as I am.
They also have a wide and enticing range of smoothies on offer, and my companion of many years went for the Nourish, a mix of fruit, seeds and (surprisingly) courgettes that, though containing no milk, had a creaminess that worked as a powerful antidote to some of the spicier food items.
The food menu is admirably extensive, ranging from curries and biryanis to Bangladeshi Breakfasts and even an intriguing sardine sandwich. Although Cha & Nasta sounds like a mid-90s Drum’n’Bass duo, it actually means tea and small bites so we decided to embrace the name and spirit of the place and go for an enticing selection of snacks. There was a good range of options for vegans, and this is clearly a place that takes food allergies very seriously.
The flow of delights was seemingly never-ending. In no particular order there were the best Pani Puri we have ever had, crisp pastry globes containing chickpeas that you fill like a goblet with a subtle tangy sauce then devour in one flavour and texture explosion. Another favourite were the tamarind chips, lovely crispy chips doused in a sweet, thick and hot tamarind gravy.
Popcorn samosas were a fun little treat, teeny tiny little samosas fit for a borrower. These are apparently a real pain to make, but the fun you have when you pop one into your mouth for a little burst of samosa-goodness surely makes it all worthwhile, as long as I’m not the one doing the work.
Keema Muglai Porota was like an eggy quesadilla, crisp and spicy and absolutely delicious when dipped into the accompanying coriander chutney. Finally there were Shingara, potato and chickpea samosas that were possibly a little dry as served but which absolutely came alive when introduced to the aforementioned chutney.
Cha & Nasta open late on a Friday, and I would love it if they extended this as some of the larger curries might make it difficult to return to a full afternoon of work afterwards, but as it is we will definitely be returning in the very near future. There are so many other items on the menu that are intriguing and enticing and I intend to work my way through all of them. As long as Bushra is happy to keep feeding me such amazing fare at such astonishingly reasonable prices (all of the above came to £40 for the two of us, and we had as usual ordered more than we needed) I will keep coming back.
We skipped out of Cha & Nasta feeling absolutely energised, and the whole experience was like a warm culinary hug. I implore you, dear reader, do not make the mistake I have made for so long and walk past this absolute local gem. The world can seem a little grim and broken at times, but a trip down the magical side alley is the perfect antidote and a quick way to restore joy to your life.
