Darjeeling Express Covent Garden

Disappointing experience — not worth the hype Went here on Pujo weekend after having already tried Chourangi, and honestly, I was underwhelmed after looking forward to it for so long. The menu isn’t entirely Bengali — why are there so many toastie options? The kosha mangsho was under-seasoned and had an odd stench. The prawn malaikari was decent but nothing special. The parathas felt amateur — Bengalis make far better ones at home. The most disappointing dish was the papri chaat: only five papris with minimal toppings and what tasted like store-bought tamarind chutney. It looked sad and tasted worse — the least wholesome version of papri chaat I’ve ever had. The bhapa doi portion was also tiny, lacking the richness and generosity the dish deserves. Overall, the menu missed key Bengali classics, and the whole experience lacked authenticity — especially after all the storytelling and media coverage. The back of the menu claims to serve food that “touches your soul,” but unfortunately, they broke that promise. I’d pick Chourangi over this any day. As a proud Bengali, it’s disheartening to see our food misrepresented in taste, texture, and abundance. Our mothers work too hard in their kitchens for there to be a world where people pay this much for such mediocre Bengali food.