Hot Stuff - Wilcox Road, Vauxhall, SW8

It got destroyed...

The trouble with going for dinner with a set of food bloggers is that someone is always going to beat you to the post.  So I’ll try not to repeat anything that has been said before.  From the outside Hot Stuff looks like a shit hole, when you get inside they’ve not really done much to dispel that initial image.  The front of house is cramped, ill lit and you are sat cheek and jowl with your fellow diners.

Why then is this place so busy?  When the food comes out it all becomes clear. With no menu as such they bring out dishes they think you'll like and they had a surprisingly high hit rate.  The Marrow Curry was unlike anything I've ever had before; delicate, fresh and vibrant it actually took the base ingredient and turned it into something of surprise and delight.

The Keralan Chicken was sweet and spicy, the Lamb Dopiaza lacked a fiery punch but it had some good flavour.  An amazing and simple dish of spiced cabbage had me coming back for more and the Naan was one of the best I've tried in a long time.  The Chilli Paneer wasn't all I hoped sadly, though the Chilli did give it a nice kick it still had some way to go for me.

The service was some of the best I've seen in a long time, given the restrictions on space they work amazingly well together.  The manager was really knowledgeable and had one of those beaming smiles that you just can't help but smile back.

We paid £15 a head for a pretty heft feast which makes me think the meat involved may not be the best in the world but at the end of the day it's about what you do with the ingredients that counts and at Hot Stuff they really do a lot...  Don't just read this go and try it for yourself.