Spice of Life Indian Cuisine in Lewisham

I ordered a take away meal and noticed an item was missing (chicken buns)turns out I never ordered the item but the shop phoned me back and offered me the item and an extra naan complimentary. I thought it was so kind of them. The food was delicious and for a great price.

Orderd a delivery from lewisham food was tasty and hot good value for money chicken was moist good delivery time and friendly delivery man

Really really impressesd with this place. It might seem a bit small on the outside but it's an utter hidden gem in Lewisham. Waiter was super on it. Attentive without being over bearing. Funny and also knowledgable. Food was great, very flavourful, especially the lamb and the bombay potato's, big portions so the £20 meal deal is incredible value for money, 10/10 would recommend

We order food fairly regularly either home delivery or we walk and collect. It is always excellent quality with good flavours and portion size. If we ask for slight change in spicyness there is never a problem. The staff are friendly and very helpful, I always ask lots of questions about vegetarian options, and the meal is always perfect. I would highly recommend the restaurant. Always brilliant.

Had a meal at spice of life for my birthday.fantastic restaurants would 100% recommended going if you're looking for a special Indian dining experience

I had such a lovely time bringing my dear friends here. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and it never disappoints!!

Hemos estado aquí dos veces desde que reabrió después del cierre y el servicio y la comida son tan buenos como siempre. Se han eliminado algunas tablas para permitir el distanciamiento físico y debe dar su nombre y número de contacto para fines de rastreo, pero no hay nada oneroso en cuanto a precauciones. La selección y la calidad de la comida estuvo a la altura de lo habitual, por lo que le recomiendo que visite para apoyar este gran restaurante local en un momento difícil.

Just celebrated a family occasion at this restaurant. The food and the service was Perfecto. This restaurant also offers great value for money. Thank you. Well worth a visit.

The host was very friendly and welcoming. It was our first time here so we had no clue what to order but he gave us some great suggestions based off of our tastes! Would definitely come here again if we get the chance.

I saw online that the Spice have revamped their menu, so popped in tonight to check it out. I am veggie, and there is now a whole page of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. In addition to the standard menu, there are three vegetable side dishes that change daily and use seasonal vegetables from the market. Tonight the pumpkin was especially tasty!I think some dishes have been taken off the menu to make way for the new ones, but I did hear the Manager tell a lady on the next table that he could still make an old dish for her as everything is made from scratch.I recommend trying the new menu if you are in the area.

Enjoyed my food here. Asked for extra spicy and was not disappointed. Food tasty with lots of flavour. £15.95 for four courses which was really good value. Staff friendly. Would definitely recommend.

Went here on a recommendation from a friend . Bad idea. Food very bland, more expensive than majority of Indian restaurants and they had the cheek to charge 10 per cent service charge.Even when I phoned Sunday night asking would I need to book a table they said it's best to. When we arrived there was nobody there only 1 couple came in whilst we were there.Just about sums up this restaurant. I will never return or recommend it.

We have ordered with the Spice of Life for many, many years, and always spread word far and wide that the restaurant produces outstanding curries and their accompaniments. What we have recently had from them was so unremarkable and lacking in flavour, and the portion size on the mean side, that I questioned whether it had even come from their kitchen, I couldn’t believe it, don’t want to believe it. If something changed recently, please change it back, because we would love to be able to come back and enjoy the Spice of Life!

It was very delicious there, the waiter was so friendly and nice and the prices are good!We loved it here

Another Sunday in the Spice, cannot recommend it enough! Family favourite of 40+ years. Super service, fantastic food, value for money and I've found my new favourite Podina Beef. Highly recommend the £12.95 meal deal. Cheers Moody and Simon, see you next time! 👍👍

Recientemente me mudé de la zona, por lo que no he visitado en varios meses. . . No hace falta decir que no me decepcioné cuando llegué hoy.Recibimos la bienvenida calurosa de Moody y Simon, nos llevaron a nuestra mesa y tomaron el pedido. Llamamos por adelantado para reservar una mesa.Nos hicieron sentir como en casa durante la duración de la comida, ¡e incluso nos comprometimos a conversar un poco con Moody sobre los cambios en la decoración!La comida era tan excelente como siempre y el servicio de todo el personal era muy bueno.No puedo esperar a volver pronto, ¡es una pena que sea un viaje difícil para mí, ahora!

This place is a true gem. The food is fresh, authentic and so tasty. There is specials that are always delicious and a good way to try something you wouldn't otherwise..... or there's an extensive menu too.

Had a very good time and meal at Spice of Life tonight, highly recommended! Best onion bhaji I have ever had!

The food and service was phenomenal, a must if you’re in the Greenwich area!!! I was craving Indian cuisine and this was spot on it met all of my expectations.

As you will see by previous reviews of our this was a great little hidden gem of ours. We have been going here for years but the last few months things have changed. The meat has gone down hill, Using poor quality chicken legs rather than breast so you are picking through your meal rather than just enjoying. Even my locall Cafe serve chicken breast in all meals and sandwiches ??? Then the service, remembering i have been going here for years, The one time we ask for a receipt as we question the bill we got nothing. Would not recommend to anyone as is the service you get for being loyal and good at the tips aswell if needed on top of the service charge aswell. Yes £12 overcharged when checked. Nice spices but on Cheap food / meat NO Thanks. And that was the last time now, Shame

Visité esta noche (martes) con un grupo de 6 personas y tuve una noche fantástica, la comida era hermosa, increíblemente fresca. Los platos principales de paneer no tienen rival y tener cobra y martín pescador en el draft fue una verdadera ventaja. Para un martes por la noche el ambiente también era genial. ¡Muy recomendable! !

Había estado deseando comida india por un tiempo y mi hermana se encontró con Spice of Life, que no está muy lejos de mi apartamento. ¡Qué gran descubrimiento! Es un poco fuera de lo común si no vives en el área pero confía en mí, así que vale la pena hacer el viaje. Llegamos alrededor de las 6 pm y estaba tranquilo, sin embargo, cuando nos fuimos, el restaurante estaba lleno y por una buena razón. Los dos camareros fueron muy serviciales y amables, lo que realmente contribuyó a la experiencia. El restaurante no es lujoso desde fuera, pero es agradable por dentro y ofrece un ambiente relajado.

Delicious food, very welcoming and friendly staff - had a great Indian meal here last night, and will definitely be returning. All you could ask for at your local curry house!! No complaints at all.

10/10 for the food again, Jalfrezi always a must, Specials and side veg a must aswell, Quite busy tonight as aways, Service a little slow, So end up eating Wife's left overs aswell. Well done again.

I have just ordered a Rice meal box (again)!!!

We don't live in the area anymore, but whenever we are back we always we make sure our Mum and Dad bring us here, we love the curry and the staff are so friendly to us . Its the best curry ever and I wish you were closer to Farnborough!

Yo emigramos a Singapur en 2008 y esta es mi segunda visita de vuelta todo este tiempo. Mi calendario no podría haber sido mejor, coincidiendo con la ola de verano; la decisión de comer un curry en sazón de la vida jardín de mi amigo. Yo estaba debidamente enviado a recoger la comida para llevar, con mi hijo mayor. Sabía muy bien que podía disfrutar de una fría cerveza india y chutneys con poppadoms mientras esperaba. Moody no me defraudó.

Si la señal de un restaurante muy bueno, entonces la era de la longevidad de las especias de la vida sin duda garrapatas que fuerte. Yo y otros usaron para frecuentar este restaurante a finales de los 80/principios de los 90, antes de trasladarse fuera de la localidad. Visitado ocasionalmente desde entonces y fue agradable para asistir a un encuentro con amigos allí recientemente.

Visité las especias de la vida con mi familia en una noche sombría en abril. Al entrar, con un inusual tiempo melancolía era evaporado cualquier por la cálida bienvenida por el personal. Dentro era luminoso y ventilado con música ecléctica, en lugar de mayores éxitos de Bangladesh.

A last minute Saturday booking turned into a great night out. Popadoms came swiftly with a surprisingly large choice of chutneys / accompaniments. Both curries (chicken and vegetarian) provided plenty of flavour. My paneer dish was made slightly hotter on request and was excellent. The service was attentive, and the food was well presented. A small issue with our drinks was rectified immediately with no fuss. The only downside was the side bench I sat at had broken springs and needs replacing.

He pasado este restaurante muchas veces y no se dieran cuenta. Sin embargo, queríamos un local que podría alojar el 12 de nosotros, así que lo reservamos para una cena familiar de domingo.

A little more expensive than other Indian Restaurants(nit extortionate), but you get what you pay for the food is fantastic and the staff are too

Thanks to Moody for a great meal and a lovely celebration with our friends. We were able to select our dishes in advance. The food was excellent, as ever. Delicate and flavourful, there are old favourites like ginger fish and new dishes such as beef rogan. I must also commend the starters - delicious.

Esta era mi primera opción de algunos restaurantes indios localmente y me alegro de que lo era. Mi hermana y yo compramos comidas para llevar. Coste total fueron menos de 40 libras para primeros y segundos platos con arroz, pan y ensalada. Este fue suficiente para 4. El personal es encantador, el servicio era genial y no tuvimos que esperar mucho para nuestra comida. La comida era muy sabrosa! ! Sin duda volveremos :-)

Esperábamos más de lo que encontramos; había una gran variedad de ofertas disponibles esa noche, pero muy poco margen para los vegetarianos. Si comes pescado hay mucho para elegir. La comida estaba bien hecha, pero de alguna manera le faltaba sabor (la verdad es que el pollo Korma tenía un tamaño generoso). El personal es cortés y servicial, pero por alguna razón no dio en el clavo. Puede intentarlo otra vez.

The curry always has a great depth of flavour and the service is fantastic. The best Indian for miles!👌

My wife and I live in Blackheath and this is our favourite Indian to eat in or take away. There are daily specials that re often unusual, always delicious and very good value. Family owned and run. Very friendly staff.

Was introduced to this wonderful little gem a few years back and has been one of my favorite eateries ever since. Superb, original food. Superb, friendly service.

Comida hermosa todo perfecto desde el principio hasta el final.

Disfrutamos de otra cena muy sabrosas especias de la vida, en Lewisham. Ha sido mi 'local', ya que a más de Lewisham movedt hace 20 años, y todavía me parece el mejor restaurante de cocina asiática en todo el pueblo de Lewisham, incluyendo blackheath. Abierto para la cena (sólo) ahora siete días a la semana, la selección de platos última noche fue amplia y excelente. Incluso me ofrecieron un plato de carne, no es común en la mayoría de 'restaurantes indios. Moody ofrece un campo de 3 'Menu' o 'fórmula' para un precio que compara favorablemente con otros restaurantes. Sólo aquí la comida es mejor, más interesante, ofreciendo más sabor y la individualidad. El tamaño de la porción, también, es más que el promedio. El ambiente es tranquilo, relajado y amable; muchos de los comensales son clientes habituales. En bastones de Lewisham - es diferente del centro de Londres, donde los restaurantes no parecen esperar repetir negocios - así que no parece que el objetivo de atraer a clientes asiduos. En el sur-este de Londres, atrayendo a repetir negocios es el nombre del juego, y clientes habituales como nosotros son prueba - después de unos 25 años de vida - que no el de las especias de negocios. Es tan buena o mejor de lo que era hace dos décadas. Puede que siga de largo!

He utilizado este restaurante durante muchos años y nunca falla en entregar un excelente curry. Todos los especiales, que son diferentes de los habituales de curry tradicional. Excelente relación calidad-precio y sabores buena y comida de calidad. El restaurante ha tenido una renovación y parece encantador, que aporta al ambiente. El propietario, Moody y su personal son siempre muy acogedor y atento. Recomiendo encarecidamente.

This is one of my locals and I've enjoyed every visit. The interior is simple and clean. The staff are always very friendly and welcoming and the curries are great.

Moody and his staff are always welcoming and the food ( go for the specials) is always great. Good value as well !

This place has got great food, can't complain about that, but the staff can be a bit rude and service is quite poor and slow. Got there at 7, ordered our food around 7.40 and got our food on the table at around 9. Worth the wait I have to say but would have probably enjoyed the food much more if it came a bit earlier and I wasn't starving.

I'm sure most people have never eaten a decent Indian meal. Main course distinctly average and lamb chops completely in-edible. What was so annoying, we actually left 2 of the chops untouched, complained and they still left it on the bill. Will never return.

We only live around the corner from the 'Spice of Life' and we visit every now and again but after this Saturdays visit this will become much more regular. Whilst the likes of The Everest Inn up on Blackheath have a much more comfortable restaurant environment and ambience, none offer food as good as this place. I guess in some ways, the old fashioned decor and very uncomfortable seats add to the experience. Try the garlic chill chicken or any of the king prawn curries. A real taste explosion!Service can be a bit slow but always friendly. Prices are reasonable. The draft Cobra is much better than the draft Kingfisher.

This was my first visit and initially, impressions were good. We were seated quickly and given menus. A selection of sauces and chutneys arrived and an older member of staff went through the different options of their set menus very thoroughly. I have to say, the food we had was absolutely delicious but what let our visit down was the service after we had eaten. I ordered another drink, which the waiter completely forgot. It did arrive after a second request. We waited ages for our bill and had to remind them. We even asked for our coats as that often makes the bill appear more quickly - it didn't and they brought us someone else's coats! When the bill finally arrived, it came with 2 After Eight chocolates (even though there were 3 of us). They seemed to be training one of the waiters, however, I didn't think his outfit of tracksuit bottoms and baseball cap was really appropriate to be serving in a restaurant - but maybe that's just me.

so first time been to spice of life, went for my hubbys birthday, the food was great, the staff were friendly and polite, loved it , will definitely be making spice of life our regular indian. we had a lovely meal,well worth a vist,

The new salmon starter was the best starter I can remember having, ever! Great little restaurant. Very welcoming and a friendly atmosphere.

Our usual Indian was becoming a little below par. We had been disappointed with other Lewisham/blackheath restaurants. We ordered by recommendation of the owner and it was honestly the best meal I've eaten in a long time. I ordered (by recommendation) the chicken malabah, pilau, and mustard potatoes, and my boyfriend a bhuna (vindaloo hot) and we were both very happy. Our new favourite.

Really good service and nice food with good decor and Napier. Can't fault, even got a deee drink!Small restaurant but feels homely. Pub couple of doors away too. Unusual to find an Indian restaurant in such a pretty village location but very welcome when we called at nearly eleven pm on Saturday.

We just moved to the area so decided (naturally!) an Indian was in order. We popped into Spice Of Life for take-out, and I'm glad we did. A very friendly welcome from the family who run it. Indeed they noticed we'd been running around and made sure we had water while we waited without even asking. That said, the wait for food wasn't long at all. Ultimately the food was delicious. It tasted fresh and well balanced, not glutinous or too sweet as Indian food sometimes can. I think we found our new 'local' :)

The restaurant is very local to me so I thought I'd give it a try, very fast service and the food is very nice. It's very small inside the tables are very close together so your basically sitting next to other families/couples. When I paid I was charged £48 for two chicken Kormas and rice and two vodka and cokes based on that price I would not return or recommend

This is a brilliantly run, small Indian restaurant in Lewisham. Perhaps the best thing about this place is the service - always extremely friendly and helpful, they make you feel very welcome and the place always has a good 'buzz'.The food is excellent, standard Indian restaurant cooking. The tandoori dishes are impeccable - I'd highly recommend the Lamb shaslik. The sauces are packed with flavour, and come exactly how you'd expect. Even the simple Saag Aloo was one of the best I've ever had. They just get the basics exactly right, nothing too fancy, but you will be very satisfied.I couldn't recommend this place highly enough if you fancy a good curry in Lewisham. Make sure you book, especially as weekends, as this venue is small and very popular with the locals.

The food was good, very tasty. Notably good selection of dips with the poppadoms. They have a three course menu which it very good value at £12.50.The staff were extremely helpful. Very child friendly, for example offering to do a half portion for our little girl. No baby change, just enough space in the ladies toilet to change them on the floor!

The Spice of Life has many regular customers. This gives it a clubby atmosphere but newcomers receive an equally warm welcome. The owner loves to talk about the evening's special dishes and give advice when asked. The food always tastes fresh and prices are very reasonable for the consistent high quality.

Searching for an Indian I discovered this place - It lived up to all of the great positive commentsour shared starter was enjoyed by us all the only complaint was that maybe there was not enough spac left to eat all of our mainsDrinks were reasonably priced

I first used the Spice of life back in the late 80s and have to say in all that time the food just stays of a consistently high standard and quality. With the daily specials boards you have chance to vary your normal Curry of choice and the food never disappoints. A very nice atmosphere and easily the best restaurant of its kind in this part of London. Well done.

Had the pleasure of dining here again on Friday night and just love the food, the atmosphere and the quality of service. The specials were our pick of choice this time and were just delicious. Always enjoy the food here. Never disappointed.

The Spice has been in place for 30 years and, in addition to their usual menu, they are offing a Celebration Platter. I had this the last time I visited and it was one of the best meals I have had there, and that is saying something.Here's to many more years (and meals) at the Spice!

As a vegetarian, the food ticks all the boxes in terms of variety, freshness and ingredients; my meat eating companions love it too. The atmosphere and service is both friendly and professional, which is quite often difficult to achieve. I have been eating at the Spice for years and it really has just got better and better. Certainly equal to anything that Brick Lane has to offer. I would advise making a reservation, particularly at the weekend, as it is in demand.

One of the best curry house I've ever been to! The owner is so friendly and creates an nice atmosphere. Very cozy place with absolutely delicious food, good quantity and quality! I would keep on going there from time to time and would certainly recommend :)

I have been coming to Spice of Life for about 7 years now. I recently moved away and so returning to this restaurant was a high priority!! The owner is so friendly, always very welcoming and chatty and is genuinely interested in how you are. We had not booked a table and it is normally always quite busy, but we were seated immediately. We started with some poppadoms and then ordered the special meal deal- £12.50 for a starter, main dish, vegetable side and either rice or naan. It is great value for money. I had onion bhajia and my fellow diner had chicken chaat. We both ordered chicken razala for our main dish and shared mustard Bombay potatoes, sprouts with onion, pilau rice and a naan. We were stuffed! The meal was excellent. The curry was on the spicer side, but we had been made aware of that before ordering. I loved all the sauces and dips that come with the poppadoms! My favorite is the carrot, mango chutney and the other orange one, not sure of the flavor but it is amazing. Service is always excellent and I'm sure I will continue to come here for years to come when visiting London.

I really recommend this place. It's been in Lee High Road for donkey's years and I have used out many times. It's been consistently good and what I like is that the menu is always fresh with daily specials you haven't tried before. The owner is friendly and takes you through the specials which are a good deal price wise.

As I said in my previous review huge and i have used this restaurant on and off for the last 25 years so we decided to go have a sit down meal to night and are we glad we did what a surprise i had the great value 4 course meal my main dish lemon lamb was delicious the lamb was so tender and not at all dry like my previous experience sorry moody and Hugh had his favourite korai lamb what a Hugh improvement we will definitely be going to the spice of life more often and yes i would recommend you give it a try you won't be sorry

I can't recommend The Spice of Life highly enough. It is a fantastic local, and you are always guaranteed a warm welcome. There are plenty of choices on the menu, and in addition there are daily specials, and a good value meal deal. The Manager takes the time to explain the different dishes, and is always happy to cook dishes that are not on the menu, or to suggest dishes to suit your taste. As a veggie, I always enjoy the vegetable tray, as it changes daily and uses fresh, seasonal vegetables from the local market e.g. tonight I had paprika cauliflower, mung bean dhal and vegetable niramish, all very tasty. Apparently the meat is good too, but I've never tried that! All in all, highly recommended.

I've eaten in this restaurant previously, and had a nice experience. When I tried ordering a takeaway from them, however, I found their customer service to be abhorrent. The delivery took them 3 hours to deliver, despite numerous phone calls. We were treated quite awfully. When the food finally arrived the "paneer curry" was literally one of the worst curries I've ever seen; basically consisting of a few pieces of paneer floating in a bland thin sauce, Not a single vegetable in sight. A tesco microwave meal would have been more appetising.

I went there with my work colleagues and I had a great time. The food was excellent and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.I would highly recommend a trip to this place

Spice of Life is one of three eat-in curry houses along the middle-stretch of Lee High Road (from the Darjeeling to Panas) and if you were visiting any one of these establishments for the first time you might wish you’d tried one of the others instead. Spice of Life offers the usual Anglicised versions of so-called authentic Indian classics for a predominantly young-ish, Anglo-Saxon, professional wannabe clientele. Mudi, the manager, is helpful, but the hired hands can be extremely dense and hard-going at the best of times. We always go for the vegetarian options, for which the choice is reasonable.Spice of Life is an okay but average experience – and a very expensive one at that, with prices much on a par with those establishments found in posh and picturesque Blackheath Village just down the road (Khan's, Saffron Club, Sopna, etc). We come here every now and then – not because of the high quality of its food or service – but purely because it’s a minute’s walk from our front door.

Superb Indian food.A good atmosphere and always extremely good.Reasonable priced and worth a visit or two.

Been going to the spice for around 30years now. They catered for my husband s big birthday ....all our guests said the food was lovely . Thank you moody

Good indian restaurant in Lewisham, the food was quite good and in large portions, also the service was quite good and hope to come again!!

An excellent Saturday night atmosphere at the restaurant tonight which was throughly enjoyed by all! Very enjoyable Chicken Koftas which I would highly recommend - but I'd recommend anything on the menu to be fair!!

Really lovely foot at Spice of life, the service is also kind and gentle, we will definitly come back as soon as we can.

Le restaurant se trouve proche de Covent Garden. La surface de cet établissement est exploitée jusqu'au dernier mètre carré, ce qui fait que le passage n'est pas toujours très aisé entre les tables. Le service est rapide mais moyen dans la manière de servir. Il ne faut s'attendre à de la grande gastronomie mais les plats que nous avons mangés étaient de bonne qualité.

After a hard week's work, we decided to treat ourselves to a Friday night meal at the Spice. As usual, it was excellent. I have never had a bad dish here and this was no exception. The condiment tray with the popadums is the best you will get anywhere. Great to see it packed to the scuppers too. If you have not been, you should really give it a try. I doubt you will taste many more enjoyable Indian meals.

Fantastic Indian restaurant in Lewisham, the food is delicious and the service is also kind and gentle!!

I moved from Hither Green to Singapore over six years ago having been a regular for the previous 22 years. On my annual visit to London I decided to venture down to see how things have changed and see if my favourite curry restaurant was still there. Well, not only was the restaurant still there. but Moody was in his usual early evening position carefully folding napkins at a rear table. He welcomed me warmly and we chatted the early evening away until the restaurant filled up. The dips with the papadums were excellent as usual and a great appetiser. A couple of beers, delicious jalfrezi, nan and dhal were all superb and just as I remember them. Shame Moody can't open in Singapore!A must visit restaurant if you are in SE London. Stephen 2015

Definitely the best curry in the area, if not the whole of London. The specials menu provides added variety and I particularly recommend the vegetable special tray - three dishes that change regularly with the seasons and include some unusual surprises like curried sprouts (delicious!). If you haven't tried it yet, give it a go soon.

We loved these Indian Restaurant, if in the areas we will definitely come back and try some seafood dishes.

I took a chance on The Spice of Life after it had been recommended by a cabbie in town. My guests and I loved our meals and the staff was incredibly friendly.The Lamb Tikka Massala and Fennel Chicken were both winners. The heat of the dishes were a bit spicier than other restaurants. I'll be back soon.

My fiancé and I live very close to The Spice of Life and are regular visitors. The set menu is excellent value and regularly changes with new and exciting curries that are a step away from 'the norm'. The staff and owner are very attentive and always do there best to provide an excellent experience. Would thoroughly recommend!

Went for a post work meal and all six of us enjoyed it very much. The food was delicious and we all thought the service was good. Really couldn't fault any of the meal and we shall be returning soon!

I first heard about this place several months ago and I've been meaning to go for a while. I finally managed to pay a visit while I was in the area and I left feeling thoroughly disappointed. While some aspects of the food were good, most of it was poor. The service was also slow due to the restaurant being understaffed. The prices were also mostly a little above average and if that wasn't bad enough, a non-optional 10% service charge is added to the bill.The size of the menu is pretty average for an Indian restaurant. The dessert menu is also surprisingly different as they don't stocking the same range of desserts that pretty much every Indian restaurant in the UK serve. There are a number of specials available here on the board too. However, I don't know how regularly these change or if they are even unique items at all as I noticed that some of the options on the boards also appeared on the menu. Despite the good value on offer on the board, I decided against it, instead choosing to have the items I wanted even though it cost me almost twice as much. As I later found out, this proved to be a mistake. I decided to start with the meat samosas, which I then followed up with a chicken phall and cheese naan before finishing with raspberry sorbet. I also ordered some papadums and a mango lassi.The papadums were served promptly and were not cooked to order, which proved to be a downside as the two I was served had clearly been sat around for some time. I was disappointed with the quality of them too as they were inferior to the ones that you can buy from the supermarket. The spicy papadum was the biggest disappointment as I found it to be overly hard as well as lacking in flavour. On a more positive note the chutney tray had a lot more options than usual, with there being a total of seven different things instead of the standard four. While most of them were fairly average and a couple were rather bland, their mango chutney was really nice and much better than the standard fare. It even came with some nice big chunks of mango instead of just being the sauce.The meat samosa was something of a mixed bag as while the meat inside tasted absolutely superb, with its flavour only being made all the better by the spices inside, the coating of the samosa really let it down. I simply found it to be far too hard and crispy, which didn't allow the samosa to be consumed as easily as it should have been, with it falling apart all over the place. The samosas came with a small side salad as well, but it was very small and there was no dressing on it. There was however a small amount of some form of sweet chilli sauce on the side, which tasted really nice, but there wasn't much of it at all.The mango lassi came between the starter and the main and I found it to be a massive disappointment. Firstly, the glass it came in was fairly small. More importantly though, I found that the lassi was extremely bland and there was very little taste present at all. What was there also tasted more akin to banana. This was definitely the worst lassi I have ever had anywhere and I have one every time I visit an Indian restaurant. However, on a more positive note, there was only one ice cube in the bottom and they hadn't overloaded the glass with ice in order to make it appear as though there was more like some places do.The chicken phall was the biggest disappointment of the evening. To start with, the heat level of the dish was extremely weak. I asked for it to be 'as hot as they were prepared to make it', but all they could muster up was a dish as spicy as what would be a madras in most Indian restaurants. If that's the best they can do, I dread to think how mild their other curries are. The disappointment with the curry didn't stop there. The chicken chunks inside were really poor and, while tender, they were very crumbly and fell apart all too easily. The biggest disappointment was the onion on top. They had placed an excessive amount of raw onion on top of the dish prior to serving. Why they did this, I do not know as all it did was overpower the curry to the extent that when you consumed them together, the onion was the only thing that could be tasted. The cheese naan, that I had served alongside it, was also disappointing. While there was plenty of cheese, which was a definite positive, the bread was extremely doughy in both taste and texture and it didn't taste, or even look, like much of a naan bread at all.The sorbet was probably the best thing I had during my visit. I initially requested apple, but I was told they had run out, so they recommended that I try the raspberry sorbet, which isn't listed on the menu, instead. I thought that it had a really nice taste in general, although it perhaps could have done with being a bit more sour as the taste wasn't all that intense. It also wasn't an entirely true sorbet and it had something of a hard texture, which didn't really compliment the flavour of the sorbet at all and this really let it down. There were small bits of raspberry in the sorbet though and I felt that this helped to alleviate the problem with the texture somewhat as they helped to heighten the flavour.The service here was, for the most part, very average for an Indian restaurant. The staff were nice and friendly, but not overly so. They let me in a few minutes before opening when they saw me outside. I thought that this was a definite plus as there don't seem to be many places at all that do this. However, the service was really let down by how slow it was. However, this wasn't really the staff's fault. The problem lied in the fact that there wasn't enough of them available. There were only two staff members out front and for most of the evening they were busy dealing with takeaway orders, which were placed over the phone. This left one member of staff to deal with all the tables at the same time. This was at the best of time as though as there were lengthy periods where no staff were available at all. This meant that it was difficult to get their attention, which led to me being unable to request a spicier phall. It also led to my bill taking a long time to come, with it taking a total of twelve minutes to arrive.The prices in here are, for the most part, above average. However, not drastically so. Papadums, for example, are 20p more expensive than most places sell them for. A few items did seem to be extremely expensive compared to average though with a single glass of lassi, for example, costing £3.50 and a jug costing £8.95. Based on the quality of the food I experienced, I don't believe that the above average prices are justified. If the fact that the prices on the menu being above average wasn't bad enough, there is also a non-optional 10% service charge here which I found to be absolutely disgusting as it just made the prices even more of a rip-off. It wouldn't have been so bad if the service was good, but given how slow it was there is simply no justification for this additional service charge. Service charges should be optional, not compulsory. The only positive price-wise here was that they offer a good deal, which runs throughout the week, on a four course menu. £12.95 gets you a starter, a main, a side dish and one of a rice or a naan. However, the options for all of these choices are extremely limited and you're not really saving a great deal of money. Better offers are available elsewhere.The place looks absolutely terrible inside. The tiles on the will make it look like a takeaway while the bar at the back makes it look like a run-down pub. It doesn't look like much of an Indian restaurant inside at all and it looks more like a place that can't decide what it wants to be. A little effort has been made with some pictures on the walls, but that is about it.

We are regulars at this local curry house, which consistently delivers flavoursome, well-priced Indian cuisine. We have tried many other Indian establishments and often select dishes which are also available at the Spice to make a true comparison of the respective establishments. Invariably, we find that the dish on offer at the Spice is superior to that found in the "alternative" restaurant. It is difficult to define why this is, other than to say that the Spice knows how to deliver flavour. The condiment tray which accompanies the papadums is second to none, and the main courses are well-sized and always delicious. Particular favourites are the malabar fish (or prawns), the korai dishes and the sagwala, but you will not be disappointed, whatever your choice. The brinjal bhajis and the peshwari naan are also highly recommended. There is usually a meal deal on offer which is extremely good value. Moody is a most genial host and commands a regular, loyal clientele because he provides good value and extremely tasty food. If you have not been there before, give it a try.

Went night before valentines night. Beautiful comfy restaurant with beautiful food and beautiful custom. Thoroughly recommend this family run restaurant.

Having been a family favourite for years I've been going back lots lately and can safely say it's still the best curry I've eaten! Moody and his team are a friendly bunch and always make you feel at home. Someone who doesn't like curry could be transformed in the Spice that's how good it is! Don't waste time deciding whether or not to book give Moody a ring he will always have space for you and your party.

My second time visiting this month! After a friends's recommendation, we went along one Thursday evening.We were very warmly greeted by the owner, Mhudi and shown to out table. He took us through the specials available, though we didn't go with them on this occasion and instead went for the main menu.The food arrived very quickly and the quality was seriously top notch - some of the best I've ever had!Will definitely be going again, and lucky it's quite local to home!

I've never had a meal here that has been less than very good, it really is excellent food at very fair prices. The service is speedy, staff are knowledgeable and very helpful, and the food is freshly cooked and always arrives steaming hot. I've eaten there around 10 times over the past two years, if you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit.

I've been eating at The Spice of Life for many years, almost as long as it's been open and I've never had a bad meal there. the staff are always friendly and the food delicious.

As a former resident of Lee, this was a favorite haunt of ours. The food is delicious, service outstanding and the atmosphere welcoming. We now live in Australia and have found nothing that compares to the Spice of Life. I could never come to London without visiting Moody and enjoying his fabulous food and hospitality.

As a lover of indian food, went to spice of life when we visited family in London.. It was nice different to what we are used to at our local Indian but in a good way. Food and service good can't fault it at all..

Excellent food excellent service and excellent value. Having experienced many Indian restaurants "Spice" is up the top with great food at very reasonable prices. The menu changes with new ideas but the quality remains the same. very friendly and helpful staff.

Me and my partner were in London to visit and thought we'd try spice of life. The food was nice and fresh, full of flavour! Only reason why it's not a 5* rating is because I thought the service could be a bit more attentive. But would recommend this restaurant!

I went with my husband as a treat and I'm still smiling what a loverly place made to feel special from the moment I walked in food was to die for and atmosphere was so peaceful I'll remember the spice of life for a long time as I'm going back really amazing place thankyou for a wonderful evening X

Visited spice of life after a recommendation have to say it was the best curry ive had in a very long time the staff were attentive without being invasive and the atmosphere was excellent then came the food and I have to say 5 stars for a wonderful meal and the price was very reasonable I look forward to seeing them again soon

Great food,especially the seasonal specials. None of that nasty greasiness that you get in some Bangladeshi/Indian restuarants and food tastes fresh and delicious. Add to that the marvelous Moody as your host. It would be hard to find a more considerate and friendly Maitre D. A good choice of wine. Ridiculously cheap prices. We used to live locally and visit weekly, although we have moved away now, we still visit whenever we go back to the area. We've had food from other Indian restaurants in SE London but have almost always been disappointed and always wish our friends had ordered from the Spice.

It was an experience which wont forget in my life. Food was and the staff where very friendly. It was a very gud experience

I had a take away from the Spice of Life a couple of weeks ago. This site ranks it as one of the best 20 restaurants in London, but to me it seemed like a below par Indian take away. The restaurant itself was small though had a pretty big screen showing football when I went in. Fine if you like to watch sport while you're in a restaurant, but I'm not a big fan as it's very distracting.I ordered several dishes which ranged from the average to the overly sweet (chicken tikka masala) to the downright awful watery, greasy mush of a curry. And the naan tasted very much like those you buy in a shop and re-heat rather than having been made freshly. Maybe I ordered the wrong dishes and perhaps I'm wrong about the naan (maybe I was just unlucky and it was freshly made but badly done), but I won't be going back to double check.I'm a big fan of Indian food. I regularly go to Memsaheb on Thames, Babur and the Lahore Kebab house (tvs notwithstanding!), but it is a complete mystery to me that this restaurant is so highly rated.

I moved to the area a few months ago looking for a local takeaway and discovered Spice of Life just across the road. Tried it once and have been going back almost every week!The food is phenomenal, have tried most of the curries from teh tikka masala to the vindaloo (highly recommended!) and yet to find one I don't love. The starters, sides and tandoori dishes are amazing, it's hard to fault really.The restaurant is cosy and the staff are all really nice and friendly and always seem to have a smile on their face which is always good to see.All in allI would highly recommend the Spice of Life whether for dining or takeaway, the value for money given the quality of food can't be beaten.