I really enjoy Ganapati, from the mint tea through to the cardamom ice-cream. As another review stated: it's a little pricier than your 'average Indian'. BUT WORTH IT! I think there are different little twists of spicing that make it really worth a try. A delicious crab and coconut cold 'salad' starter, for instance. Warm and zestily flavourful sauces for the papadums. I always go for the thali option - vegetarian or lamb - because it allows for so many little bits. Some cool raita. Dhal. Rice. Pappadum. Spicy meat in a sauce that is mild until it hits, with the warmth building and building. Do not forget the paratha. It's a flakey butter coil of perfection. GET IT. Service is friendly, and the place is an explosion of colour. Yelp note: only one unisex bathroom. Not always an issue, but can be during busy times.

I think the pori salad was what had me almost fall over because not only did it taste so good that I almost shovelled the entire thing in my mouth, but the textures were out of this woooooorld!!!!! It was crunchy and delicious and oh my goodness- yum! So try the pori salad. We tried all of the appetisers except the vegetarian street snacks and all of them were very good- the vegetable paneer roll and prawn peera were also winners. For entrees we all split the Cochin prawn curry Chemeen manga Both were excellent and also balanced one another well. A VERY yummy place to eat!

Having been on holiday to Kerala a few times now, I must say (although a cliché) the food at Ganapati is very authentic and the best Indian food I've had outside of India. The staff are really friendly, the masala chai is delicious, the decor is very pretty, great for any occasion! Also fantastic for vegetarians. I highly recommend!

Tucked down a little side street in Peckham this is a hidden gem. I had a really interesting and delicious vegetarian thali .. I particularly liked the dahl as well as the beetroot dish. Friendly if a little slow service, and a touch more costly than the cheap South Indian places of Tooting .. However you get what you pay for with a comfortable ambiance and pleasant vibe.

Really delicious. I had the lamb dalcha with coconut rice (£12.75), while my friends had roti and raita, papadums with chutneys, and a thali. It was all quite tasty and smelled amazing. From what I know of traditional South Indian cooking, it also was pretty authentic. From many Indian dining experiences in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where Indian is quite standard, I'd say this compares with what I'm used to in terms of deliciousness :) I liked the interior, which felt both trendy and laid-back at the same time. The location's nice, right near the Peckham Rye station. Service was friendly and I was given extra hot peppers to accompany my meal at no extra cost. The only drawback, for me, are the prices, which seem to be on the high side. Of course, since we aren't in Kerala, we can't get an entire, delicious, gigantic meal for under £5. We're in London, so prices are higher. But this place would be more of a gem if it's prices were a little more appealing.

We had a lovely feast of food inspired by Southern India at Ganapati on Easter Sunday evening. It has been a couple of years since I last had the pleasure of eating here and I'm pleased to be able to report that the standard of food and service are both still excellent. We booked a week or so in advance of our visit as this is a very popular local restaurant and on our arrival at 9pm we were shown to one of the long sharing tables, which seat 8 people in comfort, at the front of the restaurant. There are a few smaller tables available if you don't like sharing and there is a lovely outside terrace for when the weather is a little warmer in the evening or if you don't mind wrapping up well. The decor is simple but effective. Lots of light wood, very fetching light green walls, with the odd one in red, and a view into the bustling kitchen makes this a charming, chilled space in which to enjoy your supper. We started with a few poppadoms with some of the excellent home-made sauces and chutney while we tried to make our choice from the very appealing menu. Plenty of tasty options for vegetarians and some interesting fish dishes. We started by sharing a portion of the tasty street snacks which went down very well, although I seem to remember having a larger selection of snacks on previous visits. B moved onto the Chennai Kozhi Curry which came with a very rich almost sticky sauce. She teamed this up with a portion of the curd rice which was pretty divine and was in danger of bringing on a bad case of the food envy. However, as I tucked into my crispy masala dosa which came on a metal serving tray with separate sections for its various, very flavoursome, condiments I decided I was more than happy with my selection. We washed this down with plenty of tap water which came in a lovely metal jug for you to help yourself and was drunk from beautiful hand crafted "cups" made by a local potter (these were available to buy/order via the restaurant). We also ordered a bottle of the Sibarita Selection Riesling 2010 from Chile which was a great wine; a big mouthful with lots of rich fruit but a very dry finish. We liked that bottle a lot and it was a great compliment to the food. We shared some home-made vanilla and cardamom ice cream to finish which was expertly made with a delicate flavour and a fine texture. By now it was well gone 11pm and the restaurant was empty bar for ourselves but we didn't feel in any way rushed to leave by the very friendly, laid back staff. If you don't live in the area Ganapati is a special little place which is well worth making a trip across town to visit.

This is simply London's best-kept secret. Yes, you read that right: London's best-kept secret. I have been coming here for years and its success is grounded in the fact that good, fresh an seasonal food, coupled with friendly and empathetic service will always produce winning results. Firstly, book a table. There is no point in rocking up to this place, simply on the off-chance that there'll be a table available for the VIP called you. I've seen grown men turned away crying. In fact, i don't actually want to write this review as it'll alert you all to the fabulosity of the place, which in turn will make it harder for me to get a table when I fancy guaranteed good food. So what's so great about the place? The Banana Leaf Thali alongside other dishes such as the Kerala Khozi offers a sublime taste experience. I say this having been to, like you, some of the finest Indian restauarants in the land! Let's put it this way, compared to the Michelin-starred Cinnamon club you're getting the same flavours at Ganapati for a fraction of the cost. Though I don't have the bandwidth to understand vegetarians, i do tolerate them eating with me. Haha. Seriously though, i can confirm that the Waynad Veg Curry is reputedly as authentic as anything you'll find 'back home'. I love this place as you won't find anything like it anywhere else in the city, a true gem, a recent Open Table award winner too, to boot. Anyway, enough, I've told you too much!

A lovely restaurant with a special familiar atmosphere in the area of Peckham which is apart from that really poor with good places to go. Therefor Ganapati is more than a very welcome hideaway with its colorful rooms and its beautiful little backyard! Delicious dishes from south and central India, try the special warm bread as a side dish! The desserts are enough to make your heart melt and the coffee is remarkably full-bodied roasted! One of my favorite addresses!

This is one of those geuine hidden gems that makes London worth all the little hassles of living here. It's a very authentic South Indian restaurant. The food is exceptional, especially for the price with some regular classics and a good turnover of options on the rest of the menu. The chutnies are worth a visit alone, packed with flavour and originality (spiced beetroot and their signature pickled garlic) and none of your standard pickle fare. The atmosphere and service are what make's it stand out, it genuinely feels like you've been welcomed into someone's home, the staff are chatty and friendly, very laid back and of course very knowledgeable and passionate about the food. Excellent wine selection and meantime ales all designed to complement the strong flavours. No excuse, go...go!!

Ganapati is a proper Indian restaurant serving classic South and Central Indian dishes cooked to perfection; a balance of distinct flavours. textures and colours that complement and contrast with each other. Too many so-called 'Indian' restaurants serve up slop that does a real dis-service to Indian food. Ganapati doesn't insult your palate, your intelligence or your wallet. This is a small local restaurant so seating is at a premium. You are advised to book in advance. There are three large bench tables if you don't mind sharing plus five indoor tables. In summer they have a further six tables outside which are just lovely . . . . shaded by palm and banana trees! The Thalis are great value (a tray with several small bowls of food). Try the vegetarian street snacks, just lovely. The service here is always delightfully charming. Drinks are good too, a small choice of beers from a local brewer matched to the food along with a few sensible wine options selected for their suitability to the food rather than some warped notion of sophistication. This place is run by people with some respect for Indian food, and it shows. Named for Ganesh, the elephant headed God who removes obstacles and brings good fortune, this place deserves it's good reputation and much success in the future. That one leaves here with a sense of well being says something very good indeed about the quality of food available here. UPDATE - A recent review in Metro has resulted in cascades of diners so phone ahead to book as this is a small and cosy place. The Guardian reviewed Ganapati in July 2010 - and raved about it! Ha! Qype (and me) reviewed it first!