The Tamil Crown Islington: London’s Bold Indian Take on the Sunday Roast

London has no shortage of Sunday roasts. But every now and then, a restaurant comes along and asks a more interesting question: what if the roast stayed comforting, communal, and indulgent, but tasted completely different?

That is exactly what The Tamil Crown is doing in Islington.

Opened by the team behind the hugely popular Tamil Prince, this modern Desi pub takes the structure of a traditional British Sunday roast and rebuilds it with South Indian flavours, masala-spiced meats, flaky roti, and thali-style platters loaded with sides.

The result is one of the smartest and most satisfying reinterpretations of the Sunday lunch tradition currently happening in London.

What makes the Tamil Crown different

At first glance, the format is familiar: you choose your roast, add sides, and settle into a cosy pub for a long Sunday meal.

Then the platter arrives.

Instead of a standard plate with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables, your roast arrives on a large metal thali platter loaded with:

• Turmeric roast potatoes
• Deep-fried cauliflower
• Spiced potato and pea masala
• Stir-fried cabbage
• Coconut lentils
• Mango pickle and poppadoms

And where a Yorkshire pudding would normally sit, there is buttery, flaky roti designed for scooping and mopping every last drop.

What to order at the Tamil Crown

Roasted Lamb Shank: The standout order. The meat is slow-roasted, deeply spiced, and tender enough to pull apart with a fork, while the masala gravy is rich without becoming overpowering.

Masala Roast Beef: A stronger, more savoury option that works beautifully with the pickle and roti.

Masala Roast Chicken: A lighter roast choice that still carries plenty of spice and depth.

Onion Bhajis with Green Chutney: They’re crisp, freshly fried, and exactly the sort of pub snack that makes waiting for the roast feel like part of the occasion

Why the roti matters

The roti is not just a novelty replacement for Yorkshire pudding.

It changes how you eat the meal.

Instead of cutting everything into tidy bites, you tear pieces of roti and scoop up gravy, potatoes, and masala together. It makes the roast feel more communal and tactile, closer to a feast than a formal plate of food.

And honestly, it works brilliantly.

A proper pub, not just a restaurant

The Tamil Crown occupies the former Charles Lamb pub on Elia Street, a historic Islington building dating back to the 19th century. The team has kept the pub's character with wooden floors, etched glass, cosy corners while opening the space up into something more social and contemporary.

Inside, you will find:

• An open fire
• A separate speakeasy-style bar
• Two floors of seating
• A snug dining area
• Outdoor seating
• Private dining options

What makes the place distinctive is that it genuinely functions as both a pub and a restaurant. You can come for a full Sunday feast, or just stop in midweek for a pint and snacks at the bar.

The chef and the team behind it

The kitchen is led by Prince Durairaj, formerly of London's acclaimed Roti King. That background shows up immediately in the quality of the roti and the confident handling of spice and texture.

The wider team is the same group behind The Tamil Prince in Barnsbury, which became one of London's breakout pub openings after launching in 2022. The Tamil Crown builds on that success, but leans even harder into the idea of a neighbourhood pub with serious food.

Location and booking

Address: 16 Elia Street, London N1 8DE
Nearest Tube: Angel (Northern line), about a 5-minute walk
Phone: 020 7916 2920
Website: thetamilcrown.com

Bookings are handled through SevenRooms, and reservations open 28 days in advance at 10am. Sunday lunch slots are the hardest to get, so booking early is strongly recommended.

The Tamil Crown changes the format of Sunday Roasts without losing the comfort, generosity, and pub spirit that make a roast worth leaving the house for in the first place.

If you want a Sunday lunch that still feels recognisably British but tastes entirely different, this is one of the best bookings in London right now.