The entrance to Chakra.

TALLINN — As an exiled Brit nothing gets me more excited than news of a new Indian restaurant.

There is a definite shortage of spicy food in Estonia in general. Even if you find an apparently authentic dish it often is tamed to a level that misses point.

The people behind Chakra have a successful and well known track record in Tallinn.  They run Café VS, which is an Indian cuisine institution here, but its industrial interior is somewhat outdated and at odds with the outstanding food is serves up.

They also run the quirky Africa Kitchen, which is a casual venue in the Old Town with a decent selection of value for money snacks and meals.

Chakra is different.  It retains the quality of food delivered at Café VS and provides a more cozy, sophisticated and authentic environment. Though it’s embedded in the Old City and not easy to find, its well worth searching for.

Chef Venkat Indla only offers 92 authentic options, so you could get bored after a few years.

My personal favorite is the Karahi Gosht. Lamb in a spicy tomato sauce with coriander for under €12 ticks all my boxes.

As for value for money, soups and salads at €3-5 are reasonable and the main courses are around €12, unless you want to show off with lobster or large prawns.

A strange and confusing aspect to the menu is that the appetizers list that can match or exceed the main course prices.

Give it a go, but navigate the menu carefully.  Quality and authentic Indian flavours are guaranteed.

Bon Appétit!

Opening Times: Sun- Thur 12.00 – 24.00, Fri – Sat 12.00 – 01.00

Address: Restaurant Chakra, Bremeni Käik 1, Tallinn (Old Town)

Contact: Tel +372 641 2615 www.chakra.ee