Modern Indian Restaurant Near Me in Arkley
Modern Indian Restaurant Near Arkley: Chit Chaat Barnet
If you live in Arkley, the closest modern Indian option on the High Street is Chit Chaat at 135 High Street, Barnet, about 1.5 miles east and a few minutes' drive along Barnet Road. It pairs a cocktail bar with street-food plates, tandoor sharing platters and brunch until 3pm.
Chef-founder Shikha Chadha cooks home-style North Indian recipes from Amritsar, then serves them in a relaxed, contemporary room where small plates arrive to share. Think avocado chaat beside a lassi, or a paneer kathi roll with a drink from the bar. The whole kitchen is nut- and seed-free, and the meat is halal.
4.5 on Google (555 reviews) · 5-star food hygiene · Always nut- and seed-free
Modern Indian Restaurant Near Me in Arkley: a taste of Chit Chaat
Searching for modern Indian restaurant near me in Arkley? Here is a look at the food and the room waiting for you at 135 High Street, Barnet.
From Arkley's green belt to a modern Indian table in Barnet
Arkley sits on the western edge of Barnet, all fields, quiet lanes and the old Arkley Windmill, so a night out usually means a short drive. Head east along Barnet Road and you reach the High Street in a few minutes. There are two car parks around the restaurant, which makes it easy to pull in, eat and head home without a long trek back to the village.
What makes the evening feel modern is the way the menu is built for sharing. Start at the bar, order a round of pani puri or palak patta chaat for the table, then let the tandoor do the rest: the vegetarian and non-vegetarian sharing platters each serve two, and they suit a couple or a pair of friends who like to try a bit of everything. Avocado chaat and the chicken kathi roll show the lighter, fusion side of the kitchen, while dal makhani and butter chicken keep the classics close.
Weekends work well for Arkley households. Saturday runs straight through from 12:00 to 23:00, so you can come for a late brunch of puri aloo or masala egg bhurji with Malabar paratha before 3pm, or book a table for dinner after a walk. Sunday is open 12:00 to 22:00. Remember Chit Chaat is closed on Tuesdays. With a nut- and seed-free kitchen and a kids menu, it is a straightforward choice when the whole family comes too.
Cocktail bar before dinner
Arrive from Arkley a little early and start at the bar with a cocktail or an Indian soft drink such as Thums Up or Limca, then move to your table when the chaats land.
Platters made for two
The tandoor sharing platters, one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian, each serve two. They are an easy order for an Arkley couple who want paneer tikka, lamb chops or malai chicken tikka in one go.
Brunch until 3pm
Brunch plates run until 3pm, so a Saturday drive in from Arkley can mean keema pav, an aloo paratha or a masala omelette roll rather than a full evening meal.
What "modern" means here
Sharing plates instead of set courses, street-food chaats next to tandoor grills, kathi rolls and brunch until 3pm, and a cocktail bar alongside lassis and Indian soft drinks. The recipes stay rooted in North Indian home cooking.
Find us
135 High Street, Barnet EN5 5UZ
Get directions
Opening hours
Mon, Wed to Fri: 12-3pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Sat: 12-11pm · Sun: 12-10pm
Tuesday: closed
Questions from Arkley
How long does it take to drive from Arkley to Chit Chaat?
Only a few minutes. Arkley is about 1.5 miles from 135 High Street, Barnet, and the usual route is east along Barnet Road. There are two car parks around the restaurant, so most Arkley guests drive in, park nearby and walk the last minute to the door.
Is Chit Chaat a good choice for a modern night out from Arkley?
Yes, if you like sharing plates and a drink first. There is a cocktail bar, a relaxed contemporary room and a menu built around chaats, tandoor platters and kathi rolls. Recipes come from chef Shikha Chadha's family in Amritsar, cooked lighter on oil and spice without losing flavour.
Which dishes show off the fusion side of the menu?
Try the avocado chaat, the crispy palak patta chaat and the paneer or chicken kathi rolls. They sit alongside tandoor favourites and North Indian classics, so a table can mix something new with something familiar. Ask the team if you want help putting a sharing spread together.
Can I bring my children from Arkley for brunch?
You can. There is a kids menu, brunch is served until 3pm, and the whole kitchen is nut- and seed-free, which many parents find reassuring. Weekends are a popular time for families, so booking a table online or calling 07414 109555 is a good idea.
Driving in from Arkley this weekend? Book a table online or call 07414 109555 and start with a drink at the bar.
Book a table