After our mediocre experience at the Eastern Empire, SwishJunction is most pleased to report that we’ve found a new place to satisfy our curry cravings. Enter Rajah Rowing Team. We like the unusual name, which is said to emulate the teamwork behind a rowing team and throughout our browsing-ordering-consuming experience we came to agree.

Located on Balham High Road next to Du Cane Court, the takeaway-only establishment answered the phone promptly and took my order with ease, estimating 20 minutes for our food to be ready. We opted to pick up our dinner as we live about two minutes walk (we’re not that lazy. Not yet, anyway).

Now, we were a little dubious when we heard this short turnaround time. We hadn’t ordered a great deal, nevertheless we had visions of chefs hastily microwaving leftover curry and repackaging it. There is such a thing as too quick, after all.

We arrived after 20 minutes (spent productively buying beer) to being greeted by first name, our takeaway ready. The kitchen is clear for everyone waiting to see, and we were impressed with the calm, efficient, slick operation that appeared to be in process. Our thoughts:

Chicken tikka masala: more orangey-yellow than the orange-red colours usually expected, there were plenty of small-medium chunks of tender chicken. The sauce was a little thinner than our usual masala experience, but still creamy without any graininess.

Lamb rogan: no fat on this meat whatsoever, which was surprisingly tender too. The sauce had a pleasing kick to it; simple, featuring just onions rather than any other veg, and not too thick in consistency.

Peshwari naan: everything about this was fresh, with good, equal measures of coconut and sultanas. Again, not too grainy and didn’t break into pieces when tearing off a piece.

Onion pakora: we got three (cue battles over the third one. We split it. Very noble.) medium-sized pakoras, which were crisp with minimal grease (no point in dieting when it comes to Indian takeaways but the sight of grease stains on the paper bag is enough to put anyone off). Enough content without being doughy or mushy, too.

Our order came with pappadums, raita, chutney, and, something we’ve not noticed before in takeaways, packets of wet wipes. A nice touch.

We bet you’re thinking, “but where are the pictures?”. Well, it tasted so good we ate it before thinking to photograph. Perhaps a testament to Rajah Rowing Team’s cooking. Nom.

Enq: Rajah Rowing Team, 238 Balham High Road, SW17 7AW. 020 8673 6961.