The Cook's Tale Restaurant Menu

Starters

  • Vegetarian Street Food Platter

    £15.95

    Vada Pav, Bengali vegetable chop, steamed vegetable idli, tomato chutney, sambhar. Vada pav is an iconic street food burger style dish from Mumbai. It consists of a soft brioche style bun filled with a chickpea flour and sweet potato dumpling and delicious chutneys. Vegetable chop or beet chop are a very popular street food snack from the streets of Kolkata. Idli is a rice based steamed pancake stuffed with spiced vegetables. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Mustard (Ask for vegan option)

  • Mushroom Gujiya, Poppy Seeds (Posto) Patty, Tomato and Red Lentil Sauce

    £12.95

    Gujiyas are fried dough pockets that are filled with sweet or savoury fillings. These little dumplings look like mini Cornish pasties. Mango and red onion salad, garlic and tomato chutney, mint and coriander chutney. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Mustard

  • Black Chickpea, Potatoes Kachori Chaat, Assorted Chutneys and Yoghurt, Fresh Coconut, Pomegranate

    £15.95

    Kachoris are the king amongst Indian street food dishes and are seen in different forms and variants throughout India. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk

  • Dosai with Gently Spiced Potatoes, Mustard, and Onions

    £13.95

    Sambar and assorted chutneys. Dosai is a South Indian crepe that is rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Celery, Dairy, Mustard (Ask for vegan option)

  • Cauliflower Manchurian

    £13.95

    Manchurian is the result of the adoption of Chinese cooking and seasoning techniques to suit Indian tastes and has now become a staple of Indian Chinese Cuisine. Crispy and moreish nuggets of cauliflower wrapped in a hot, sweet and spicy Chinese style sauce. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Soya, Gluten

  • Seafood Platter

    £16.95

    Fish cake, tiger prawn, soft shell crab, kebab of kent coast eel charcoal smoked, cod steamed in banana leaf, crab pate, pickled samphire, tamarind chutney, sourdough bread. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Molluscs, Crustaceans, Fish, Mustard, Gluten, Egg, Sesame seeds

  • Seasonal Game Platter

    £18.95

    Wild duck leg terrine, tandoori style quail, game sheekh kebab, game pate, mango and red onion salad, Goan style spiced Scotch quail egg, sourdough bread

  • Terrine of Wild Duck, Bhuna Sauce

    £15.95

    Goan style spiced Scotch quail egg, chilli and orange sauce, mango and red onion salad. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Mustard

  • Kebab of Tandoori Style Chicken Breast Chargrilled on Japanese Binchotan Charcoal, Kolkata Chicken Cutlet

    £12.95

    Coriander chutney, chicken roulade, raita. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Eggs, Celery, Sesame, Mustard

Mains

  • Large Dosai with Gently Spiced Potatoes, Mustard and Onions

    £22.95

    Sambar, assorted chutneys and seasonal vegetables. Dosai is a South Indian crepe and is rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Celery, Dairy, Mustard, Nuts (Ask for vegan option). Filling Selection:

  • Vegetarian Thali (Vegan Option Available)

    £25.95

    Butter Paneer, black chickpea masala, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, lentils, seasonal vegetables kadai, cumin rice, paratha, poppadoms, salad, onion bhaji, crispy okra, raita, vegetable chop, homemade pickle. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Mustard, Gluten, Nuts (Ask for vegan option)

  • Pan Grilled Seasonal Vegetable Steaks, Vegetables Cigar, Sauteed Spinach and Greens

    £23.95

    Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, tomato and ginger sauce. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Mustard, Gluten

  • Catch of the Day Cooked on Himalayan Salt

    £32.95

    Sauce of coconut, ginger and brown mustard, sautéed spinach and greens, masala potato. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Mustard, Fish, Crustaceans

  • Jumbo Black Tiger Prawn in Malai Sauce

    £31.95

    Masala potatoes, okra. "Malai" is a creamy coconut sauce from Eastern India. This dish has a Malaysian influence and the early version of the recipe might have been brought by Malaysian sailors to the Bay of Bengal around the 6th or 7th century AD. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Fish, Crustaceans, Molluscs, Mustard

  • Belly of Kentish Tamworth Pork

    £32.95

    Slow cooked pork belly, bhuna style pork ribs, Goan style vindaloo sauce, seasonal vegetables, pork crackling, masala potato. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Dairy, Nuts, Gluten

  • Chicken Breast in A Creamy Mace and Cardamom Marinade Smoked on Binchotan Charcoal, Bengali Chicken Puff

    £28.95

    Black chickpea Masala, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, butter chicken sauce. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Mustard

  • Lamb Cutlet, Pulled Lamb Cigar Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder on the Bone

    £36.95

    Bengali style rosemary fondant potatoes, cumin rice, charcoal roasted aubergine mash, sauce of piper chaba, ginger and aromatic spices. Piper chaba also known as "Chui pepper" is called the forgotten culinary fire in Indian cuisine. It is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and has an intense and earthy flavour. No one in India had heard of chillies before the Portuguese brought it in the early 15th century. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Dairy, Gluten

  • Tomahawk Steak Served with A "Kala Bhuna" Sauce

    £39.99

    Poppy seeds roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Kala bhuna (translates as Black roasted) is an aromatic sauce with spices such as nutmeg, black pepper cloves and raw cumin. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Mustard

  • Fresh Indian Flat Breads

    £4.95

  • Freshly Baked Stuffed Paratha Breads

    £5.95

Sides

  • Black Chickpea Masala

    £6.95

  • Crispy Okra

    £6.95

  • Spiced Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

    £4.95

  • Cumin Rice

    £4.95

  • Spinach and Lentil

    £5.95

  • Masala Potato

    £5.95

  • Assorted Pickles and Chutneys

    £2.95

  • Charcoal Roasted Aubergine Mash

    £5.95

  • Roasted Potatoes with Poppy Seeds

    £5.95

  • Bengali Fondant Potatoes

    £5.95

Creamy

  • Rose and Vanilla Crème Brulee

    £10.95

    An exotic twist to a classical French dessert with a subtle hint of rose and Madagascan vanilla. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Egg, Milk

  • Lemon Bavarois

    £9.95

    Served with mango coulis. An excellent palate cleanser after a flavoursome and spicy meal. Star anise adds depth and complexity of flavour to this tangy citrusy French pudding. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten

  • ​ Spanish Saffron, Madagascan Vanilla and Coconut Cheesecake

    £12.95

    Served with seasonal fruit coulis. This is our twist on a classic cheese cake. Not too sweet. Creamy with hints of saffron. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten

  • 24 Carat Gold Jumbo Gulab Jamun, Served with A Creamy Cardamom and White Chocolate Sauce

    £14.95

    Classic dessert from the Indian subcontinent flavoured with cardamom and rose

  • Soft Rasogolla from Bengal

    £12.95

    Experience the divine sweetness of Rasgulla--soft, spongy balls of milk pudding soaked in delicate sugar syrup. A timeless Indian dessert that melts in your mouth, offering a burst of flavour in every bite. Perfect for any celebration! Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten

Chocolatey

  • Chocolate Platter

    £16.95

    A selection of our popular chocolate desserts. This is one not to be missed by chocoholics! Chocolate cake, chocolate samosa, nectarine and chocolate ice cream in a golden dark chocolate sphere. Served with brandy butter, chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, chocolate diamond and rose brittle. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Egg, Nut, Peanut, Soya

  • Chocolate Samosas

    £14.95

    Served with passion fruit and guava parfait, chocolate sauce, fresh fruit and chocolate diamond. Handcrafted by our dessert chefs, these moreish nuggets of sweet pastry and milk chocolate were introduced to Kent by us in 2005. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Sulphur dioxide, Egg

Parfait / Sorbet / Ice Cream

  • Mango Kulfi

    £12.95

    Served with mango puree and fresh fruit It is a traditional Indian Ice cream. Every region has its own flavour and speciality. It is a popular choice during the hot and sweltering Indian summer months. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Egg

  • Fresh Seasonal Berry Parfait

    £9.95

    Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Eggs

  • Orange Blossom Ice Cream

    £9.95

    Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk

  • Dark Chocolate, Chilli and Cardamom Ice Cream

    £9.95

    Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, soya

  • Vegan Warm Semolina Halwa Cake with Orange Blossom Ice Cream and Vegan Hot Chocolate

    £10.95

    A twist on a traditional delicacy made from semolina during all popular festivals in the Indian subcontinent. Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, soya

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Nestled in the heart of Canterbury, The Cook's Tale Restaurant Menu offers an imaginative and contemporary take on traditional Indian cuisine, carefully designed for diners seeking refined flavours and elegant presentation. Located at 14-15 Beer Cart Lane, the restaurant stands out not only for its award-winning culinary approach but also for its commitment to seasonality, authenticity, and creative fusion.

What sets The Cook’s Tale apart is its dedication to storytelling through food. The menu is structured like chapters in a novel, taking diners on a journey that blends regional Indian dishes with modern European techniques. Standouts include the “Hyderabadi Lamb Shank Rogan Josh” which arrives beautifully plated, offering deep, rich flavours that reflect careful marination and slow cooking. Meanwhile, the “Seafood Moilee” presents a delicate Kerala-style coconut curry elevated with the freshness of monkfish and scallops - a true highlight for seafood lovers.

The tasting menu, available with expertly paired wines, is an ideal option for those who want to explore the chef’s creative vision in full. Each dish arrives with a short narrative, enhancing the experiential nature of the meal. From a quality standpoint, ingredients are clearly top-tier, and the attention to detail in both flavour and aesthetics rivals some of London’s best fine-dining establishments.

Compared to other Indian restaurants in Kent, The Cook’s Tale delivers a far more upscale and conceptual experience. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, the value lies in the artistry, innovation, and memorable service. For special occasions, culinary enthusiasts, or anyone curious about where Indian cuisine is headed next, this restaurant is a must-visit.

The Cook’s Tale isn’t just a place to eat - it’s where food becomes storytelling, and every dish has a voice.