Haandi Restaurant, Naguru

Haandi takes its name from the deep, narrow-necked cooking pot used across northern India for slow-cooked curries and biryani. Its Naguru branch has served North Indian food on Naguru Drive since 2016. It is a casual, family-friendly restaurant rather than a formal dining room, and it caters for both sit-down meals and takeaway, which makes it useful if you are staying in Naguru, Kololo or Bukoto and want a reliable Indian meal without heading into the centre.

The menu is built around the classics of northern Indian cooking. Expect dishes from the tandoor, the charcoal-heated clay oven used for naan and for marinated meats such as tikka, as well as biryani, rice cooked in layers with spiced meat or vegetables, and a range of curries, and the official Visit Kampala listing singles out butter chicken, samosas and Indian sweets. Vegetarian dishes sit alongside the meat curries, and a full bar serves drinks with the food.

The dining room is spacious and air-conditioned, which is welcome on hot afternoons. The restaurant also handles outside catering and events for up to 800 guests, so it is well set up for large groups and celebrations. On busy evenings service can be slower, so allow time and order a few starters to share while you wait.

The restaurant is a sensible choice for a first Indian meal in Kampala outside the city centre. It suits families with children, groups of friends and anyone who wants a straightforward Indian meal in a relaxed setting. Order a mixed tandoori platter or samosas to start, then butter chicken, a vegetable curry and biryani with naan to share. Takeaway is a good option if you are staying in a nearby apartment or hotel, and catering enquiries go through the same phone number.

Naguru is a residential and embassy area on a hill north-east of the city centre, next to Kololo and Bukoto. A taxi or boda boda from Kololo takes only a few minutes, and the restaurant is close to the Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz on Naguru Hill. Ndere Cultural Centre in Ntinda is a short drive further out, so Haandi can be a handy stop for an early dinner before or after a show.