Osh Kosh There’s Lots of Nosh – Canterbury, England

Simmered In A Sexy Sauce
One of my housemates always seems to be annoyed with me simply because The Raj Venue (92 St. Dunstans Street, +44 (0) 1227 462653) is my Indian restaurant of choice in Canterbury. Okay, so it may not be the most authentic Indian food in the world but surely the only place to get real Indian food is in India. The Raj Venue’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly waiters mean that it is the ideal place to start or finish a night in Canterbury. With its bright decor and modern music, it has chosen not to follow other Indian restaurants down the route that so many other Indian restaurants in the UK go down. The quality of food reflects this individuality with fluffy rice, juicy chicken, succulent prawns, and a delicious selection of breads. Show them your student card just before you pay and get a 10% discount.

Chish and Fips
There is a common tendency among touristy towns to fill their streets with fish’n'chip shops. Canterbury has a fair few but most of them suffer from not being very good. If you want to have good fish’n'chips then the City Fish Bar (30 St. Margarets Street, +44 (0) 1227 760873) is the place to go. Their advert on a bin close to the shop, which is near The Canterbury Tales tourist attraction, boldly states that they sell the ‘Best fish and chips in town’. This would be a rather cheeky proclamation if it were not true. Their chips are always perfectly cooked and the fish is always encased in a wonderfully crispy batter that gives way to succulent fish. My favourite of battered sausage and chips never disappoints. They also sell a wide range of other fish’n'chip shop delicacies such as chip butties, and fried mushrooms.

Have a Pizza This and a Pasta That
Il Vaticano (35 St. Margarets Street, +44 (0) 1227 765333) offers fabulous Italian food in an intimate yet warm and welcoming restaurant. Choose a pasta from the menu and then team it with any one of their wide range of sauces. From creamy to tomatoey, they are all prepared with pride and taste delicious. If pasta does not take your fancy then try a freshly baked pizza or any one of their many other specialities. Il Vaticano was in the 1997 Egon Ronay guide and clearly would be again if he was not too busy helping airlines and service stations to improve their food. Pre-book a table for Monday to Thursday and be eligible for a 10% student discount.

Chicken and Ribs, No Fibs
Who ever came up with the idea of serving chicken and ribs together was a genius. The combination of moist, juicy chicken with succulent ribs certainly is nothing less than a match made in heaven. This is probably why Marlowe’s (55 St. Peters Street, +44 (0) 1227 462194) call theirs ‘the Marriage’. It is, undoubtedly, their best dish but the restaurant, the walls of which are covered with Hollywood memorabilia, serve many other great dishes. From Canterbury pie to Cajun blackened chicken and Mexican food, Marlowe’s food crosses continents and changes lives. It is advisable to only book tables for a big group or during busy periods or weekends as a table booking requires a £2 per person deposit. This deposit is, supposedly, non-refundable but it is usually possible to get back if you ask nicely as you pay your bill. To save money on the drinks bill, take advantage of the Marlowe’s bring your own drinks policy where you are free to bring your own wine to drink.

Spit or Skewer
Okabasi (34 St. Peter’s Street, +44 (0) 127 784019) is the jewel in the crown of Canterbury’s take away kebab shops. While other establishments produce strange sauce concoctions with largely unidentifiable ingredients, Okabasi sticks to excellent freshly made chilli and garlic sauces that are the perfect accompaniment for their burgers and kebabs. They also make very nice pizzas and fried chicken.

Questions?
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