Zarda Cottage

Zarda Cottage is an Indian restaurant and takeaway in the heart of Yalding, one of the prettiest villages in the Medway valley just south-west of Maidstone. The kitchen holds a top 5-rated Food Hygiene score and carries a 4.0 rating on Tripadvisor, where regulars single it out as a cut above the usual village curry house. Cooking is built around specially ground spices from across the Indian subcontinent, blended with fresh ingredients so that each curry carries its own depth of flavour.

The menu runs through familiar favourites alongside house specialities, from chicken tikka biryani and a richly spiced tikka masala to a creamy korma that reviewers describe as some of the best they have tasted. Freshly baked breads such as cheese naan round out a meal, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices for anyone skipping the meat. Dishes are available for collection from the village or for delivery to surrounding homes, making it a reliable choice for a relaxed dinner in this corner of rural Kent.