Food critic David Sexton talks about the recent trend of ‘dressing down’ when it comes to eating out, “All I need is cutlery, a napkin (recycled paper will do), a side plate and a table that doesn’t wobble.” Well we’ve got the recycled napkins but I say take it even further and skip the side plate. My most relaxed and enjoyable eating experiences have been around a plate of good food with friends, a tray of that and a pot of that to dip it in to. At Thali you’ve got your plate of various tasty titillations, some chutneys, a tray of poppodums, and a parantha bread or chapatti to mop the last bits up with. Why pay extra for a side plate and whatever other tools to pompify the whole affair?

In fact our tables, lampshades, and bizarre paintings and furniture have mostly been begged, borrowed, stolen or picked up at the local car booty to add to the owners’ collection of weird and wonderful items for ‘when we open another restaurant’.  That’s how they’ve cut our bills, by putting the customers’ money towards the food and keeping it tasty, healthy, nutritious and well balanced and at a price we can afford during these ‘hard times’.

Easton Thali Café makes it even easier to keep your bill to a minimum, there being no choice but to bring your own alcohol. At just a pound a head for corkage means you can come in with a tenner and still come out with change.

So reckon it's time to keep your eating experience to a minimum and go Thali!  We're not going to let the recession get us down...