Sunday Sessions is a new concept from Hoppers where people sit in the tiny restaurant with all the tables turned into long communal ones. You are encouraged to socialise with the other lunchers due to the intentional seating arrangements designed to keep parties together but not enclosed off. I suppose that's a good thing, although does make it more difficult to catch up with the people you intended to.
Nonetheless it simulates a family occasion and we were there for 3 hours, making it the world's longest lunch too!
The menu was exciting for me, because the duck heart chukka is the dish that made me adore Hoppers on my first visit (http://eatlikeushi.posthaven.com/hoppers-london-06-2016) and since they removed it, curry life hasn't been the same.
- Appalams, vinegar, podi - their version of salt and vinegar crisps. Not quite the same but alright;
- Duck hearts, chicken livers, yoghurt, chutney - the curry wasn't as strongly flavoured as I remember, and sadly I didn't get any heart pieces. The liver was strong though;
- Banana leaf mackerel - not enough lettuce and salsa for the amount of fish, but otherwise a nice mesh of textures and flavours;
- Whole roasted black pork belly - delicious and tender meat and fat easily torn away with a tamarind sauce and crackling. Very good indeed;
- Cabbage poriyal - refreshing slaw. Had to ask for more;
- Roasted curried sweet potato - dusted with some curry spices;
- Coconut rolls - I really liked these deceivingly plain looking rolls. There was only a hint of coconut sweetness in it, but it was enough;
- Chocolate biscuit pudding, burnt genever banana cream - like tiramisu and the genever alcohol was also served to those who wanted it.
For £30pp inclusive of food and tips, it was a good value meal and I honestly don't think all the dishes were finished anywhere in the restaurant. They also made it clear that if we wanted any more of any dish, we could easily ask (as we did for the cabbage poriyal, although the waitress seemed surprised when we asked).
I'd go back again for the food. I'm not sure if I'd go back for the social aspect (as that's less what I prefer to do). Having said that, £30pp will get you quite a lot of food from the normal menu too. So I'll definitely be back again for something...