Anyone in downtown Mumbai will tell you that India's best vegetarian food comes from the state of Gujarat.

And one of the leading contenders for the best of Gujarati food is the city of Surat.

Hurrah! London has its very own Surti restaurant - Ram's.

The staff rush around, eager and friendly; their pride in both the menu and their home town is obvious and endearing.

The menu is a long one and the food is very good.

Gujarati snacks make great starters.

Petis are small balls of peas and onions coated in potato and deep-fried.

Kachori are the same kind of thing, but with mung daal inside a pastry coat.

Patras are made by rolling vegetable leaves with a 'glue' of chickpea flour batter; the roll is then sliced across, and each slice becomes a delicate and savoury pinwheel.

Stuffed banana bhaji is a sweet and savoury combo.

The kand is a Surti special - slices of purple potato in a savoury batter.

Sev khamni is a sludge of well-spiced chickpeas with coconut, served topped with a layer of crisp sev.

Flavours are clear and distinct, and some dishes have a welcome chilli heat.

Mains do not disappoint.

The famous undhiu - a weekend special - is a complex dish of vegetables 'stuffed' with a Surti spice paste.

It combines aubergines with three kinds of potatoes (purple, sweet and white), as well as bananas and peas.

The peas pilau is simple and good.

The methi parathas are dry and tasty.

The puris are fresh, hot and as self-indulgent as only fried bread can be.