Want to know where to go for the best sirloin, the juiciest ribeye and top quality wagyu? Read on for our picks of the best steak restaurants in London.
Want to know where to go for the best sirloin, the juiciest ribeye and top quality wagyu? Read on for our picks of the best steak restaurants in London. From old-school steakhouses to Argentinian classics and modern Japanese grilling, foodies are spoilt for choice with options for the next meat-feast. For more like this, check out our reviews of the best brunch in London, the best outdoor restaurants in London or the best London pubs for food lovers. Best places to eat steak in London Vivat Bacchus, Farringdon Ever tried a zebra stokkie? In Afrikaans it means ‘little stick’, a type of biltong, the air-dried cured meat that’s a South African classic. Zebra, along with beef, is part of the theatre of the biltong trolley at Farringdon steakhouse Vivat Bacchus, rolled to your table and sliced to order. It’s powerful with spices and vinegar, chewy and deeply satisfying. The trolley is the star starter, a tongue-tingling warm-up for the main attraction, the heritage braai selection. The equivalent of a UK barbecue, braai is more than a cooking method – it’s an event for bringing people together over food. The braai here offers a well-balanced spread of meats cooked over flame, designed for two to share. Juicy sirloin, meltingly soft cola-cooked pork belly, peppery boerewors (sausages) and ostrich fillet. If you’re not familiar with steaks from the big bird, think venison – incredibly lean and mildly gamey. Pot-baked mealie bread, fiery chakalaka relish and sweet-spicy monkey gland sauce are the go-to accompaniments, along with “flippen lekker” (very tasty) chips. As you’d expect, South African wines dominate the list, so ask your sommelier to match a glass with each dish. Finish with peppermint tart, a creamy dessert like a tiramisu. vivatbacchus.co.uk The Guinea Grill, Mayfair At one of Mayfair’s most characterful pub-restaurants, the meaty mains beg to be experienced, so we plumped for beef, Guinness and oyster Pie (to share) to kick off proceedings (though the devilled kidneys on toast, and seared scallops on the table next to us, looked very appetising). Topped with a crispy oyster and melted cheese, it set the tone for the next grand entrance – a magnificent côte de boeuf, presented at the table before being flamed on the grill and served with brandy peppercorn sauce, crispy layered pancetta confit potatoes and parmesan-creamed sweetcorn. For pudding, the crème brûlée crackled satisfyingly under the spoon, while the bread and butter pudding was surprisingly light and fluffy. Olive tip: If you’re visiting in the evening, try to skip lunch to take full advantage of the meaty fare. As well as starters, salads and mains, add-ons include lamb cutlet, calf's liver, lamb kidneys, black pudding and haggis. theguinea.co.uk Goodman, Mayfair At Goodman, the cut is everything. Each day begins in the basement ageing room where chefs inspect racks of prime beef, selecting the finest cuts to feature on The Cut specials board – a roll call of sirloin, ribeye, T-bone and fillet, sourced from the UK, USA, Australia and beyond. The star is a 75-day-aged Angus Pure Breed from the Lake District: deep, gamey and minerally, with intense beefiness. Diners get to choose not only the cut but the size of their steak – whether you’re in the mood for a modest 250g or a mighty kilo. Each one is cooked to your liking over red-hot 400C coals that leave a toffee-like crust and juicy centre. The Mayfair dining room, opened in 2008 (the first of three), hums with a clubby but not stuffy confidence – all dark leather, low lighting and cosy corners. Along one wall, regulars' engraved steak knives sit in a glass-fronted cabinet like prized trophies. Starters include crispy, fist-sized prawn tempura, and sweet and briny crab on warm brioche toast. From the side, truffled mac and cheese is luxurious, spinach sings with garlic, Josper-roasted onions are sticky and dark, and triple-cooked chips are made to dredge through the creamy béarnaise. Get to know the sommelier – they’ll match your palate and your steak, possibly with a lush American pinot noir or a more classic French Bordeaux. goodmanrestaurants.com Dorian, Notting Hill Relaxed and friendly, Dorian has polish but no pretence. Smart enough for a birthday, casual enough for a Tuesday night, it proudly boasts of its place in the heart of the neighbourhood. But for all its clubbable vibe, what makes it a destination is the steak. Aged for 60 days on-site, Dorian offers three cuts, cooked with mesmeric care over wood fire: sirloin on the bone, rib-eye on the bone and the grand T-bone. Each arrives richly barked, exteriors crisped and as smoky as embers, interiors blushing and butter soft. It’s dramatic, theatrical cooking – made to share, made to marvel at. But this isn’t a one-dish restaurant. Rostis are fried to a deep gold and topped with crab and broad bean, or langoustine and pea. Or, if you’re feeling especially decadent, caviar. For starters, a plate of white asparagus is a snappable delight, tempura St George’s mushrooms deliver umami nuggets, and the succulent ibérico pork is complemented by noisily crunchy strips of deep-fried pig’s ear. Triple-cooked Pink Fir potatoes deserve their own accolade, shrapnel skins, fluffy flesh, built for scooping up whatever’s left on your plate. Desserts are great – go for salted milk flan with a scoop of coffee and dark chocolate sorbet. But, really, you’re here for the incredible steak. dorianrestaurant.com Cut at 45 Park Lane, Mayfair As you would expect, Cut at 45 Park Lane – culinary heavyweight Wolfgang Puck’s fine dining steakhouse – wants you to experience the best cuts from the world’s best steaks. To make the most of an experience in this sleek, polished dining room, choose The Taste of Cut: a trio of British grass-fed sirloin, Australian wagyu and Japanese A5 wagyu, each carefully cooked and clearly distinct. The sirloin is bold and beefy; the Australian richly marbled; while the A5, almost white with silky fat, barely needs a knife. It’s an impressive way to understand what top-grade beef really tastes like. Wolfgang may be best known for revolutionising Californian fine dining with Spago and feeding the stars at the Oscars, but at Cut you feel that steak is his passion. Head chef Ibrahim cooks over open flames, resting and flaming to deliver smoky perfection, perfectly paired with dry Italian red wine barbaresco. Small bites include miso cones of spicy tuna tartare, bite-sized, meltingly soft wagyu sliders, and sweet and fluffy crab and lobster rolls. If you have room for dessert, share a burnt Basque cheesecake with Hugh Lowe Farm strawberries, the freshness of the fruit a perfect foil for the delicately creamy pudding. dorchestercollection.com Macellaio RC, various locations The tagline of this collection of six Italian restaurants is ‘the butcher’s theatre’. Genoan restaurateur Roberto Costa’s original South Kensington branch is a homely ‘butcher with tables’, while the glamorous Soho outpost focuses on the theatre butchery. Executive chef Lello Favuzzi’s menu starts with lardo that melts onto sourdough with honey and hazelnuts, smoked, aged tuna bresaola with heirloom tomatoes and Tropea onions, and the signature steak tartare. The latter is excitingly prepared tableside on a smart wooden trolley – bowls of chopped Fassona steak, capers, onions, gherkins and anchovies are mixed with cognac, Worcestershire sauce and mustard, with an egg yolk balanced on top. The main event is the grill. House-butchered T-bones, ribeyes and sirloins are dry-aged for seven to nine weeks, and there’s a choice between grass-fed British, lean Fassona from Piedmont and a Bavarian breed that boasts intensely flavoured fat. Pair with a Seven Hills negroni, a bottle from the exceptional Italian wine list and finish with a tiramisu, built at the table, or homemade hazelnut gelato. macellaiorc.com Zoilo, Marylebone This intimate bistro has been serving regional Argentinian classics for over a decade. The upstairs dining room is a cocoon of elegance – exposed brick and wood panelled walls strung with black and white photographs of life in Buenos Aires, flickering tea lights on white tablecloths, deep red leather banquettes and chequered flooring, with a heavy velvet curtain wrapped around the door to keep out the cold. A wooden bar is generously stocked with aperitifs and spirits to make cocktails while impressive vintages line shelves behind. Chef Patron Diego Jacquet returns to Argentina two to three times a year to source the 250-strong list of wines including Mendoza's prestigious Malbec regions UCO Valley and Vista Flores. Kick things off with house-cured salami, flaky, beef-filled empanadas, provoleta (a semi-hard cheese similar to Italian provolone) melted and topped with almonds and honey, and sea bream ceviche doused in green oil, chia seeds and pickled kohlrabi. Grass-fed, pampas-reared Argentinian steak is the main event, from juicy ‘bife ancho’ rib-eye served with lively tomato and parsley salsa criolla to perfectly pink ‘asado’ flank and Brazilian style picanha cooked sous vide. Order extra-crunchy hand cut Provençal chips and seasonal sides that might include opulent cauliflower cheese layered with peanut butter. To finish, silky smooth crème brûlée is topped with dulce de leche swirled banana ice cream and petits fours include squares of dulce de leche fudge. zoilo.co.uk Flat Iron, Southbank Who can argue with Flat Iron’s motto, “Great steak for everyone”, when £15 is all it costs for a beautifully cooked flat iron steak. It’s no surprise that the crowd spans everyone from young professionals to parents with toddlers in tow. This is the 18th Flat Iron, set just behind the Royal Festival Hall and overlooking Southbank Market Square. Inside, a smart central bar divides a bright, lively front space from a cosier dining room at the back. There’s also a sunny terrace, perfect for relaxed lunches and summer evenings. The signature flat iron steak is the headline act: British-reared beef, expertly seared to a rosy blush and served simply with beef dripping chips, silky creamed spinach and an outrageously indulgent crispy bone marrow mash. Blackboard specials like wagyu keep regulars coming back, while a short, well-curated list of wines, beers and classic cocktails rounds out the offering. Flat Iron skips a formal dessert menu, instead handing out complimentary salted caramel soft serve in a crunchy cone – a small detail that’s part of the charm. Unfussy, reliable and brilliantly executed, Flat Iron really does make great steak democratic. flatironsteak.co.uk Ibai, City The must-order here is Galician Blond sirloin. This marbled and richly flavoured steak from older cows is currently imported from north-west Spain, while Ibai’s owners start the lengthy process of breeding cattle in the UK, believing diners prefer to eat meat sourced here (British wagyu is also available). Cooked simply over charcoal the steak is served with hand-cut chips, anchovy and chilli salsa, red wine sauce or Ossau-Iraty cheese and black pepper. Other menu highlights are sweet carabinero prawn tartare; Noir de Bigorre ham with crisps and smoked Piparra peppers, and gateau Basque, an almond cream filled buttery tart. From the team behind restaurants Lurra and Donostia in Marylebone, this City outpost is bigger and bolder, in a vast industrial space once occupied as a lino factory, now softened with cosy booth seating and an impressive cellar. ibai.london Hawksmoor, various locations There are multiple branches of Hawksmoor to choose from across London. The Wood Wharf branch combines its signature British steakhouse flair with a unique waterside location. Situated on a floating pavilion, this restaurant offers stunning views of the City alongside its renowned menu of perfectly cooked steaks, fresh seafood, and hearty sides. The outdoor terrace is ideal for sipping on classic cocktails while enjoying the serene waterfront atmosphere. Hawksmoor’s dedication to quality and sustainability ensures a memorable dining experience. thehawksmoor.com/locations/wood-wharf/ NIJŪ, Mayfair Experience wagyu and kobe beef grilled to perfection at Japanese restaurant NIJŪ in Mayfair. Endo Kazutoshi, arguably London’s most esteemed sushi master, is behind this new Mayfair grill, with exec chef Chris Golding overseeing the menu day to day. Careful sourcing, luxe ingredients and well-honed kitchen skills create a unique menu inspired by ‘Katei Ryōri’: homecooked, seasonal dishes, some – like dover sole, asparagus and nori butter – served tableside. Wagyu, that most highly-prized beef, is sourced from Japan and England, cooked simply over Japanese charcoal and offered with fresh wasabi and yuzu salsa verde. Beyond the steak offerings, sashimi includes indulgent cuts like otoro (fatty tuna) served classic style or with a contemporary NIJŪ twist – ‘aburi’ (seared) with caviar. Vegetables are treated with equal care, from grilled aubergine with white sesame dressing to spicy spinach with sobacha (buckwheat tea). A sushi counter and glass panel revealing all the kitchen action add to the buzzy atmosphere. The basement Nipperkin bar uses British ingredients, some grown and distilled on site in its hyper-seasonal cocktail list. nijulondon.com Blacklock, various across London While Blacklock’s famous ‘All In’ – a pile-up of seared pork, lamb and beef chops served atop charcoal-grilled flatbread – remains a carnivore’s rite of passage, another must-order is the magnificent beef prime rib chop (choose the size to suit you). Charred and glossy, blushing pink within, it’s a true showstopper, elevated to even greater heights of umami meatiness with house gravy. It’s a dish that feels perfectly in keeping with the dark wood and exposed brick of Blacklock’s Shoreditch branch, tucked inside a Victorian warehouse, buzzing with office workers. Begin with bite-size canapés then choose succulent pig’s head on toast, lifted by sweet, pickled chilli slices. Sides compete for stardom: 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato, smoky and creamy; sharp kale with parmesan; loudly crunchy beef dripping chips; and silky bone marrow. Try your luck and ask for the secret pie: only 20 are baked each day and they’re not listed on the menu – a celebration of Blacklock’s nose-to-tail philosophy made with handpicked cuts, slow-cooked in Cornish stout and wrapped in thyme-topped shortcrust pastry. To finish, white chocolate cheesecake is like no other you’ve had before, served at your table in great scoops for everyone to grab a spoon and dive into. theblacklock.com Solis, Battersea Solis is the personal product of Ana Gonçalves’ (along with husband Zijun Meng, who together are behind cult favourites TĀ TĀ Eatery and Tou) desire to showcase food from her childhood and challenge the conventional expectations of the steak night. With bold flavour influences from Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and Argentina, Solis is looking to break the mould without breaking the bank. Located right in the heart of Battersea Power Station’s multi-billion-pound restoration and redevelopment, it offers an accessible menu headlined by its signature grilled spatchcock chicken and flat-iron steak, both served with salad, fries and a big side of South American vibrancy. arcadefoodhall.com/solis The Guinea Grill, Mayfair Recently reopened after a revamp, this gorgeous restaurant and pub is tucked away down a quiet side road behind New Bond Street. This institution is every bit the great British pub with its tartan carpets and wood-panelled walls. Try the prawn and crayfish cocktail for a delicious retro starter. For your main, though it serves pub classics such as homemade pies, it is well known for its steaks. It has used the same premium butcher for 60 years, for tender, dry-aged steaks, and the knowledgeable staff will give you expert advice on how each cut should be cooked to ensure the optimal experience. We loved the pancetta confit potatoes and creamed spinach, served alongside the steak. The wine list to complement the meal is vast but let the wait staff guide you, or go the whole hog and ask for some wine pairings with your meal – we tried a gorgeous white from Austria. Round off a special meal with a decadent banana sticky toffee pudding, served with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. If you’re not quite ready to leave the warm embrace, you can roll to the pub side and enjoy a perfectly poured Guinness, too. theguinea.co.uk Fazenda, Shoreditch This might just be the ultimate sharing extravaganza for steak lovers. Fazenda’s Churrasco Experience brings the theatre of the traditional gaucho grill to your table, offering a limitless selection (you can eat as much as you like) of 15 grilled meats, carved from giant skewers by expert passadores. Highlights include picanha (beef rump), sirloin, ribeye, pork belly and fillet, all cooked to medium-rare perfection. This premium south Brazilian restaurant spans two floors in the sleek 100 Bishopsgate Tower and boasts three private dining rooms, an elegant mezzanine lounge and the standalone Fino bar. Start your experience with the Market Table’s fresh salads and sides or opt for Brazilian small plates, such as seafood moqueca (a tomato and coconut stew) or yellowfin tuna with beef cream emulsion. For something extra special, Fazenda’s ‘Share an indulgent cut’ menu features sharing dishes like roasted bone marrow with chimichurri, a one-kilo tomahawk steak dry-aged for 21 days, grilled giant king prawns and a 500g grade 9 wagyu sirloin. To drink, Fazenda specialises in Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Uruguayan wines, as well as innovative cocktails from South America. If you still have room, try dulce de leche filled churros or crème caramel layered with chantilly cream and madeira cake. fazenda.co.uk/location/bishopsgate Heliot Steak House, Covent Garden Heliot Steak House, right at the heart of Leicester Square’s famous Hippodrome Casino, overlooking the Grand Casino, has recently been given a refurb. It majors in elevated American cuisine, with buttery prime USDA steaks the stars of the show. Everything here is about the drama, from plumptious prawns presented with billowing clouds of dry ice, to perfectly grilled steaks, sliced at the table and served with oozy mac ‘n’ cheese (with a rarebit-style topping), creamy spinach and rosemary-salted fries. There’s a choice of 120 wines (choose Ramnista Xinomavro, a velvety red from Greece, a perfect partner for red meat). There are also fish, lamb, chicken and pasta dishes, and some vegetarian options. And if you do get lucky on the tables, you might want to splash out on a luxurious Japanese wagyu sirloin. hippodromecasino.com/restaurant-bars-lounges/ The Butcher’s Tap and Grill, Chelsea A meat chamber filled with labelled cuts is the first sign that this is no ordinary boozer. The London outpost of Tom Kerridge’s pub joins the Marlow original in offering superior steaks and sauces: prime bone in ribeye with jalapeño mayo and truffle fries enjoyed in a leather booth feels right in this smart neighbourhood just three minutes from Sloane Square and shopper’s paradise King’s Road. True to its pub roots there are chops, burgers, kebabs and hot dogs, real ales and beer on tap, and sport on the TV screens. Tom has a knack for making everyone welcome, from locals popping by to collect a Friday night takeaway to destination diners and football fans catching the match over a pint or two. thebutcherstapandgrill.co.uk/chelsea Daffodil Mulligan, Shoreditch Chef Richard Corrigan’s partnership with fellow Irishmen John Nugent and Tony Gibney is an unapologetic tribute to Irish craic. The industrial Shoreditch space is modestly decorated with moody portraits of Irish legends – Sinéad O’Connor guides you down the stairs to the basement drinking den; while upstairs is where you’ll find the main restaurant, open kitchen, complete with a wood oven and grill, and oyster bar. Let chef be your guide with six sharing courses and a Gibney’s stout, or work your way around the snacks, small plates, oysters and grill. On the grill, you'll find a selection of steaks using award-winning Shorthorn beef sourced from across Ireland and dry aged in Himalayan salt bricks for 28 days. As well as classic sirloin, flat-iron or cote de boeuf from the grill, the wood oven offers more for meat-lovers from a forerib of beef & bone marrow cheeseburger (served in a beef fat brioche bun) to sugar pit pork and wood-fired whole roast chicken. Many ingredients are sourced from Richard’s own estate in Ireland, Virginia Park Lodge – including smoky, wood-roasted carrots that punch way above their weight. Biscuity champagne and a light, very gluggable muscadet are winners on the wine list – but drinks nerds should explore the cocktails with infused spirits, from jalapeño-infused tequila in a blood orange margarita to chilli Aperol with mezcal, chocolate and orange bitters. daffodilmulligan.com Lurra, Marylebone Tucked away on Marylebone’s pretty (and seriously foodie) Seymour Place, Lurra is a contemporary, sophisticated Basque-inspired restaurant. It’s sister to Donostia, just across the road. There’s more to this trendy joint than its good looks though: ingredients are key. With a meat import business (think 14-year-old Galician Blond, 67-day hung beef) supplying the likes of Kitty Fisher’s and Chiltern Firehouse, and a cellar downstairs housing top Spanish wines (including an incredible Louro from Valdeorras), owners Nemanja and Melody know their stuff. lurra.co.uk The Colony Grill Room, Mayfair With its vintage styling, large booths and striking murals, the Colony pays homage to classic New York grill restaurants. Dishes finished tableside are a big part of chef Ben Boeynaems’ menu, including dover sole meunière with miso butter, theatrically deboned before guests. The sharing wood-grilled tomahawk steak (bone-in ribeye) is a similarly dramatic presentation, carved as it’s served at the table. Deft knife skills maximise the cut’s juiciness. colonygrillroom.com Gaucho, Piccadilly Step through the doors of Gaucho Piccadilly and you step into the original. The flagship that launched a now 20-strong group, this is where the magic started. Dark walls and flickering candlelight – the décor remains familiar just like the head chef Mario, who’s been grilling here for 25 years. That longevity brings serious consistency. Argentinian beef is sourced from farms committed to regenerative practices. The signature cut, churrasco, is a must: spiralled lomo (fillet), chorizo (sirloin), ancho (ribeye) or rump (cuadril), marinated in parsley, lemon, garlic and olive oil, and grilled to perfection. There are elegant starters – crispy prawn chicharrón with sweet-spicy aji amarillo and lime-bright crab tostada – but you’re here for steak and a serious glass of something red. Ask the sommelier for a pairing from the knockout New World wine list, and trust the superb waiting staff – they’re as much part of the institution as the steak. Once the haunt of power lunchers, today it’s shoppers and tourists looking for post West End indulgence. And they find it – topped off with a rich dulce de leche cheesecake crowned with chantilly, hazelnuts and cherries. gauchorestaurants.com STK Steakhouse, The Strand If you like your steak with a side of glamour, STK on The Strand delivers it in style. A buzzing, clubby vibe, a menu built around premium cuts and a sleek central bar make this one of London’s go-to spots for a steak night with extra sparkle. The space feels part steakhouse, part cocktail lounge – dark, dramatic lighting, plush leather booths and a live DJ most evenings. It's a popular choice for celebrations, stylish dinners and anyone looking to combine a serious steak with a lively night out. On the menu, prime cuts of USDA beef can be finished with a range of toppings and crusts, including truffle butter, crab and parmesan, blue cheese and chimichurri. If you’re feeling especially hungry go for the 900g tomahawk, a magnificent cut that’s made for sharing. But steak isn’t the only indulgence: mini wagyu burgers are a luxurious take on a crowd-pleaser, while Mermaid Surf & Turf pairs perfectly cooked steak with seafood. There’s plenty for lighter appetites, too — tuna tartare, roasted halibut and a punchy caesar salad ensure no one’s left behind. The drinks list leans heavily on signature cocktails alongside a robust wine selection. Room for dessert? Share a crunchy apple crumble topped with a scoop of creamy ice cream. stksteakhouse.com Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Islington Best restaurants in Chelsea Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
See our top picks for the best Indian restaurants in London. All-day Bombay cafes serving bacon and egg naan rolls, to Indian-style cocktails and bowl-shaped pancakes
Looking for an Indian restaurant in London that isn't your average curry house? From regional Indian street food at Masala Zone to popular traditional Bombay cafe empire Dishoom. Here are the top best Indian restaurants in the capital... Next discover Bangladeshi food: how to cook like a local. Now find out how to celebrate Holi. For something extra special, try one of the best chef's table experiences in the UK, then find out the best female-owned restaurants in the U.K. Now discover the best Japanese restaurants in the UK, the best dining experiences in London and the most romantic restaurants in London. Best Indian restaurants in London Brigadiers, City Brigadiers isn’t your typical City restaurant. It isn’t your typical pub, either. It’s a pulsing combination of both – a warren of rooms tucked inside Bloomberg Arcade, some all chatter and screens, others set for quieter dining. And with food from JKS Restaurants, the group behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, expectations run high – and deliver. We began with the original BBQ butter chicken wings. New dishes have been added to the menu but these creamy, smoky, finger-licking starters are the essential order. Guided by the team, we then went for a tumbling mountain of prawn, soft-shell crab and squid Tellicherry fry with tomato pachadi – crisp, peppery and lifted by sharp chutney. A chunky skewer of Afghani lamb ribeye kebab followed, juicy and aromatic with cardamom and charcoal. For mains, the Sikandari kid goat shoulder came off the bone with a nudge of the fork, its spiced crust balanced by lacha paratha and sweet onions. The wood-roasted sea bream Pollichathu, wrapped in banana leaf, opened in a fragrant puff of curry leaf and coconut. And the dal makhani – thick, buttery, slow-cooked – tied everything together. Dessert is a nod to comfort: gulab jamun crème brûlée – super-sweet deep-fried milk balls nestling in a satisfyingly tappable caramel custard. Drinks are cold and calculated to cut through the spice: a lychee martini to start, a 4th Rifles IPA for the grilled dishes and a crisp sauvignon blanc from Turnbull & Thomas, Marlborough, to make the occasion even more special. olive tip: Brigadiers has recently opened The Outpost, a covered and heated terrace inspired by army bar culture – perfect for lingering long after the plates are cleared, rain or shine. brigadierslondon.com Thecha, Poplar Just five minutes from the towering offices of Canary Wharf, tucked inside Poplar’s Lansbury Heritage Hotel, Thecha delivers a knockout tour of Maharashtra with some of the boldest Indian flavours in the capital. The soft pink-grey interior whispers boutique hotel brunch but what lands on the table is straight from the streets of Mumbai. Thecha takes its name from a green chilli chutney – here paired with blisteringly grilled paneer. Sabudana vada (crisp sago and peanut fritters) and kothimbir vadi (crisp coriander and gram fritters) set the tone: regional snacks with punch. Chilli-laden Chicken 65 – so called because of the year it was created – is a must. Try it in the biryani for a complete meal, while the dabi dal fry (slow-cooked creamy lentils) soothes with buttery warmth. From the mains, Kolhapuri mutton rasa (tender chunks in curry broth) and prawn gassi (coastal coconut prawn curry) are full-throttle flavour bombs. But the star? The butter chicken chops. Cooked in the tandoor and drenched in velvety makhani sauce, it’s worth a visit for this alone. To drink, choose cooling solkadhi, made with kokum and coconut milk – refreshing with a hint of saltiness. And make sure you have room for mango shrikhand, a creamy sweet yogurt dessert that’s a perfect balance to the heat of this dining experience. instagram.com/its_thecha Trishna, Marylebone The secret’s been out for a while that eating early is how to bag the best tables and enjoy the greatest food at prices that won’t make your jaw hit the floor. And that is certainly the case at this Marylebone stalwart. Slip in for an early lunch or dinner and you’ll be rewarded with the Taste of Trishna menu: a stellar-value four-course showcase of South Indian coastal flavours for £55. Open since 2008, Trishna helped put regional Indian cooking on the map in London. It has unveiled a refreshed look with soft light blues, warm walnut tones and handcrafted rattan accents, inspired by India’s southern coastal towns. After thrilling your taste buds with a crisp trio of papads and tangy chutneys, choose from a range of perfectly portioned and beautifully presented plates of expertly spiced specialties. Soft shell crab masala with a quenelle of delicate white meat is divine. Duck chutney seekh is smoky, spicy and perfectly charred, cut through with pineapple chutney. Mains come with a thali-style spread of rice, breads, dhal and a sensational chettinad potato roast, with options such as wild mushroom biryani (elevated by truffle and pink peppercorn raita), deeply savoury gongura lamb with a sour, pickled edge, or baby aubergine vathagal, its creamy texture complemented by crunchy peanuts. Desserts nod to tradition with flair: a mango malai, layered with lassi cream and makrut lime jujubes, is both delicate and decadent. trishnalondon.com The Great Indian, Archway When a restaurant says it’s great, it better have the chops to prove it, and fortunately, The Great Indian has some of the best tandoori lamb chops we’ve ever tried. Meltingly soft, thrillingly juicy and spiked with mustard-chilli they are the dish chef Mohit most wants The Great Indian to be known for. Also the degh dal makhani, cooked for 48 hours until it’s unctuously creamy. And the butter chicken – golf ball-sized chunks of fall-apart grilled thighs, bathed in a silky, smoky sauce with a touch of tang. Set in a quiet leafy street in Archway, The Great Indian is the kind of pub everyone would like in their own neighbourhood. The foliage-decorated ceiling and wallpaper depicting scenes of India sets the inviting, relaxed vibe. It bustles with families with young children (there’s also a great kids’ menu), office workers, seekers of the new and locals. Like us, they come to see what’s so great about the place. Then they come again to sample surprising creations such as coastal chilli-tamarind prawns dosa, lamb ghee roast in a roti taco, and pork belly sliders, plus exciting meat-free dishes, including tangy chilli paneer and jackfruit biryani. thegreatindian.uk Dishoom Permit Room, Notting Hill Dishoom’s new all-day pub-café brings the vibes of Mumbai to Notting Hill. The space is bright, art-filled and fizzing with energy. By day, it teems with families, tourists and local workers; by night, a vintage jukebox hums in the background; and at weekends DJs spin vinyl. The playful menu is a medley of Dishoom classics and new bar-friendly bites. Crispy spinach chaat arrives as a tower of crunch, spice and tang. Chakli, the coiled, spiced snack, is crisp and moreish. Chicken Pick-Me-Ups –drumsticks with Indo-Chinese seasoning – are sticky, fiery and impossible to eat quietly. Prawn moilee is delicately sweet, lifted by turmeric and curry leaf, while the legendary house black daal remains the warm hug you hope it will be. Mattar paneer delivers soft cubes of cheese and bright green peas in a richly spiced tomato gravy. Drinks are as crucial to the experience as the food (this is a pub, after all). The Sober Summer negroni is bright and herbal, while the old fashioned is coconut-washed and smooth as silk. Dishoom IPA makes a bold, hoppy companion to the food, along with local beers and considered soft drinks. permitroom.co.uk Vatavaran, Knighstbridge Inspired by the Indian Himalayas, the latest restaurant from Rohit Ghai, takes its name from the Sanskrit translation of atmosphere. Spread across four floors in the heart of Knightsbridge, each has its own vibe: Brook and Ridge are buzzy and casual, while Meadow and Shikhar (meaning peak) create more of a special occasion ambience. As with Rohit’s other venues, Manthan and Kutir, the food combines classic Indian flavours with a modern twist. Start with the indori poha chaat – plump dumplings with tamarind and pressed rice – a satisfying explosion of crunch, tang and spice; and ghati masala prawns, fried in crispy batter and dressed with peanuts and sesame. Come with a crowd for the mains – they’re spectacular. Lamb shank biriyani arrives with a pastry lid which is cracked open at the table, before the soft meat is shredded from the bone. Butter chicken is among the best we’ve ever tried (in a fiercely competitive field): succulent chicken thigh meat in a smoky-sweet, vine tomato sauce. Neelgiri lobster is exceptional, served in a fresh coriander sauce with the tail shell decorating the plate. To drink, try Nisha, a refreshing gin with cucumber and elderflower, then finish with Lava, a chocolate and cardamom kulfi with meringue. vatavaran.uk Patri, Northfields The lively shack-chic Indian restaurant, Patri, has two west London sites and offers an extensive street food menu but we headed to the Northfields branch which does the UK's biggest thali. This immense, Insta-grabbing feast needs to be booked in advance and is a steal at £105, as it would easily feed five or six adults. While chef prepares the dishes that make up the thali, you are brought two pomegranate-topped palate popping starters of different chaats and a big jug of mango lassi. Chef brings the thali to your table ceremoniously and talks you through all 29 dishes which have been curated of as a culinary adventure around India. The thali offerings change daily and are divided into starters, which include spicy chicken samosas and the lightest pani puri we’ve eaten, then there’s tandoori, from which we loved the seekh kebabs, and the signature mains with the more familiar curries, including a knock-out keema and, from the sides, there’s rice and dhals, and everything is served with two types of fluffy naan. Claiming the UK’s biggest thali is an attention grabber that got us through the door but the quality of the cooking at Patri makes it a must return. patri.co.uk Colonel Saab, Trafalgar Square A pigeon’s stroll from Trafalgar Square, Colonel Saab is an oasis of calm and comfort away from the hustle and bustle. Adorning the walls of the grand dining space – magnificent rose-coloured chandeliers create a wow factor – are family photos, art and the framed military uniform of Indian soldier Colonel Manbeer Choudhary, the paternal inspiration behind the celebration of the diversity of cuisine from the subcontinent. Chef Sohan Bhandari’s menu is inspired by the colonel’s postings around India, so step into his shoes and try the £80 tasting menu. Marwad’s Raj Kachori – a crunchy ball of spiced chickpeas and potato with creamy, sweet and tart sauces with black lime chaat masala – brings drama. Then comes the highlight, a choice of curries, from Sunday lamb to Nadan fish or beetroot and lotus kofta, served thali-style with raita, rice, dak and naan accompaniments. colonelsaab.co.uk Kutir, Chelsea Walking into Kutir is akin to entering someone’s home – someone with an eye for interior design and a penchant for elegance. With its mint green and floral walls and dramatic chandeliers, the Georgian townhouse – in a smart side street off Chelsea’s King’s Road – oozes intimacy. Come here with a loved one or friend for a special occasion. But, most of all, come for Rohit Ghai’s cooking – an extensive exploration of India’s vast food heritage. Tasting menus are the way to go, with or without wine pairings. The signature Expedition menu (£75 per person) delivers six dishes, plus tadka dal, breads and rice. Plump, pink prawns are elevated with a dusting of coconut, sesame and peanuts. The richness of salmon tikka – so tender it’s spoonable – is off-set by pickled radish. Tandoori lamb chop – the star of the menu – is as fat as a cushion and just as luxurious, marinated with smoky black cumin. Then, choose between the nation’s favourite, chicken tikka masala, or spicy duck madras, with a hint of tamarind sourness. Finish with an unctuous date pecan pudding or refreshing pineapple and coconut. Apparently, the 2022 British Restaurant of the Year winner attracts the likes of Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Federer. Clearly, celebs of impeccable taste! kutir.co.uk Pravaas, South Kensington Pravaas, explains chef-patron Shilpa Dandekar, means journey, and the menu at this stylish, intimate venue, a two-minute walk from South Kensington underground station, is the culmination of her journey from 21 years as a chef. It’s a challenge to come up with something new and exciting to stand out in the increasingly crowded scene of high quality Indian restaurants in the capital, but Shilpa pulls it off: an eclectic mix of dishes that combine the skills she acquired working alongside Sriram Aylur at Quilon and Raymond Blanc, before opening her successful Pure Indian Cooking in Fulham. You’ll want to come to Pravaas again and again, but for your first visit, plump for Shilpa’s tasting menu. Pani puri shots get the tastebuds carnival started: crisp mini bowls in which to pour minty zingy water. Seared scallops come next, hot with vinegary tartness, tender yet crunchy. There are so many more dishes to rave about: patra chaat, a kaleidoscope of colour, texture, sweet and sour, starring colocasia leaves; venison chops, charred outside, pink in the middle, and served with fiery Rajastani laal maas sauce – as succulent as any lamb chops we’ve eaten anywhere; dal makhani, smoky and silky, cooked and stirred for 24 hours. If Pravaas has a signature, it’s Wasabi chicken tikka. Marinated first in ginger, garlic and lemon juice, then again in wasabi and coconut, before cooking in the clay oven and served with green chutney, this is the dish you simply must try– an original creation from the brilliant inventiveness of Shilpa. Pravaas: well worth making the journey for. pravaas.com Babur, Forest Hill Established in 1985 by Emdad Rahman, the tiger that adorns the front of the restaurant makes it a neighbourhood landmark, as does its modern take on Indian dishes and cocktails. Inside, the restaurant interior is one of exposed brick, with walls adorned with art from Indian and local artists. The kitchen is led by head chef Jiwan Lal and sous chef Praveen Kumar Gupta – both formerly of the Oberoi Hotel Group. An ever-evolving menu of specials is updated throughout the year, alongside an à la carte menu that pairs each dish with a wine recommendation. Customers who sign up to the Tasting Group on the website can become involved in menu development by attending afternoon sessions during which new menus are honed, in exchange for honest feedback. The meal starts with poppadoms and a range of homemade pickles, including a fiery ginger and chilli chutney and tamarind and raisin chutney. Starters of Dhungri lamb tikka and shakerkandi ki chaat – a Punjabi sweet potato with pomegranate in salted pasty – are highlights. For mains, there is Gulnar jalpari, a Babur take on the North Indian Holi dish, with spiced prawns rolled in lemon sole on a sweet red pepper sauce. The theatrical cumin chocolate fondant with salted caramel gelato is the perfect finish, and there’s an extensive cocktail list curated by mixologist Rupam Talukdar – the whitegroni is full of aromatics, while the saffron gimlet is tart and sharp. babur.info The Tamil Prince, Islington Nestled among the leafy terraced streets of Islington, away from the bustle of central London, Tamil Prince is a gem: an airy, spacious new restaurant serving some of the finest Indian food in the capital. Created by ex-Roti King chef Prince Durairaj, it marries the classic British pub vibe (and excellent beers) with the food of Tamil Nadu from the chef’s childhood in South India. The menu is effortlessly navigable: six small plates; five large plates; four desserts. From the smalls, onion bhajis are a must, a billowy tangle of crunchy battered rings that melt in the mouth. Also choose pulled beef uttapam – a savoury dosa topped with unctuous meat – is a perfect sponge for mopping up fiery chilli coconut chutney. A small pot of glossy, smoky dhal makhani completes the set before going on to the main event, the grills. Go for the lamb chops – served as four, they are gorgeously tender, charred and crisp; nibble at the bone until clean. Then the dish with the biggest jaw-drop factor – a platter of three gigantic tiger prawns, like small lobsters, plump with sweet briny meat. Mango lassi for dessert refreshes the palate. Tamil Prince has a range of Indian cocktails and bottled beers but, on a warm summer evening, try a pint of cold, light 3.8% ABV Harbour Daymer Extra Pale Ale. thetamilprince.com BiBi, Mayfair Head chef Chet Sharma's selection menu is the must-try at his intimate Mayfair restaurant, comprising a dozen sharing plates using produce from the UK and India created with sustainability at its core. Formerly development chef of the JKS group (Gymkhana, Trishna, Brigadiers, etc), Sharma's BiBi – an affectionate term for grandmother in parts of India – is the realisation of his dream to open his own restaurant. To snack on, tangy Wookey Hole cheese papads have a melting yet crunchy texture; creamy Carlingford oyster pachadi is a refreshing segue to sweet, spicy, salty and sour chaats, including nashpati bhel – grains topped with a crunchy frozen pear granita – and raw Belted Galloway beef pepper fry, hot with lots of black pepper. From the counter, marvel at the theatre of chefs grilling on the sigree: aged Swaledale lamb chops, as soft as butter, with a subtle smokiness. And our star among many stars, Sharmaji's Lahori chicken: gorgeously tender chicken breast with a delicate creamy sauce made with whey that has been reduced to the point of caramelisation and then mixed with ground cashews and spices. Then finish with choc ice on a stick-style kulfis. bibirestaurants.com Empire Empire, Notting Hill The Indian disco era of the 1970s inspired this new opening from Harneet Baweja (Gunpowder). Eat traditional dishes such as bihari boti kebab, tandoori broccoli and chicken malai tikka from the open grill serenaded by 70s Bollywood bangers from the bespoke jukebox. For the ultimate in luxe dining order the showstopping lobster dum biryani to share, £42 – complete with the crustacean’s head emerging from the pastry lid. empire-empire.restaurant Farzi, Haymarket Located in the heart of theatre-land, Farzi specialises in modern Indian fusion, using fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. The menu is divided into sections ‘small plates’ ‘grill’ and ‘curries’, as well as chaat and sides, with a good value pre-theatre menu also available. Seasonal rotating dishes include palak paneer handi, wagyu beef kadak seekh kebab and Awadhi lamb shank korma. Be sure to check out the range of cocktails created by mixologists behind the jazz-age bar, with concoctions such as the ‘smoked old fashioned’, presented in a glass orb in a nod to Farzi’s theatrical surroundings. farzilondon.com Pahli Hill, Fitzrovia Named after one of Mumbai’s oldest neighbourhoods, Pahli Hill’s menu reflects its diverse culinary heritage, offering regional dishes from all over India. Colourful original Indian artwork and fabrics, booth-seating and a view into the open kitchen give the restaurant a contemporary feel, while its Bandra Bhai basement bar delights in its dimly lit, smuggler’s-den vibe. With a tequila-based saffron cocktail in hand, graze on papadi chat, a dip of contrasting flavours and textures, including pumpkin, spiced yogurt, wheat crackers and sev (crispy gram flour noodles), tamarind chutney and vibrant pops of pomegranate. Bangalore-born chef Avinash Shashidhara’s experience in high-end UK restaurants is clear in this menu, which utilises top-quality British ingredients. Mangalore buns – two warm, bready pockets – are served with a generous pile of spiced Scottish crab. Highlights from the tandoor include monkfish with monk's beard (greens grown in Tuscany); chicken tikka with cucumber noodles, mint and horseradish, and Cornish lamb cutlets. The pumpkin kofta is light and fragrant, and for a veggie feast, it's perfect served with a long ‘paper dosa’ or flaky flatbread, tomato and coconut chutneys, and sambar of radish and drumstick (seed pods from the Moringa tree, which are reminiscent in texture to okra. Ask about the trick to eating them). pahlihillbandrabhai.com/london-restaurant Madhu, Richmond Madhu's contemporary Indian restaurant has expanded from central London's Harvey Nichols to a smart neighbourhood setting in Richmond. The glass-fronted brasserie is full of cosy booths as well a bar overlooking an impressive tandoor oven and robata grill, where you can spy on an array of beautiful looking food before you order. Presentation is excellent, with food served in copper dishes with an array of interesting garnishes. For a very moreish appetiser try the palak patta chaat – British samphire and battered spinach leaves with chilli, turmeric, fresh coriander, yogurt and taramind, or the succulent robata chops that are marinated in aromatic spices and can be cut with a butter knife. Other highlights include king prawns cooked in a creamy coconut curry with ginger, mustard seeds and curry leaves. There's also vegetarian and vegan thalis on offer, which looked very generous when coming out of the kitchen. Finish off with a cooling badam kulfi – Indian ice cream made with clotted cream and almonds for a very satisfying end to the meal. madhusbrasserie.com Heritage, West Dulwich A new restaurant in leafy West Dulwich, Heritage is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood from Dayashankar Sharma, previously head chef at Michelin-starred Tamarind. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and elegant, with gold accents adding a modern feel, much like the menu, where you’ll find contemporary versions of dishes from all over India. From the small plates, start with the venison badal jaam (if you usually find game too strong, you’ll love this) — grilled aubergine topped with a fiery tomato sauce, cooling yogurt, and spiced venison. If you’ve got room, share the paneer and pineapple kebab — thick slices of paneer pair perfectly with sweet pineapple. Highlights from the mains include murgh makani, tender chicken in a tomato and fenugreek sauce; Kashmiri lamb spiced with saffron; and the most indulgent version of dahl mhakani we’ve tried — outrageously creamy, it’s not to be missed. The floral tones of the pulao rice steeped in rose water cut through the richness of the other dishes, and be sure to order a truffle naan. Subtly flavoured, it has just the right amount of umami, and is a great vehicle for mopping up all those delicious sauces. heritagedulwich.co.uk Madhu's of Mayfair, Piccadilly ‘Special occasion’ are the first words that spring to mind when you walk into the ornate dining room of Madhu’s of Mayfair, complete with enormous chandeliers, rococo-style architecture and marble tables. But far from feeling formal, the vibe is fun and friendly, bustling with birthday parties, tourists and after-work businessfolk. The design is the vision of Madhu’s founder Sanjay Anand, who wanted to "create an experience which engages each of the senses — ‘not just taste’." The food comes from creative chef Poonam Ball — Sanjay’s sister. She oversees the menus of the Madhu group’s four restaurants. It’s Indian, but with a Kenyan twist, including recipes handed down through four generations from her Nairobi-born mother Krishna and her father Jagdish Kumar Anand (nicknamed Madhu). Choose the signature dishes: palak patta chaat, a pile of crunchy marsh samphire and crispy spinach with warming spices and tangy chutneys; nyamah choma, succulent prime cut lamb ribs marinated in chilli and lemon; and Madhu’s machi’s — whole seabass in an onion and carom seed marinade — which is ‘special occasion’ luxurious. madhus.co.uk Chourangi, Marble Arch Named after the district of Calcutta (as the owners refer to the city we now call Kolkata) and translating as ‘crossroads’, the food at Chouranghi is a curation of ‘unexplored’ surprises from the British, Dutch, Armenian, French, Portuguese and Chinese who have influenced its cuisine. There are a lot of high-end Indian restaurants in London, each with its own ‘well, that was worth the money/must go back again’ dish. At this bright and vibrant open-plan venue, where you can watch the theatre of the chefs at work from the street, it’s the black dal. Simmered overnight until the urad lentils break down, then finished with spices and butter, it’s an unctuous, creamy, perfectly spiced bowl of deliciousness. In the hands of Indian restaurateurs Anjan Chatterjee and Aditya Ghosh, the dishes are simple yet intricately flavoured. Kamal kakdi chaat is a creamy, crunchy concoction with a fiery hit of sweet chilli-soy-jaggery. Nizami makai tikka, cooked with soft cheese, has an aromatic finish from aamada (mango ginger). Chingri cutlets (beaten-out breaded prawns) are dense and ‘meaty’ while another star is blistering paanch phoran, Welsh rack of lamb seasoned with ‘Calcutta five-spice’ And have you heard of hilsa — Calcutta’s queen of fish? Think white salmon — soft, oily and flake-apart. chourangi.co.uk Bombay Delight, Wimbledon A newly opened sister restaurant of Mumbai Delight in Vauxhall, Bombay Delight is a larger, more vibrant venue with a stylish bar area, space for private functions, and walls decorated with elephants and framed pictures of old Bombay. The offerings aren't dissimilar to its sister's, but there are some new dishes, including the excellent tiltala jhinga appetiser – juicy king prawns coated in a crisp sesame seed and gram flour batter, with a spiced mayo for dipping. Poppadoms arrive with two moreish dips – subtle beetroot, fresh mint and coriander, and a mango chutney with a hint of chilli. The menu doesn't stray too far from well-loved classics, and the rich and creamy BBC (Bombay butter chicken) is proof that this restaurant does them well, with the freshest ingredients and no colourings. Finish with the Indian sweet, gulab jamun, soaked in sugar syrup and served with a smooth vanilla ice cream, along with one of the mocktail concoctions, such as a fresh masala thums-up with mint, cumin and black salt. South London-dwellers will be happy this restaurant has arrived on their doorstep. bombaydelight.co.uk Fatt Pundit, Covent Garden Street food sharing plates with Indo-Chinese heritage storytelling is all part of a great restaurant experience these days, and the staff at Fatt Pundit are very happy to share. Pull up a chair! First, there’s the name Fatt Pundit, a combination of the common Chinese surname with the Indian word for scholar. Then the story of the Hakka Chinese immigrants who created a new cuisine by combining traditional Chinese cooking techniques with the spices of India. Set in an industrial chic dining room, there’s a buzzy vibe, with queues outside. But don’t rush: there’s so much to savour. Momos – steamed dumplings – are a must (especially the spiced kid goat). Crackling spinach is a refreshing take on a chaat with sweet yogurt, date & plum sauce and pomegranate. Hakka chilli paneer lettuce cups are filled with tongue-tingling Szechuan pepper-spiced paneer, showcasing the Indo-Chinese influences. Unique to the Maiden Lane outlet (there’s another branch in Soho) are crunchy pepper soft shell crab – blisteringly hot; sweet, caramelised Kolkata chilli duck, accompanied by pancakes and cucumber strips and plump chunks of rib-eye steak with chillies and roasted cashews.fattpundit.co.uk Manthan, Mayfair With a pedigree chef like Rohit Ghai, expectations of the food at his new Mayfair restaurant are high – and it doesn't disappoint. Rohit led the kitchens at Gymkhana and Trishna before opening his first venue, Kutir, in Chelsea. At Manthan – the Hindu word meaning to churn and reflect – Rohit takes inspiration from his mother’s cooking and the street food of India. The Maddox Street dining room is long and wood-panelled, adorned with beautiful paintings of exotic flowers. Even at lunchtime it feels romantic, and the sharing dishes reflect that vibe. If you’re here for the first time, have an overview experience and choose two dishes from the gali ka khana (street food) section, one from rassedar (curries), one from chapata chops & tikka, plus a couple of sides. To start, ghati masala prawns are plump and tender, coated with sesame, peanut and coconut for a satisfying crispy crunch. Jackfruit tacos are a revelation – almost meaty in texture, stuffed into fluffy rice lentil pancakes with southern spice and chutney. Fall-off-the-bone lamb ossobuco sits in a silky, satisfying sauce flavoured with jaffa spices and curry leaf, while sarson chicken, tangy and hot with mustard and chilli, is as soft as butter. If you have room for dessert, opt for the classic trip of sweet laddoo, sticky gulab jamun and creamy srikhand. manthanmayfair.co.uk Benares, Mayfair When spiced corn street snacks arrive under a bonsai tree, you know you’re in for a memorable experience. That feeling grows when a Porlock Bay oyster with a jewel-like cured sea bream chaat is presented on beach-like pebbles, swathed in dry ice to mimic sea mist. The bonsai tree is a salute to roadside vendors in India who seek shade beneath trees, and it’s the creation of executive chef Sameer Taneja, who regained a Michelin star for the Berkeley Square restaurant. But this culinary theatre is no gimmick: the dishes are as delicious to eat as they are a treat for the eyes. They’re part of a new eight-course tasting menu which takes influences from throughout the Indian subcontinent, using British ingredients. Too many dishes to list here, but stand-outs include soft-as-butter tandoori muntjac – venison cooked in a spicy marinade served with a garlic yogurt and chilli chutney; fragrant baby poussin tikka masala; and, to finish, sweet rasmalai, a quintessential milk-based dessert popular in eastern India. There’s also a vegetarian tasting menu, featuring baked golden vegetable kofta in rich cashew nut and kashmiri saffron korma. Make sure you’re not in a hurry: this is a three-hour dining experience, as relaxing as it is special. benaresrestaurant.com Dishoom, across London Inspired by the all-day Irani cafés that were an integral part of Bombay life, there are now seven branches of Dishoom in London (and a branch in Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester), each serving Bombay breakfast, lunch, afternoon chai and dinner. Breakfasts at Dishoom have won a cult following. Not least for the bacon naan rolls – crisp bacon wrapped in tandoor-charred naan with a dollop of chilli tomato jam and cream cheese. Pair with a breakfast lassi or house chai. dishoom.com Kanishka, Mayfair Focussing on the Seven Sister States as well as nods to Nepal and Bangladesh, Kanishka is a modern Indian restaurant serving a series of tasting menus and a la carte. Start with the Gantok momos (steamed Nepalese dumplings), proudly billed as made ‘in-house’ which was telling by the skins being light but still with some bite to them. We also had chef’s chicken tikka pie which wasn’t accredited to a region but still an exemplary piece of proper pie making with well-cooked puff pastry encasing juicy chunks of well marinated chicken. For mains we went with the lightly spiced and coconut sauced Kanishka seafood curry and underutilised goat cooked slowly until fork tender in a rogan josh style. Once we added generous serving of puffy paratha, fresh kachumba and signature black dhal to our order we were too full for dessert but the dark chocolate sphere with orange chocolate cream and spiced caramel sauce seemed to be impressing our neighbours with its table-side server theatrics. kanishkarestaurant.co.uk Darjeeling Express, Carnaby Street Darjeeling Express started life as a supper club in the Kensington home of Kolkata-born Asma Khan but her restaurant on the top floor inside Kingly Court is now at the forefront of the London’s Indian food scene. What is most striking about the kitchen at Darjeeling Express is that the chefs are all female, something that’s still a rarity in restaurants. These women come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures but none of them have worked in professional kitchens before. Asma lets them cook in the restaurant on Sundays to help them to get used to working in a professional environment. darjeeling-express.com Hoppers, Soho and Marylebone Named after the lacy, bowl-shaped pancakes that are a staple of Sri Lanka, Hoppers has quickly established itself as one of London’s hippest hangouts. From the can-do-no-wrong team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, Hoppers references the food of southern India and Sri Lanka. There’s a succinct menu starring traditional hoppers: light fermented rice and lentil pancake bowls, with a softly steamed egg and a selection of confidently spiced karis. Load up on the ‘short eats’, though. Mutton rolls are like crunchy cigars – with a golden crumb, shredded gamey meat and lightly spiced tomato chutney. Bone marrow is so seductively sauced that you would be forgiven for refusing to share. The best, perhaps, are buttered devilled shrimps: juicy and fiery. There are fab and refreshing cocktails also. hopperslondon.com Try our egg hoppers recipe here... Kricket, Brixton and Soho Contemporary and cool, Kricket specialises in Indian small plates using local vegetables along with fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. Expect to queue at these no-reservations restaurants but dishes like samphire pakoras and Keralan fried chicken are more than worth the wait. We have the recipe for Kricket’s kichri. Kedgeree as we know it was an adaptation of the original recipe for kichri, which consists of rice and lentils. You can use poached eggs rather than raw egg yolks, if you like. kricket.co.uk Try Kricket's kichri recipe here... Masala Zone, across London Excellent regional Indian street food – thalis, grills, curries and biryanis – explains the success of Masala Zone, which now has seven restaurants dotted around the capital. Best-sellers include spicy squid bhaji and the ghee roast duck. masalazone.com Looking for inspirational Indian recipes? Check out our best ever Indian recipes.
Support small craft breweries with the Hoppily Craft Beer Club – read our full review of this monthly beer subscription.
Essex-based Hoppily is on a mission to ‘champion the unusual and the underdog’, seeking out little-known, adventurous craft breweries across the UK that produce strong beers with bold flavours. Its proud boast is: ‘No supermarket beers: if a beer is featured in a supermarket, at Hoppily we won’t stock it individually online or in our store. Simple.’ As well as a widely stocked bottle shop and gift shop, Hoppily offers the Hoppily craft beer club monthly subscription. There are a variety of rolling subscription options, ranging from eight (£30 a month) or 10 beers (£35 a month), to the ‘Hoptacular’ beer box (£48 a month), which contains 10 premium beers with stronger-than-usual ABVs. For an extra £2, you can also add a snack to your box. Beers are selected from a wide variety of small craft brewers, including Pentrich Brew Co., Hackney Brewery, Leigh-on-Sea Brewery, Portobello Brewing Company and One Mile End Brewery. Our case is made up of eight interesting cans and bottles: Orbit Rhubarb Sour (4% ABV) C84 No.24 (7% ABV) Firebrand Graffiti IPA (5% ABV) Bulk Powers IPA (5.1% ABV) Hammerton Groll pilsner (4.7% ABV) Signature Brew Good Vibrations APA (5.2% ABV) Bishop Nick Tattoo’d New Zealand hopped red ale (4.9% ABV) Bermondsey Best bitter (4.4% ABV) Packaging is minimal – there are no frills or tasting notes, just cans and bottles of interesting beers. Delivery is free and if you become a member you also get a 10 per cent discount for purchases in the online bottle shop or gift shop. Overall, this simple beer delivery is great for beer explorers. If you want to try something new and support small craft brewers in the UK, give this a whirl. Available from Hoppily, from £30 a month
Best of British beer subscription review
Discover new British breweries with a Best of British beer subscription – read our review of this regular beer delivery
The Best of British beer subscription club is the longest-running in the UK, having been established in 2011 by husband-and-wife Will and Gill Sherwin in Newcastle-under-Lyme. It delivers cases of handpicked 500ml bottles to ‘wave the flag for independent breweries’, along with a comprehensive leaflet containing tasting notes and background on the beers, a pub quiz and information highlighting the beer of the month. Each month, members receive a beer delivery of six or 12 different beers – many of them award-winning and all from lesser-known microbreweries. Ordering online is simple and straightforward. There are a variety of options, including the Beer for a Year club (12 x 500ml bottles in four cases through the year for £155), six-month beer club (case of 12 x 500ml per month for £225), three-month beer club (case of 12 x 500ml per month for £120) or a pay-monthly beer club (12 x 500ml for £40). There's also a craft cider option, and you can subscribe to six bottles instead of 12. You can choose a style of beer to suit your taste, too, from pale and golden, to dark or a mix of both – the club’s most popular option. The first case comes with a beer glass, plus there’s a 10 per cent discount on additional sales throughout your whole membership. Our case contains 12 bottles selected from 20 brewery partners. Best of British chooses a range of styles to reflect the season, and since its launch has featured over 500 breweries. Every beer in our case is a surprise and delicious in a distinctive way. These are: Fraoch (5% ABV), a traditional light amber Gaelic beer brewed in Scotland since 2000 BC from Williams Bros Sunshine (4.2% ABV), a hoppy, floral ale that is a Taste & SIBA award-winner from Monty’s Brewery in Montgomeryshire Moose River (5% ABV), an American IPA from Great Western Brewery near Bristol Hollyrood (5% ABV), an IPA from Stewart Brewery in Edinburgh – voted Scottish Brewer of the Year in 2018 and 2019 Old Prickly (4.2% ABV), a full-flavoured golden ale from Hobson’s near Kidderminster Backyard IPA (5% ABV), from Backyard Brew House in Walsall Cheshire Gold (4.1% ABV), a session beer from Coach House in Warrington Danebridge IPA (4.5% ABV), from Leek Brewery in Staffordshire Knight of the Garter (3.8% ABV), from Windsor & Eton Hen Harrier (4% ABV), a golden beer from Bowland Brewery in Clitheroe Ballast Porter (4.4% ABV), from Stonehouse Brewery in Oswestry King (5.1% ABV), a multi-award-winning premium ale from Keltek Brewery in Redruth Packaging is a simple as it gets: the beers arrive in a compartmentalised recyclable cardboard box, which acts as a useful storage unit as you go through the beers. Overall verdict: a tremendous case of beer, full of surprises and great value for money. Perfect for the session beer drinkers and those who love to discover something different while supporting the wealth of small independent breweries across the UK. Available from Best of British Beer, from £40
Subscribe to a regular beer delivery whilst donating to charity – read our full review of the charitable Brewgooder beer subscription
Brewgooder is ‘the beer club that’s life-changing’ with profits going to projects providing clean water to communities in Malawi, who have little access to healthy drinking water. The company was created by Alan Mahon after picking up a parasite from contaminated water whilst travelling in Nepal, which taught him the importance of clean water. With its partner, Charity Water, Brewgooder’s profits have funded 140+ projects, unlocking 100,000,000 litres of drinking water and empowering the lives of 156 million people. For every can or pint sold, the company say they will provide 100 times that amount in clean water. The website is easy to navigate and offers a variety of flexible packages for the beer subscription. You can make a one-off purchase or arrange for beers to be delivered every seven, 14 or 28 days. There are three price points: £20 for 12 330ml cans, but buying in bulk will save you money - 24 cans costs £33 and 48 costs £66. Each offering is accompanied by statistics about how much clean water you’re helping to provide with your purchase: 12 cans = 396 litres of clean water; 24 = 792 litres; and 48 = 1,584. There are three brews on offer, which you can order as individual or mixed cases. Lager (4.5% ABV) is Brewgooder’s signature beer. It has a biscuit-citrusy aroma and tastes crisp, lemony and refreshing. Session IPA (3.7% ABV) is light and sharp, with a taste of grapefruit and pineapple. Tropical Pale (3.9% ABV) is full of mango, pineapple and passionfruit flavours with a light bittersweet finish. The packaging is simple and recyclable. There are no extra tasting notes or incidentals, but each can contains a short story about the company’s mission. Verdict Amazing value and wonderfully tasting light and refreshing beers. Perfect for summer. We all know that beer makes you feel good, but these beers give you an extra glow of satisfaction knowing that with every sip you’re helping to change someone’s life. Buy now
BoroughBox craft beer and snack subscription review
For a beer delivery with added snack matching, we tested out the BoroughBox craft beer and snack subscription
The Craft Beer & Snack subscription box (£34.99) comes from BoroughBox, an online marketplace that connects small artisan producers with customers, describing itself as ‘the solution to your foodie cravings. A space for everyone who deserves a little treat’. The craft beer and snack subscription offers a delivery of six beers (selected from IPAs, ales, pils, blondes, porters and seasonal brews) and six snacks to match the beers ‘from cracking crackling and other meaty morsels to ale-flavoured popcorn’. The BoroughBox website is comprehensive, comprising a whole range of artisan offerings (worth a browse in itself) so you’ll have to search to find the beer, but once there you can choose from a one month taster box or a three-, six- or 12-month subscription. Each month you will receive: six craft beers (two each of three types) and six beer snacks (typically 35g each). Spend £75 for free standard shipping. The boxes are shipped in eco-friendly BoroughBox branded kraft boxes. BoroughBox works with a number of London craft breweries, including Crate, Five Points and Brick. In our box, we received: Yeastie Boys Bigmouth Session IPA 4.4%: a light and easy drinking straw gold ale from New Zealand. Jiddler’s Tipple Everyday Pale Ale 3.8%: a citrussy, malty pale ale that has been awarded two gold stars in the Great Taste Awards. It’s made by Jacob Liddle, who made beer at his home in Turnpike Lane, north London, for years before scaling up his home-brew operation with the south London brewery, By The Horns Brewing Co in 2019. First Chop Pop 5.4%: American-style IPA, brewed in Manchester, with a distinctive fruity-bitterness from the use of orange peel. Snacks: Serious Pig Crunchy Snacking Cheese; Made for Drink Chorizo Thins Overall verdict Refreshing beer and salty – snacks what’s not to like? Great for a sunny afternoon or get-together with friends. Buy now