RestaurantsLondonMayfairW1

survey result

Summary

£87
 ££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

The world’s first Indian restaurant to bag a Michelin star (in 2001) – this “sophisticated and glamorous” Mayfair linchpin has neither lost its way, nor remained pre-eminent: it just continues to plough its own distinctive path. The kitchen “always finds a neat twist to traditional favourites” and succeeds in delivering “stunning presentation and wonderful flavours”. And “despite its top quality food and location, the bill isn’t bad either”. Top Tips – “the vegetarian fare is particularly delicious”; and “the lunchtime menu is great value”.

Summary

£81
 ££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“An absolutely fabulous place”, this pioneer of upscale Indian food for almost 30 years (and the first in the world to bag a Michelin star) is flying high again after a major refurb doubled the size of its Mayfair premises a couple of years ago. “Despite newcomers” taking curry to new levels, fans say “this remains the best Indian food”“the brilliant taster menu is exceptional and demonstrates the skill and versatility of the kitchen” (now run by Karunesh Khanna, formerly head chef of Amaya).

Summary

£80
 ££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Beautiful and elegant Indian food of a rare quality” is the hallmark of this “refined” Mayfair basement, which shrugged off the ‘curry house’ label to pioneer “modern-style presentation of the best traditional tastes” at its launch in 1995. The first Indian restaurant in the world to bag a Michelin star in 2001, it suffered a dip in standards thereafter, but has revived in recent years, by doing “everything an Indian restaurant should to make you feel at home and appreciate the cuisine”. The “subterranean location” was much improved by a refurb a few years back, and it’s nowadays often praised as a “lovely setting”.

Summary

£75
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The food speaks volumes”“sensational grills, exquisite curries and traditional biryanis” – for most (if not all) who report on this pioneering Mayfair venture, which helped validate the whole concept of posh Indian restaurants in the UK. It’s “a pity about the basement location” though, and the 2018 refurb designed to give a “light and airy modern” interior has proved “OK, but not really an improvement… if anything noise levels are higher”.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Tamarind?

Restaurant details

Yes
Highchair,Portions
No trainers
85
7+ after 7 pm

Tamarind Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Tamarind Restaurant in W1, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Tamarind restaurant.
iain p
unbelievable flavours and stunning presenta...
Reviewed 11 months, 7 days ago

"unbelievable flavours and stunning presentation"

Report this comment
Have you eaten at Tamarind?
Post your own review of Tamarind and contribute to our annual restaurant review guide.
Post your own review

Prices

  Cost Availability Courses
Menu1 79.00 Always available 4

Starter Main Veggies
£16.50 £26.50 £6.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £39.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Bread £5.00
Service 12.50%
20 Queen St, London, W1J 5PR
Make A Booking
Number of Diners:
Required Time:
Powered by OpenTable
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Friday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm
Sunday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑9:15 pm

Best Indian restaurants nearby

Benares
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
£94
 ££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
Jamavar
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
£83
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
Gymkhana
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
£98
 ££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Butler’s Restaurant, The Chesterfield Mayfair
British, Traditional restaurant in Mayfair
£90
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
Theo Randall at the InterContinental London Park Lane
Italian restaurant in Mayfair
£90
 ££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good
Franco’s
Italian restaurant in St James's
£90
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good