Harden's survey result
Summary
“Ewell is now a foodie destination; everyone should come to be enlightened here once!” – Sanjay Gour and Nand Kishor’s “truly outstanding Indian in the ’burbs” has “a frontage and decor that don’t reflect its quality” but is “worth a long detour, be it to eat in or take away”. Few restaurants elicit such enthusiasm, which is inspired by the “always welcoming front of house team” and “wholly original dishes, which are far away from the usual predictable Indian fare”. “The level of flavour and the divine balance of spices in every dish puts Dastaan on a pedestal above just about every other Indian restaurant in the country, even those charging twice the price for finer dining!” Top Tip – “Their lamb chops are unbeaten!”.
Summary
“Perfectly executed north Indian food” from a pair of former Gymkhana chefs has made this apparently-modest, outer-suburban curry house a site of pilgrimage, despite its “bizarre setting just off the Ewell bypass”. “The food is in pretty much perfect inverse correlation to the location”, and “sets a new benchmark for Indian food and service” – no wonder it’s “booked solid”. Top Tip – “the lamb chops alone are worth the Uber”.
Summary
“Perfectly executed north Indian food” from a pair of former Gymkhana chefs has made this apparently-modest, outer-suburban curry house a site of pilgrimage, despite its “bizarre setting just off the Ewell bypass”. “The food is in pretty much perfect inverse correlation to the location”, and “sets a new benchmark for Indian food and service” – no wonder it’s “booked solid”. Top Tip – “the lamb chops alone are worth the Uber”.
Summary
“A real diamond-in-the-rough, setting wise – why they picked this location in a most unexpected part of Ewell isn’t obvious, but when you eat here all is forgotten”. “Terrific and authentic Indian flavours are created by two former top chefs from Gymkhana” and even if “the shabby chic could be improved” the interior is “lively (in a good way)” and “the superb quality of food more than compensates”. “Simply put: just go there!”
For 31 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 Dastaan?
Restaurant details
Dastaan Restaurant Diner Reviews

"Simply the best Indian food i have had in UK. If I could cook, I would cook like this. :)"

"Indian food that serves authentic dishes with vibrant and fresh flavours "

"Excellent food - the fish Amritsari and lamb biryani are exceptional. "

"The level of flavour and the divine balance of spices in every dish puts Dastaan on a pedestal above every other Indian restaurant in the country, even those charging twice the price for finer dining. Ewell is a foodie destination; everyone should come here once, for enlightenment. Their lamb chops are unbeaten."
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £19.95 |
Filter Coffee | £3.95 |
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Service | 12.50% |
447 Kingston Rd, Ewell, KT19 0DB
Opening hours
Monday | CLOSED |
Tuesday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Wednesday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Thursday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Friday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Saturday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Sunday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
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