Harden's survey result
Summary
This upmarket fixture in South Kensington – on the Indian dining scene in London since 1982 – doesn’t make waves nowadays, but still earns solid praise by producing consistently “very good food”. Current owner Taj Hotels have spruced up the interior, although the odd reporter is “not keen on the current look”.
Summary
“Looking very smart” again nowadays, this upmarket “institution” in South Kensington has been run in recent times by luxury Indian chain Taj Hotels and is winning more consistent praise for its “helpful staff and delicious food”. It’s yet to step back properly onto London’s culinary map, however, and even some fans feel “it’s still to some extent relying on past glories”.
Summary
“Excellent food in a somewhat formal setting” – an elegant conservatory with colonial decor – elevates this South Kensington stalwart beyond “run-of-the-mill curry houses”. Reports have dwindled in recent years, but consistently high ratings suggest it’s worth a second look.
Summary
This “still stylish” South Kensington stalwart – known for its “bright and airy” conservatory – remains a “benchmark” for its fans, with its “subtle use of spices” and “comfortable” colonial decor. Its recent refurb doesn’t wow everyone though, and some long-term fans feel “it’s a shadow of its former self”.
Restaurant details
Bombay Brasserie Restaurant Diner Reviews
"We opted for the weekend brunch set menu as we were a large family group of 10 people. When booking the table we enquired about the brunch menu which is not actually shown on the website and were told that it was great value as it offered lots of choice for all tastes. We had been before for the same menu but it was a buffet at the time served in the conservatory area and to be fair there was enough choice offered but not one of the best we have had. Due to the current pandemic, food was served at our table which is actually easier than making several trips to the buffet area but unfortunately the experience this time was not as good for sure. The appetisers and starters were fine and served fairly quickly. However, when asking for more of the starters it took quite a while to get these and we were given tiny portions and kept having to ask for more which was annoying. Furthermore, it felt very rushed as the appetisers were served and then we were served the starters whilst we were still eating the appetisers. There was a break between the starters and the main course which was welcome but we all found the main course was lacking in Non vegetarian dishes. The only non veg dish with curry was the chicken curry and the rest of the 4 dishes on offer were all vegetarian! There was a lamb biryani which was not very appealing and full of rice and hardly any lamb. Desserts were average, we did not enjoy the shrikhand or the coffee halwa. Overall, quite disappointing. This was supposed to be a family lunch celebration but unfortunately we were not impressed with the variety of food and the service was not up to scratch either. I had to ask for water 3 times till we finally got some. When I asked for the main dishes to be served at the other end of our long table the staff member serving us said, "Mam the dishes are supposed to be shared"! Seriously??? They brought tiny portions of the main dishes between 10 people and were making a fuss when I asked for dishes to be kept at both ends of our long group table, in fact 3 people were on a table separated to allow for easy access in and out and even then they were not served everything! The masala chai at the end was not nice either and not even served warm enough. We left feeling disappointed and not looked after at all. My husband is a regular customer as he works nearby and often goes for client lunches but we really feel that neither the food nor the service was up to standard. It was not money well spent. We will certainly not be returning in the near future."
"Had an excellent meal with some outstanding dishes. Service just right and a very good value wine"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunch | £39.00 |  |
 |
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £11.00 | £26.00 | £7.00 | £9.50 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
Harden's says...
Bombay Brasserie SW7
A relaunch of a grand Indian restaurant, by Gloucester Road tube; the charm that once made it famous has been totally obliterated, and it now charges high prices for a thoroughly humdrum experience.
OMG, what have they done to it? Perhaps there should be some sort of law that London hotels just aren't allowed substantially to refurbish their restaurants? The precedents in recent years really have been dire, and the more cherished the restaurant, the more crass redevelopment seems to be - the Connaught and the Dorchester Grill are cases in point.
As soon as we entered the bar of this (Taj Group) South Kensington Indian - which was quite a place of the moment, when it launched a quarter of a century ago - we knew something was wrong. In the old days, you got an enticing glimpse of the pretty and characterful dining room. Now you come in to an ill-proportioned bar with little furnishing, and zip in the way of charm - yes, this is dentist's waiting room territory.
Our guest, quite reasonably, had no desire to hang around there, so we went straight on in through the imposing double doors, into the main dining room. With its big tables, white tablecloths, bright lighting and mindless opulence, it screamed 'hotel'. We moved swiftly on.
Perhaps the old, famously romantic conservatory had escaped 'improvement'? No chance, of course. The feel is now Travelodge de luxe. It seemed preferable, however, to the hommage à Louis XIV going on next door.
We'd like to report that the whole depressing experience was saved by the food, but it wasn't. The cooking was mundane, the prices (most notably on the wine list) were absurd, and the kitchen gave the impression that it was manned by snails.
In fact, only the charm of the front-of-house staff provided any link at all with the past. For the waste of nearly three hours of one's life, however, this was far from being justification enough.
Courtfield Road, London, SW7 4QH
Opening hours
| Monday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3:30 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
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