Harden's survey result
Summary
“Cracking and very consistent cuisine”, full of “subtle and innovative flavours”, wins nothing but the highest praise for this Mayfair Indian – the highest rated in town this year – which occupies a “beautiful”, colonial-themed dining room. Naturally it’s not cheap, but by general agreement the experience is definitely “worthy of the prices”. Founder Samyukta Nair is the London-educated scion of an Indian dynasty until recently involved with India’s ultra-luxe Leela Palace group.
Summary
“Boldly flavoured” nouvelle Indian cuisine served in a “dark and clubby”, colonial-theme setting puts Leela Palace’s Mayfair three-year-old in London’s premier league, if not perhaps quite at the top of the table: “not as memorable as some top names, but definitely a favourite”. But while it’s “a good attempt at taking Indian cuisine to the next level”, it lacks the stunning verve fans recall from when it first opened: “a fun evening out, but it will need to do better again to match the best of the best”.
Summary
“Boldly flavoured” nouvelle Indian cuisine served in a “dark and clubby”, colonial-theme setting puts Leela Palace’s Mayfair two-year-old in London’s premier league, if not perhaps quite at the top of the table: “not as memorable as some top names, but definitely a favourite”. But while it’s “a good attempt at taking Indian cuisine to the next level”, it lacks the stunning verve fans recall from when it first opened: “a fun evening out, but it will need to do better again to match the best of the best”.
Summary
“Having been to Jamavar in Bangalore, I tried their London restaurant and was most impressed” – Leela Palace’s “plush”, colonial-style yearling (“I’m not sure the decor is very PC!”) is “a great addition to Mayfair” and wins ecstatic praise from many reporters for its “super slick service” and “fabulous and spicy” dishes that “strike a balance between the traditional spicing and flavours of Indian cuisine, but with high-end presentation and gastronomic flourishes!” No hiding, however, that it was a blow when they lost founding chef Rohit Ghai in January 2018, with ratings in this year’s survey at laudable levels, but miles away from the giddy heights achieved in year one.
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).
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Restaurant details
Jamavar Restaurant Diner Reviews

"Had another wonderful meal tonight. Well done to all the staff. Service attentive, food exquisite and atmosphere welcoming."
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
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Bread | £0.00 |
Service | 12.50% |
8 Mount Street, London, W1K 3NF
Opening hours
Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑9:30 pm |
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