Harden's survey result
Summary
“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
“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
“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”.
Summary
“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 32 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
Tamarind Restaurant Diner Reviews
"unbelievable flavours and stunning presentation"
"Probably chose badly. Small plates were VERY small!"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £39.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £5.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
20 Queen St, London, W1J 5PR
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:15 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑9:15 pm |
Best Indian restaurants nearby
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
Italian restaurant in Mayfair
Indian restaurant in Mayfair
