Harden's survey result
Summary
Famous more than 20 years ago as the first Indian restaurant in London to bag a Michelin star, this Mayfair stalwart still wins fans with “brilliantly cooked and presented” cuisine that plays second fiddle to few places in the capital. “A table upstairs is the more pleasant choice” than in the basement. Top Menu Tips – “signature char-grilled lamb chops with crispy pistachio nut crumb – so tender and flavourful – and the Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani served in a pot with pastry crust… definitely melt-in-the-mouth”.
Summary
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
“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”.
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?
20 Queen St, London, W1J 5PR
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £95.00 |  |
|
|
|
| Lunch | £29.00 | £34.00 | |
|
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 85.00 | Always available | 4 |
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5.00 | £28.00 | £10.00 | £0.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £48.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £5.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
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 |
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