Harden's survey result
For 25 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. This year diners have submitted over 60,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK.
Summary
“We always go for the Grand Thali and it’s a knockout!” – These “ever-buzzing” contemporary Indians make a very “handy backstop”, with WC2 in particular “an excellent pre-theatre option” for a “fast and delicious” meal. “We thought it might be chain-bland, but the food was good and quite authentic… and good value too!”
Summary
“Surprisingly good for a chain” – these “fun” and “fast” street-food Indians provide a “genuine, varied and healthy” pit stop, with “good value thalis” a popular bet. The handy Covent Garden branch is particularly worth remembering.
Summary
“For a quick, cheap ’n’ cheerful meal”, this “bustling”, “interestingly decorated”, Indian-street-food chain is just the job, with its “good-value thalis” and other “simple” fare; WC2 in particular is “ideal pre-theatre”.
Summary
“Surprised at how good this chain was!” – these “cheerful and lively” Indian pit stops deliver a “highly professional” package of “fresh and distinctive street food” at “reasonable prices”, and in “very convenient locations” too.
Owner's description
The enormously popular Masala Zone Covent Garden has just been transformed into a glamorous,
visually entertaining brasserie with a new look, new menu and new spirit.
Owners MW Eat - whose portfolio of London restaurants also includes two establishments with Michelin
stars, Amaya and Veeraswamy, as well as Chutney Mary - are in the process of remodelling and
upgrading their Masala Zone restaurants. Masala Zone Covent Garden represents the culmination of the
bespoke makeover. This coincides with a launch of the new website.
Masala Zone Covent Garden is a visual delight with the combination of 20 antique wooden doors from
Rajasthan as well as the re-positioning of more than 350 Rajasthani ceremonial puppets that depict a
grand royal wedding. They are hung in spectacular fashion throughout the restaurant. The antique doors
are juxtaposed with the puppets giving a vibrant texture to the design environment, and are accented by
theatrical lighting, including two large striking chandeliers.
Additionally, a new bar has been added to the ground floor, including eight red leather bar stools facing
the rich stone tiled bar front. The new cocktail list features exotic concoctions such as the uplifting and
herbal Hyderabadi Highball, the Almond and Rose Sour (with ginger, cardamom and rosewater), and the
Narial Punch (like an Indian Piña Colada, with coconut, chai tea syrup and lime).
The menus at Masala Zone Covent Garden embrace traditional dishes, and many feature a contemporary
spin. Sourced from 30 years of research in gourmet homes, street stalls and Maharaja’s palace kitchens
throughout India, each dish features complex spice combinations, chosen from the best Indian spice
farms and shipped direct to the London restaurants. Some of the new dishes include:
• Idiappam Seafood Biryani – hand-pressed fine rice noodles with prawn, squid, curry leaf, coconut
and chilli sauce
• Egg Kottu Paratha - a Madurai Tamil street main meal with a melange of vegetables, egg,
paratha and shallots in a spicy sauce
• Coondapur Ghee Roast Duck with Soft Dosa – Ghee Roast is a legendary recipe from this small
town near Mangalore
• Malvani Tawa Seabass - griddled with a blend of coastal spices - Malvan is a town in the Konkan
region on the west coast of Maharashtra, south of Bombay
• Crispy Quail 65 - two spicy half quails marinated overnight, tossed with a tempering of fresh
coconut and curry leaf
The 150 seat dining room is overseen by a partially open-to-view kitchen, allowing guests a glimpse of
the chefs in action.
The lower ground floor houses a visually striking & exotic private dining room for up to 42, which can be
sectioned off for smaller parties, with menus from £30-£45 per person. Its eclectic yet opulent interior
design features a dramatic collection of paintings, murals, old wooden temple doors, original artefacts and artwork.
Masala Zone Covent Garden is open daily - Monday-Friday Noon-11pm, Saturday 12.30pm-11pm, and
Sunday 12.30pm-10.30pm
