City, Indian Restaurant Guide

Our StoryFor a long time now, we’ve observed foodies and non-foodies alike being somewhat ambivalent about fantastically popular Indian takeaway and restaurant food – not because they don’t ...

“The atmospheric book-lined walls of Westminster’s former public library are a highlight” and add “a lot of character” to Vivek Singh’s famous venue a short stroll from the Palace of Westminster: one of the Top 40 most-mentioned restaurants in our annual diners’ poll and the best-known top Indian destination. “It’s worth a visit just for the bar!” – where an evening often commences – but the prime attraction is “clever”, “high-end” nouvelle Indian food “that’s truly different” and with “very delicate spicing”. “The huge area can make service a challenge” but generally staff cope well.

Limited but good all-round feedback on this family-run Punjabi stalwart, which has long been a feature of the restaurant strip just to the south of Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo (and which sometimes only serves a restricted menu in the early evening during events there). It also has a branch in Ealing (not listed).

With 15 restaurants in five Indian cities, this long-established Indian chain (est 1972 in Mumbai) chose Westfield (near the main entrance) for its first UK branch, which opened a couple of years ago. We still don’t get a huge volume of reports, but all are upbeat, especially from those with kids in tow: “authentic, fairly priced, and with something for the whole family to enjoy”.

“A real gem”, serving “top-quality modern Indian cooking at sensible prices” on Fulham High Street near Putney Bridge. The “delicious, unusual food” comes courtesy of chef-owner Shilpa Dandekar, who trained with both India’s Taj Group and Raymond Blanc. She and her husband Faheem Vanoo, who runs the front of house, have made a good impression on locals (“it’s run by really nice people”).

The “gorgeous food, with amazing flavours and presentation” at this Covent Garden café matches the high standards Vivek Singh sets at his grander Cinnamon restaurants, some of the best-known Indian kitchens in London. It’s a useful destination pre-theatre.

Sameer Taneja’s “exceptional” cuisine continues to maintain the high standing of this well-known Berkeley Square destination. Despite the odd “unexciting” report, most accounts are of “fabulous” meals from “a menu that’s very spice-led and refined-tasting”. Located on the first floor, its modern design “doesn’t feel too ‘posh Mayfair’ in ambience terms”, with meals here said to be “well-paced” and “refreshing”.

“Every dish tastes different with wonderful, rich depths of flavour” at this “interesting street-food-style” café on Hammersmith’s ‘restaurant row’ near Ravenscourt Park: “both north and south India are covered” on a “great, regional menu”, incorporating “delicious vegetarian options”: “the wide range favours going with a big group, or ordering lots to have at home afterwards!”

2022 Review: Worth knowing about near Gloucester Road tube – this large hotel dining room has been serving Indian cuisine since 1984. Too few reports for a rating, but promising feedback and worth bearing in mind if you are in the vicinity.

“Big flavoured, modern Indian dishes” from an “interesting and different menu” win praise for Vivek Singh’s high quality duo: “a more affordable introduction to the Cinnamon Club’s cuisine”. The newer SW11 branch, “with service around an open kitchen in a lively railway arch” near Battersea Power Station is jollier than its longer-established City sibling, where “the décor is quite boring and service a tad patchy” (although the latter is also “pretty decent value in an area that has limited options for a weekend lunch”).

“The deft flavours of fine Indian dining” at this “Honor Oak stalwart” have induced discerning diners to “make the awkward trip” to SE23 for almost 40 years now. “The place maintains its standards” and has a credible claim on being “the best Indian in southeast London” thanks to its “exciting” dishes, “excellent” service and “elegant” interior.