Mayfair, Indian Restaurant Guide

“A beautiful restaurant interior, plus warm, professional and attentive staff” have helped Samyutka Nair and family’s “posh Indian” near Mayfair’s Berkeley Square acquire a reputation as “one of the best subcontinental restaurants in London”. Its ratings sank this year, though amidst a number of experiences of cooking that was “solid, but not as refined as expected” – “It was very nice… but is it so different to many others that have sprung up to justify the high price here?” Top Tip – “set lunch is a steal!”

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”.

“Setting the benchmark for high-end Indian gastronomy in London” – “the capital may have a lot of hot new Indian destinations, but this Sethi family property in Mayfair is still at the top thanks to dazzling cuisine” – “interesting twists on the classics” with “exceptional spicing”, all served by “thoroughly welcoming” staff in a “richly decorated and buzzy environment”.

“Imaginative dishes”, which deploy “authentic and distinct spicing with just the right kick”, “make for a cracking experience” at Samyukta Nair’s “smartly decorated room on the edge of Mayfair, with memories of Old Bombay”. It’s “the casual little sister of Jamavar” and “almost as good as its more expensive sibling” – while probably more “fun”. Top Menu Tip – “Jalebi cheesecake”.

Rohit Ghai’s Mayfair two-year-old offers a “glam Indian street-food experience” – inspired by the home cooking of his childhood in Madhya Pradesh – from a “short but always very good menu”.