There are now several top rated groups in the Indian restaurant sector, with high standards

Masala World, London :
Chutney Mary
Amaya
Veeraswamy
Masala Zone - Soho, Bayswater, Fulham, Camden Town, Covent Garden, Islington, Earls Court.

Ashoka, Scotland : Ashton Lane, Johnstone, Brasserie, At the Mill, At the Quay, Bearsden, South Side, West End, Kama Sutra, Spice of Life, Shak Coatbridge, Dundee, Linwood, Livingston

Aagrah, Yorkshire : Shipley, Leeds, Sheffield, Pudsey, Gosforth, Tadcaster, Skipton, Wakefield, Doncaster, Denbydale, Midpoint Suite, Aagrah Cafe.

Juboraj, Wales : Rhiwbina, Lakeside, Mill Lane, Newport, Swansea

India Dining, Surrey : Warlingham, Esher, Epsom

Spice Merchant: Henley, Uxbridge, Beaconsfield, Cookham

House of Spice: Aylesbury, Haddenham, Princes Risborough, Thame, Thame Tandoori, Wantage, Watlington

Jimmy Spice's: Epsom, Solihull, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield

Akbar's, North East : Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, York, Sheffield, Newcastle(2010), Middlesbrough. Birmingham(2009), Bradford Cafe

Anoki : Derby, Burton, Nottingham

Jinnah, Yorkshire: Harrogate, Sheffield, York Flaxton, York Viceroy

EDITOR'S
'BEST IN BRITAIN' ASIAN
SELECTION
2010

The top ten choice of Mood Food

Magazine editor's Peter & Colleen Grove

Tamarind London W1

 

One of the most stylish Indian restaurants in Britain occupying the site of the old Tiberio where Frank Sinatra used to be regularly seen. Chef Alfred Prasad has built on the reputation for wonderful food such that the restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star for several years running. The interior of the 94 seater restaurant was designed by Emily Todhunter and provides just the right setting for the exciting food. Tamarind is the haunt of many top stars including Tom Cruise when he is in town and the whole scene is smoothly handled by 'BIBA Front of House Personality of the Year 1999' Mr Rajesh Suri. Style, comfort and quality.

Bombay Brasserie London SW7

 

Opened in 1982 under the stewardship of Adi Modi and still the benchmark for the industry. In the days when Udit Sarkhel was the Executive Chef we enjoyed what we still consider to be our best ever meal in a restaurant.
The restaurant was given a makeover in 2009 and is now larger, airier and more visually exciting than before. The new bar area, studded with old Raj era art and decorative mirrors, can host up to 32 guests for a reception and is an ideal spot for pre-dinner cocktails. The 78-capacity conservatory now boasts a private dining room for up to 16 guests and the venue's piece-de-resistance - an open-show kitchen with counter seating where diners can experience first hand the skill of the Bombay Brasserie's chefs under Taj Group Chef Hemant Oberoi and the very ralented Executive chef Prahlad Hegde. Arun Harnal keeps the whole place running like a well oiled machine and the long list of happy celebs shown on the BB website shows a lot of discerning diners share our view.

Cafe Spice Namaste London E1

Owned by Executive Chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE and wife Pervin (and originally restaurant entrepreneur Michael Gottlieb), Cafe Spice grew from exciting humble beginnings when Cyrus and Pervin ran the nearby small but widely praised Namaste. Opened in 1995 with 110 covers Cafe Spice is a destination restaurant for many and members of the City in particular.
Cyrus is ranked by most as one of the top Indian chefs in Britain and is known for his Goan and Parsi dishes from his days with Taj International Hotels in Goa. The menu is always exciting and varied including exotic meats and regional dishes. In 2010 Cyrus received an OBE to add to his MBE and too many other awards and honours to mention. Suffice it to say they are all richly deserved.
Both passionate and knowledgeable about the cuisine Cyrus is always on hand to help, instruct or support and plays numerous government support roles alongside his many TV apperances. Cafe Spice is unique and if it were closer to us we would be there every week.

Chez Mumtaj, St Albans, Herts

 

Chez Mumtaj is a 120 seater boutique style restaurant opened in 2008 set in the historic romanesque city of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Chez Mumtaj passionately projects itself in showcasing a unique style of haute cuisine in Modern French-Asian dining. The Main restaurant offers elegant and intimate dining. The interior is soothing, luxurious and opulent with meticulous attention given to detail in a classy and club-like setting.
Chez Mumtaj is led by award-winning Executive Chef Chad Rahman, who is one of the most exciting chefs on the scene at present. We were completely entranced with our visit to this restaurant and feel it is the most exciting Asian restaurant outside London. The food is innovative and perfectly presented and the decor reminiscent of days spent in ocean liner restaurants, such is the oppulance. Asian food with French style. Well worth the trip to historic St Albans and we once again wish we lived nearer.

Brilliant, Southall, Middx

 

Brilliant is an institution in the Indian restaurant scene and has stood for all that is best in authenticity since it was opened in 1975 by K.K.(Gulu) & D.K.Anand. The food is Punjabi style with a touch of Kenyan and a series of 'healthy options' introduced by Gulu Anand's highly qualified daughter Dipna in recent years. The kitchen is under the control of the very talented Jasvinderjit Singh and the food is considered some of the best in the country by many including Chef Gordon Ramsay.

250 diners can enjoy the food and tremendous atmosphere of what must be one of the friendliest restaurants in the country. Gulu's son Shankar Anand is now the General Manager and runs front of house. The Brilliant has had every award and accolade bestowed on it for years, every guidebook recommends it, and many VIPs including HRH Prince Charles have been here. Once again we wish it were nearer where we live but every visit has provided some of the most enjoyable dining experience we have ever had.

Madhu's, Southall, Middx

 

Another Anand family top class restaurant, this time run by Sanjay and Sanjeev Anand. The 104 seater restaurant opened in 1980 and the decor and food then had a heavy Kenyan influance and the Kenyan Punjabi food was very special and 'dinstinctive'. Nowadays the decor is very modern and the food is still wonderful.

Sanjay also runs one of London's most successful outside catering businesses and often caters for groups of over 1000 for weddings or other functions. Sanjay Anand was awarded an MBE in 2007 Birthday Honours for services to catering and must be Britain's top Asian ouside caterer and serves most of London's top hotels and venues.

Madhu's certainly deserves its place in our top ten not only for the top class food and service enjoyed in the restaurant but also for the many meals we enjoy produced by the Madhu's team in other venues.

Babur London SE23

 

Since opening in 1985 Emdad Rahman and his and his team have made this restaurant one of the most talked about outside London for the quality and innovative style of its food. People don't come here and ask for curry house dishes - instead they enjoy the wonderful offerings of the highly talented Chef Jiwan Lal and his team. The restaurant only has 56 covers and is very popular so booking is advised despite the unlikely location.
If you live within striking range watch out for the regular festivals giving you the chance to try regional dishes. Very friendly and a must visit. Run by Amin Rahman, Babur continues to surprise and must be the leading restaurant in UK for its specialist festivals and events ranging from Burns Night and its Nepalese Haggis to fantistic regional Indian cuisine events..

La Porte des Indes London W1

 

The largest and most exotic of London's Indian restaurants, La Porte comes from the same stable as the fabulous Blue Elephant Thai restaurant in Fulham Road. What was once the old Mayfair Room was redesigned by architect Yves Burton to have a central marble staircase plus a 40 ft waterfall along one wall.

The restaurant seats 300 diners plus a room for 10 to dine privately and the 'Salon du Gouverneur' for 12. Originally based on the cuisine from Pondicherry, the small French influenced part of India, the menu has developed to be regional and exciting under the guidance of head Chef Mehernosh Mody, one of the best in the country. The smooth operation of this exotic restaurant is one of the elements that make this one of the favourites of our whole family.

Itihaas Birmingham

 

Opened in 2005 by entrepreneur Raj Rana to introduce stylish Indian cuisine where "the guest is God". Itihaas is a stunning restaurant where contemperary meets traditional, developed at the staggering cost of £2 million. As well as the main dining area you can enjoy the Colonial Room seating 60 or the plush Tiffin Room for a cosy 12.
The menu is create by award winning chefs trained at 5 star hotels in India. Owner Raj Rana was acknowledged for his contribution to the British Hospitality Industry at a reception at The Buckingham Palace by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on Tuesday, 6th May, 2008. Stunning decor and award winning food and service.

Jaipur/Royal Thai Milton Keynes

 

The Jaipur has had full marks for style since opening in 1988 but the owner Mr Ahad moved on to exciting things at a new site in 2001. The new Jaipur built on the reputation of the old site near the railway station and is the biggest purpose-built Indian restaurant in Europe including a fantastic Royal Thai restaurant on the upper floor.
Apart from a unique building, Jaipur offers a great dining experience and has had a huge following since its triumphal opening. Multi award winner and if you want a change from Indian cuisine the Royal Thai on the upper level is fantastic.

EDITOR'S BEST CHINESE :

Kai Mayfair London W1

 

 

In our opinion Kai is head and shoulders the best Cinese restaurant in Britain and we are proud to say that we were one of the first to recognise it with a 'Best in Britain' Award. Since then they have received award after award including a well deserved Michelin star in 2009 which was repeated in 2010.
The exciting and innovative menu is in the very capable hands of Head Chef Alex Chow and service is refined and completely charming. A meal here is likely to have you talking about it for many weeks after, such are the standards and if we had the time we would return here again and again. Not the cheapest restaurant in the world but definitely one of the best.

EDITOR'S BEST THAI :

Blue Elephant London SW6

 

 

A fantastic restaurant that is more a dining experience than a simple restaurant. Opened in 1986 with 250 covers its stylish traditional "thatched roof village" decor and imaginative food have kept its tables packed ever since. If you are lucky, you may be able to sit alongside the relaxing fish pools and tuck into the Royal Banquet which allows to to sample dish after dish of exquisite tastes. Such is the atmosphere that you can see people all around you running up their bill with cocktails, extra dishes or even champagne but everyone seems delighted with the value. Top class and a must visit.