LONDON SOUTH WEST REVIEWS

Blue Elephant : Bombay Brasserie : Quilon : Chutney Mary : Haandi : Vama : Tabaq : Sarkhel's

Restaurant

Description

Gallery

THAI

Blue Elephant

4-6 Fulham Broadway,
London SW6

 Tel : 020 7385 6595

www.blueelephant.com

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
BIBA Oriental Restaurant of the Year 2006

INDIAN

Bombay Brasserie

Courtfield Close, Courtfield Road, London SW7

Tel : 020 7370 4040

www.bombaybrasserielondon.com

The Bombay Brasserie was the concept of Camellia Panjabi then of Taj International Hotels now od Masala World and, much against advice at the time, it was opened between Hotels Gloucester and Baileys, opposite Gloucester Road tube station in 1982. The gloom merchants could not have been more wrong and, run by Adi Modi (departed after 25 years in late 2007) and General Manager Arun Harnal the BB has gone on to become the standard target all other Indian restaurants strive for. With continued development the restaurant can now cope with 260 covers in colonial spleandour. The atmosphere is very special, the service top class with food to match. June 2006 saw Head Chef Jaspal Singh Arora taking over with a new menu. Closed for refurbishment July 2008 - re-opened 5/1/09..'
Best in Britain Award 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005), 2006, 2007' BIBA Gold 2002
The restaurant has recently(Jan 2009) had a makeover 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 Executive chef Prahlad Hegde.


The old conservatory


New design

INDIAN

Quilon

14 Buckingham Gate,
London SW1

Tel : 020 7821 1899

www.thequilonrestaurant.com

Quilon opened in 1999 alongside the Crowne Plaza St James Court Hotel as the second Taj restaurant adventure in UK and the first for seventeen years. Overseen by Adi Modi the smart restaurant is totally unlike its sister Bombay Brasserie and offers superb South Indian food prepared by Head Chef A.V. Sriram.
The food is light and extremely well spiced to create layers of taste. The wine list is particular well organised and presented and the whole experience is special from the rasam to the Mangalorean Chicken. Michelin star 2007 'Best in Britain Award 2000 & 2001-7' BIBA Gold 2002

INDIAN

Chutney Mary
535 Kings Road,
London SW10

Tel : 020 7351 3113

www.chutneymary.com

 

The brainchild of Cambridge educated Namita Panjabi, Chutney Mary opened in 1990 to become the first up-market Indian restaurant to promote Anglo-Indian cuisine. Since opening, the restaurant has been a haunt of the rich and famous and recent refurbishment of the ground floor bar area has added considerably to the original 150 diner capacity. As Director of Cuisine, Namita pays very close attention to the standard of the food on offer and has built up a reputation for quality. the atmosphere is smart yet relaxed and the menu changes regularly with special regional festivals. Refurbished and re-opened in May 2002 with new menu First of Masala World Group with husband Ranjit Mathrani and sister Camellia) including Veeraswamy, Masala Zone and Amaya (Michelin star).. 'Best in Britain Award 1999 to 2007'

INDIAN

Tabaq

47 Balham Hill, South Clapham, London SW12

CLOSED

Owned by Mushtaq Ahmed and Chef brother Manzoor, the Tabaq is highly regarded for it Lahori cuisine for which Manzoor has won the title of CIEH National Curry Chef of the Year for two years running. Opened in 1988 the restaurant has just 50 covers but offers top class food in comfortable friendly surroundings. The food is full of exceptional tastes and flavours, specially when Chef Manzoor is in the kitchen, and they now have a second outlet in Croydon to bring the Tabaq message to a wider audience. March 2008 the brothers decided to retire due to staff problems and produce prices. NOW CLOSED
'Best in Britain Award 1999' Top 100 2000-2005

INDIAN

Vama - the Indian Room

Re-locating as of March 2010

A top rated restaurant opened in 1998 by Chef Andy Varma and partners Arjun Varma and Ritu Dalmia. In a prime Chelsea location the decor is relaxed and smart with background greenery and a stone floor. The restaurant is an excellent mixture of the modern and traditional and the menu offers cleverly spiced North West Frontier style dishes. Celebrities can often be seen quietly enjoying a meal and Andy Varma and his team are in great demand to cook at the homes of the rich and famous.' A deserving 'D' for distinctive cuisine. Carlton Best Restaurant in London Award 2000. Now member of Gourmet Restaurant Group.
'Best in Britain Award 2000, 2001& BIBA Gold 2002'

INDIAN

Haandi
7 Cheval Place
London SW7
136 Brompton Road SW3
Tel : 020 7823 7373

www.haandi-restaurant.com

In 2000, Ray Bhangra arrived in London from Nairobi to celebrate the millenium with the opening of Haandi, Knightsbridge. The London based Chefs are first trained in Nairobi by Mr Mullick himself , with an enviable pedigree having honed his skills in the kitchens of such world class hotels as Sheraton and The Taj and, true to the spirit of great indian cooking, each Masala is freshly prepared every morning
The name Haandi actually means cooking pot, a vessel originally made of clay with a concave base to allow even distribution of heat. Smart branch in Edgware. 'Best in Britain Award 2005-7'
Jan Moir - The Daily Telegraph "Haandi - some kind of crazy wonderful dream. I urge you to try it !"

INDIAN

Sarkhels
199 Replingham Road
Southfields
London SW18

CLOSED

Udit Sarkhel is one of the most learned and top Indian chefs in Britain and is very much an exponent of the traditional style in general and the cuisine of his Calcutta home in particular. Once the executive chef at London's Bombay Brasserie, Udit now wows the food fans in Wimbledon and Southfields. Opened in 1997 and expanded in 2006 to cater for the tremendous popularity, the restaurant is comfortable and friendly and a regular award winner. 'Best in Britain Award 2003-5 and Top 100 2006' UNFORTUNATELY SARKHEL'S IS NOW CLOSED - UDIT SARKHEL NOW RUNS MANGO & SILK IN SHEEN.

 

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