East India Cafe in Cheltenham

Whenever we visit Cheltenham, we make sure to include a visit to the East India Cafe. Went again last Friday and had the tasting menu. Food is varied and always delicious. The gin and tonic’s a must try. The staff are welcoming and attentive. It’s obviously important to them you have a great experience. We always do!!!

An excellent evening. Food was superb. So tasty and the little extras added to the balance of the menu. Not a cheap option but really good for a special occasion or just a meal that's a bit more special. Has been on my list to visit for quite a while. So pleased we made it. Will definitely return! Michelin quality food and service without the hefty price tag!

A gem of a restaurant. Amazing ambience, excellent service. The highest quality ingredients and presentation. The lunch menu with lots of tasty accompaniments. The railway lamb was first class. Even the presentation of the Gin n tonic. Would highly recommend the best curry house in Cheltenham

Popped in to celebrate a new job, we have visited previously and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and this visit was no different. The lunch menu is fantastic value, with all of the free accompaniments. The prawns and railway lamb curry were my key highlights. Staff incredibly friendly allowing us to take shelter a little longer due to the rain and treated us to a complimentary coffee. 5/5 highly recommended

Had the tasting menu, so good - my partner is not usually a big fan of Indian food, but she loved it. Will definitely be back.

Very impressed with both the food and service . Modest number of options, a good sign of fresh cooking and preparation in situ? Best Indian restaurant I have been to, despite unprepossessing entrance and location which looks like just the ground floor entry to a block of flats. Amuse bouche and sorbet ( both complimentary) were nice extra touches. Service attentive but unhurried . Will defintelybe back when next in Cheltenham Was quiet on a Sunday evening so slightly lacked ambience/ atmosphere for that reason only. Decor low key

Outstanding food quality and presentation with excellent service. The restaurant is relaxed in a delightful basement setting. The waiter and waitress were friendly, helpful and unobtrusive. We had the a la carte menu and were really pleased with all the starters, main courses and desserts. Easily one of the best restaurants in Cheltenham.. We will definitely return.

8.9/10: coming from hard food critics. I am an American and my husband is a previous chef that has earned a Michelin star; safe to say, he knows food, hygiene and service. Both of us absolutely loved this place. Whenever we’re in town, this will be our spot. Great effort into everything they did. Kind staff and just beautiful food. And the heart that was put into making the evening special for ALL guests was a breath of fresh air. Can’t say it enough- food was awesome. I didn’t give 10/10 because I never do. Firm believer everyone can always improve. Great business! :-))) Very happy customer.

Superb tasting menu to celebrate New Year. Great food, terrific service and lovely cosy atmosphere. Thank you to all concerned.

An absolutely wonderful experience. Service impeccable and the food sublime. Lovely amuse bouche to start but the star was the lemon duck tikka which was outstandingly declicious. Followed by sorbet palate cleanser and then came the railway lamb curry which was every bit as good! Will definitely be back

We went to East India Cafe for dinner on New Years Day after racing. Absolutely excellent. Delicious food and impeccable service. This is not your average Indian Restaurant. We were very impressed and will certainly be returning.

An absolutely wonderful evening, with the most delicious food. Very highly recommended! The service was impeccable.

Exceptional spice cookery - truly one of the best Indian restaurants we have been to. The Railway Lamb in particular was beautifully prepared and cooked. We went just after Easter so it was very quiet - we hope the restaurant attracts more mid-week diners. It is a genuine destination for traditional, Indian food.

Too over priced, never been in such an uncomfortable place, don't even do chicken tikka masala what Indian doesn't do that! But staff we nice.

Amazing food and service, highly recommended.

Simply fantastic, great food and service

Our first time here. Had the 2 course lunch which included amuse bouche and sorbet. Excellent value, excellent flavours, service was second to none. We will definitely return

Best food I’ve ever had in my life. The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was amazing. I would come back down to this restaurant over any Michelin star restaurant in London. Awesome place. Highly highly highly highly recommend!!

I have ordered a Railway Lamb curry - which was nothing like the name but just an ordinary lamb curry. Paratha - frozen, not home made. Asked for green chilies on curry - not a single chill. Three stars for the service only!

The most fabulous curries, and brilliant starter, served by very attentive and charming staff. I had 'Punjabi Samosas' followed by 'Railway Lamb Curry'. My wife had a chicken shashlik chilli chaat starter then,vegetarian shabji bhaji. Lovely, distinct identifiable tastes.The comlimentary amuse bouches served were delicious, and the palate refreshing ices betwee first and second course excellent. It's not cheap, but not excessive for the brilliant cuisine. The ambience is attractive, quiet, very comfortable, at the very centre of Cheltenham

After many a visit to East India over the years (which included a private masterclass), took some friends having sung its praises. Suffice to say I wish I hadn’t. Opted for the taster menu. Sadly a selection of average (albeit fairly well presented) dishes, none of which really stood out for any of the group. Whilst 4 went for the standard taster, I opted for the veggie/vegan. We were all left pretty flat. But it was the slow, cumbersome service which lacked any real welcome or interest that really stood out. My past experiences of EIC have been great traditional food, presented well and in a welcome environment. The food was ok, incredibly slow to reach the table, until we complained (only to be asked if we were in a rush….) and being sat at the back away from any other diner, just felt an unworthy experience at nearly £100 a head given there was little alcohol consumed. Oh an a biryani which represented literally a packet of uncle bens veggie rice doesn’t cut it for me ever!

Cannot praise East of India highly enough. One of the best meals we have ever had, excellent service, the staff went above and beyond, not only with assistance for my husband but when the chef knew I had an onion intolerance he made some onion free dishes for me, who else would go to that trouble. The food is incredible, so many flavours and generous portions and as said before little extra surprises throughout the meal. If you are a gin drinker do have one here as the way they serve it, is truly memorable. A very big thank you to every member of staff and I am sorry that you had to put up with the very inconsiderate group who disrupted our evening and that of another couple. The noise they made was inconsiderate and an insult to you and the other diners, and even though you asked them to tone it down, the level remained the same so we left before having coffee. I hope they read this and it was out of order for a female in the group to say - "we have successfully got rid of them then" as we were leaving.

Had the most amazing time at the East India Cafe. Food was out of this world, with lots of pleasant surprises. What seems like a simple menu, was a broad spectrum that tickles the tongues sensations!!!

Best ever meal and service, truly amazing

Amazing food and amazing service. Six of us enjoyed a mix of dishes from the main menu and each one was fabulous. Staff are superb too. Thank you 😊

Absolutely wonderful restaurant. Welcoming friendly staff and a delicious meal, will definitely be back!

Amazing food, attentive service and all round a very pleasant experience

A hidden gem with scrumptious food. Possibly the most polite restaurant in Cheltenham, with absolutely charming staff. A short but all encompassing menu with a few off menu delights pre course. Elegant spicing, and a sophisticated meal. Slightly difficult access down narrow steps to this characterful space, but definitely worth the effort!!!

Fantastic evening with friends to celebrate my birthday. Food and service were outstanding with some lovely unexpected surprises. Thanks to Mohammed and the team.

Excellent food and service, well definitely be back!

Fantastic service and wonderful food, we had a great night out. Thank you so much!

Visited here whilst in the area after seeing the excellent reviews. This really was a treat and one of the most enjoyable dinners/experiences I've had in a while. We had the a la carte menu, we were offered homemade welcome drinks along with appetisers between courses. The flavours were excellent and really some of the best Indian cuisine I've tried. The service was excellent and really made our evening. The value for money is also great for how much you get. I would highly recommend this place!

Amazing food. Fantastic staff. Memorable experience. Stands out as one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever visited.

Another great meal at my favourite indian restaurant. Sunday lunch with a very enjoyable twist! We will be back very soon and we will be looking forward to the evening menu next time.

Came here on Sunday. Had the three course lunch. There was two amuse bouche and a mid course sorbet. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was exceptional, polite and very welcoming. Thoroughly recommend this place, and we will go back again.

Outstanding service and food. The little extra touches you get like a small welcome drink were a lovely surprise and unexpected. The food was incredible.

Being born and raised in India, I will say its tasty food. Not stupidly spicy. Loved it!

Outstanding restaurant. We went for my birthday meal and it did not disappoint. The whole experience from start to finish was one of my favourite ever. Food was tasty and of quality. Service was phenomenal. This is the very best of Cheltenhams restaurants. Thank you.

This is definitely the place to go for a special occasion. The food is utterly exquisite and the service is absolutely spot-on The choice of food on the menu is imaginative and varied and very clearly explained. Everything was cooked to perfection with fresh good quality ingredients. We were rather surprised to be brought little things to taste as we waited for our food. It was rather exciting trying the new flavours and every one was delicious. I asked the waiter to compliment the chef and it transpired that there are three chefs who produce this fabulous imaginative menu together. I can highly recommend The East India Café for an absolutely delicious meal and a fabulous dining experience all round.

On holiday in Cheltenham. Looking for somewhere to eat dinner . Spotted the East India Cafe , very unassuming from the outside but so much. More . Lovely calm bright restaurant. The service is first class , the staff are friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable about the food they are serving you . The food is wow , beautiful and you receive little surprises of tasters between courses . This experience is special and one I will not forget . If you have the opportunity do eat at the East India Cafe .

Wonderful lunch. Impeccable service. Delicious food presented beautifully and tasted amazing. Attention to detail was spot on. We have booked to go back for dinner. Highly, highly recommended.

Went for dinner here with my wife and we were blown away. The food was excellent, with interesting flavors and spice (but not over the top spicy). The service was wonderful, too. We can't recommend this restaurant enough. Highlights: Punjabi samosa, peas/potato tikki, peri peri orange sauce, bread, chocolate dessert, apple dessert.

Went for dinner here with my wife and we were blown away. The food was excellent, with interesting flavors and spice (but not over the top spicy). The service was wonderful, too. We can't recommend this restaurant enough. Highlights: Punjabi samosa appetizer, peas/potato tikki, peri peri orange sauce, bread with entrees, chocolate dessert, apple dessert.

Excellent food & service. Staff very attentive but discreet. A very enjoyable experience

Given the recommendations from friends and the many 5* reviews, we can only presume we were unlucky. Food well presented and flavoursome, but did not deliver to the expectations we had been very much looking forward to. Pleasant greeting, however table affected by a flickering light that was making things uncomfortable. No explanation of the menu options given to us. Simply, are you ready to order. Asked for water, then had to ask for enough glasses twice. It was busy, but just felt attention was missing for us. Amuse-bouche, appetizer, duck, chicken and crab starters all pleasant. Main courses ok. Railway lamb had lovely large chunks of meat. However much of it dry and very salty. Not the succulent, soft, tender lamb we'd been expecting. Family said fish dish very enjoyable. Yet comments re guinea fowl also suggested meat slight over and the meat, while pleasant, lacked the tender moist taste hoped for. Accompanying sides all nice and bread particularly light and crisp. Very nice. Suggest some attention to clean or replace the gents toilet seat. Most likely brown stains are caused by bleach from cleaning. However, whatever the cause, it looks unsightly. Personal choice, but seeing chefs smoking at the rear entrance of the restaurant was also not a positive reflection All food edible, and clearly quality. However, overall for us, not to the high levels others have clearly experienced.

Absolutely incredible food served here. I came here for my birthday dinner and do not regret it. We will definitely be back. We ordered a main and dessert. But between these dishes we were given samples of what the chef had cooked that night. Incredible sweet potato puree with lots of flavours, the beef was tender, mango sorbet was full of flavour, and the dessert we had was also incredible. I cannot fault this restaurant and the chefs talent. This is definitely a restaurant to go and try!!

Quite pricey but superior Indian food.

Excellent food and excellent service. We collected a takeaway and five minutes later they called me to say that they had forgotten to put in one of the dishes we had ordered. Not only did they deliver it to our home, they sent a free bottle of wine. The true test of any business is how they handle mistakes: East India Cafe did it absolutely right!

What can one say Absolutely Spectacular… The setting on Montpelier in Cheltenham delightful set in the heart of beautiful Cheltenham… The restaurant elegantly quaint and inviting… The staff completely charming, friendly and tuned in to each customer’s every whim ….. The food beyond sensational!!! Every course a delight to behold …. Hands down a phenomenal mouthwatering experience that’s leaves planning your next visit…. In a league of there own !!

Amazing authentic Indian. The lamb is delicious. Wonderful service

What a fabulous place, can’t fault it. Second time here and had another delicious meal. Went for the £38 meal. All the meals were well presented, tasted good, service excellent. Well done guys.

A friend of ours recommended this place, and it certainly didn't disappoint. The staff are very friendly and add to the relaxing atmosphere. The service was over-and-above our expectations. The menu doesn't have a million confusing choices; what is offered is top quality, beautifully tasting, cooked-with-love, dishes. The wine and beer list is picked to complement the meals. This was, by far, the best Indian restaurant experience that I've ever had. 10/10!

First-class food and excellent service, we are not local but it was our second visit and we will certainly return. Good value all around

We had an amazing experience! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The food and wine were exceptional! We couldn’t believe the price we paid, would have paid a lot more for the hospitality that was provided. This place should be more popular as I would say it’s one of the best restaurants in Cheltenham! Will definitely be going back.

Excellent meal for our wedding anniversary at the East India cafe. Each course from the a la carte menu was delicious with lovely amuse bouche and palette cleanser included. Superb service and lovely atmosphere. Thank you.

Absolutely fantastic food and brilliant service!

We went to this restaurant yesterday and the food and service were faultless. We had the set menu which starts at £22.95 for two courses and £29.95 for three courses. This also included an amuse bouche and a taster. The choices were excellent, my husband had sea bass (fish of the day) and I had chicken. We were even told to ask for more bread (paratha) or rice if we wished, which considering the price we paid, was appreciated. Really enjoyed the food and the staff were fantastic - highly recommend.

Food was awesome. Service was brilliant. They made our anniversary day special with on the house Champagne and a cake to celebrate.

Great location, great food and service. Railway curry is exceptional and presentation of all courses and accompaniments was great.

Amazing service with surprise amuse bouches and added extras . Food was plentiful and flavoursome. Relaxed and understated dining room . Highly recommended!

Excellent food and service. We were delighted with the quality, and by little extras like the sorbet before our main course. Would definitely go again if in Cheltenham.

Great service, taste menu is great . Don't be put off by the sorbet and fish it works.🤯

Excellent food and service as usual. We've been several times and it never fails to impress. Truly a delightful place to eat. Don't be put off by the exterior, so worth a visit. Staff really accommodating of personal requests.

Brilliant service and delicious food - would highly recommend- definitely the place to eat in Cheltenham- all meals were superb

Such an amazing place and a unique experience off the beaten path in Cheltenham. More than just a restaurant.. feels like being welcomed into head chef Mijan's home for an authentic culinary journey. First class food and outstanding service. Highly recommended

Lovely atmosphere - small and cosy with warm, low lighting. Expect to spend more but for an overall higher quality experience. The food is very impressive and tasty. Both the texture and taste was extremely good for all dishes I tried. There were fewer options than a typical Indian restaurant but everything I tasted was delicious. Small extras were provided between our courses which was a nice bonus. The staff were very attentive (and very polite) and it was very easy to get attention whenever we wanted. Very pleasant evening! Current parking restrictions are only up to 6pm so if driving here for dinner then there are lots of on street spaces available all down Montpellier street, for free.

All excellent food and great service. We love it here! A hidden gem in Cheltenham. Railway lamb amazing!

Excellent lunch with nice delicate touches. Starting with home made lemon juice,then amuse bouche and delicious curry. If you want more rice or mini nan , just ask for more. We have been twice for lunch, unfairly quiet. Worth a visit.

Amazing food and experience… thank you

Great location, great food and service. Railway curry is exceptional and presentation of all courses and accompaniments was great.

I just love East India Cafe. Grandfather, father and grandson are all there to make sure the experience is as fantastic as possible. It is the very best of Bangladesh cuisine. I had been before when the weather was very cool and the atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and cosy. We felt so special.5⭐️

Been to this spot twice - once for lunch to celebrate Father's Day and more recently on Friday. Needless to say, the family had a great experience. Whilst I recommend you book tables for this restaurant, husband and I were cheeky and dropped in on a very busy Friday night (couldn't stop thinking about their Railway Lamb Curry), luckily, they were able to sit us. The staff are very friendly. Apart from your starter and main, you get a welcome drink (lime-based and with mint) as you sit down, two amuse-bouches (tangy tamarind-based one on a crisp and another with rice and noodles - surprisingly great combination) and a palette cleanser (refresing mango sorbet). The Railway Lamb Curry is exquisite, not much sauce as it's meant to be a dry dish but there's nothing dry about it. Portions are generous and you can ask for extra rice, bread, lentils, etc. when you have your main. The spiced scallops starter was excellent although instead of the usual three scallops, I only got 2 whilst the duck starter was very generous. The chocolate dessert was also exquisite. When husband couldn't finish his lamb, they neatly packed this for him to take home. This is definitely becoming a local favourite! Only downside - very little choice regarding cocktails (had the vodka cocktail - was yummy but very strong!) and non-alcoholic drinks.

trying to provide quality dining experience but food lacking in some areas baked samosa heavy pastry not fried lemonade flat needs some work cant beat spice house in Gloucester

Lovely dinner at this gem in Cheltenham. Tasting menu for two. Wonderful flavours. Would highly recommend

Excellent food at The East India Cafe and excellent value for money. We'll definitely be visiting again in the future. Service was excellent and all the staff were friendly. The owner was even walking around, greeting everyone and asking if things were ok. You can tell they care about their customers

Fantastic food, bijou so a little cramped and slightly noisy but not in a way to put you off. Great service.Nice simple menu but quality. taste and presentation cannot be faulted. A must place to eat in Cheltenham

This was honestly the best Indian cuisine experience we have had to date. Service was exemplary, food was sublime and the atmosphere was spot on. We opted for the tasting menu. You aren’t left feeling short changed or empty bellied. My partner is coeliac. The chef / waiting staff were reassuring, accommodating and adapted dishes to the same standard meaning that she didn’t miss out on the experience (if you are coeliac / gluten free., you’ll understand). Couldn’t recommend this place more, 5/5 and will be planning to return!

Taster menu all good. Railway lamb large portion. Wines nice and reasonable price. Recommended.

We had such a treat eating here last Sunday lunchtime. First time we had visited (been meaning to for years!) - and it was for an anniversary celebration. We were well looked after and enjoyed every minute. Top notch food, very reasonable bottle of wine,...

We decided to try this restaurant for lunch based on the excellent reviews it had received. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. Food was very tasty and well cooked. Service was excellent and friendly. It was a very relaxing experience. We will return.

Fabulous meal and very attentive and friendly staff. always a wonderful experience . The Railway lamb is fabulous! Has to be one of the best restaurants in Cheltenham,

Why did I leave it over 5 years to return to this wonderful restaurant! Lovely grub and great staff. It is the best indian restaurant I've ever been to.

The food here is spectacular - creative, delicious and beautifully presented. The service was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. This is Indian cooking as you may never have experienced it. We recommend the East India Cafe unreservedly.

Without a shadow of a doubt the best Indian food I’ve ever tasted in my life. Incredible staff who go above and beyond to ensure you have an exceptional dining experience. Very highly recommended.

A first class restaurant with absolutely delicious food and the loveliest of staff! We had the 3 course lunch and it was tasty from start (a perfect bite-size amuse bouche) to finish (coconut rice pudding) with a palate-cleanser between starter and main. Can't wait to go back!

We were given a meal for two here as a birhday present from our family. We chose from the a la carte and every course was amazing. An amuse bouche and a mouth cleansing sorbet were both welcome and delicious. Service too was excellant.

Excellent food and reasonable price. Nice atmosphere.

The East India Cafe is possibly not exotic as its flashier rivals in Cheltenham but do not underestimate the quality of food and service offered by this little gem of a restaurant. They have set their stall out to achieve the highest standards and I...

Food was good but the service was lousy for large groups. Trouble was that some of the table members were allowed to have the tasting menu, and others weren't. So service didn't work. In the end we had to say we are leaving if the good doesn't come in the next ten minutes as some had a long drive home! Front of the house staff were not trained. Food was expensive and not value for money. There were 4 people not drinking on the table but the bill still came out at £69 per head.

Excellent food, great staff polite and welcoming. We both had the tasting menu what had was delightful. They were very accommodating as my partner does not eat fish and the East India Cafe team were more than happy to sub those dishes out.

Excellent food and customer service. Wonderful evening with polite staff. Restaurant decor welcoming and each little surprise between each course was fantastic. Thank you.

We have been to lots of the best Indian restaurants in London & I have to say the East Indian cafe was even better, we had the tasting menu every dish was outstanding, the staff were very friendly and explained the dishes perfectly. Will definitely...

Faultless; excellent food, attentive staff and a charming environment in which to enjoy it. Not sure however, why it was so quiet for a Saturday night - only half of the tables were occupied. Friends told us recently that they had been there in midweek...

Another excellent meal at the EIA. Dined here in November for my birthday and immediately booked for our wedding anniversary. Travelled from south Wales today and once again we were not disappointed. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. Food was tasty and excellent. Cannot fault...

Best Indian food to date. Amazing flavours and proper service. Authentic and very different.

ate here last night just WOW WOW WOW, best indian we have ever had. From start to finish A star ++ The home made lemonade with mint followed by two amuse bouche then the starters were just superb. Then the railway curry (lamb) was another...

We visited whilst staying in Cheltenham for a few days, and we are so glad we got to experience this amazing restaurant. We had the 7 course tasting menu and every course was fabulous, bursting with flavour and delicious. The service was lovely, attentive with...

First time for a business lunch and all worked to perfection. Great food and service. Will go again.

This was my first visit to this restaurant. After the complimentary amuse bouche and palate cleanser and 2 courses of the best Indian food I’ve had there wasn’t room for dessert, sadly. There is an extensive gin menu , choices are presented beautifully with just...

Excellent evening. The service was attentive but not oppressive. Menu is not large, however offers an excellent selection of starters and mains. Three had Railway Lamb and one had Beef Rezala. All served with a selection of sides which are topped up at request. Shared...