Mandira's Kitchen in Guildford

Staff are very unorganised and we felt very rushed. The food is overpriced and not authentic. I am Indian and the food definitely lacked in flavour. Charging £3.25 for a tiny cup of masala chai that was watery is ridiculous. I wouldn’t recommend this place as the price is not worth it.

All round poor experience. Told we had to order through their QR code and heard people trying to order extra drinks being told the same,. After using my own data, struggling to read my phone screen in the sunlight, removing the automatically added gratuity and having to search the whole menu on my tiny screen, we found we couldn't complete our order without giving an email address. As we'll never be back, I didn't want to share my personal data with you and get spammed for the rest of my life, so we left without ordering. Such a hassle for two coffees!

After the tour of the gin distillery we stopped here for lunch. Made very welcome by friendly staff. Great to sit outside in the sun. Food was excellent, good sized portions, hot and well presented. Worth a visit just for lunch.

What a delight it was to find such a lovely place outside of London doing an Indian afternoon tea. Food was great, service a bit slow. But that's how we wanted it. When you are out with a friend and just want to catch up. The setting was lovely inside and out. Staff were friendly and helpful. All in all a great afternoon.

The location is great and this place has great potential. Unfortunately it doesn’t live up to it. We’ve been to India and eaten street food there often but this was not a great, of even good, example of it. The prices are high for what is an extremely limited menu of options. Having initially been informed almost everything was gluten free it transpired that this was not the case. It was also worrying that some of the staff didn’t really understand what gluten is - mentioning a dish having starchy potatoes. The chicken Thalis was ok but very unremarkable. The Biriyani was very dry with very little chicken in it. The portions of raita were tiny when this is surely not an expensive dish! This would have helped with the dryness. The lamb samosas were ok but the vegetable ones were not as nice as those from certain supermarkets. Worst of all were the pakoras which were literally inedible, they were dry, hard, lacked flavour and were lukewarm. We left almost all of them but nobody asked us why, cleared the plates or even checked if our food was ok. You order by an app and there was minimal interaction with staff and yet they add a service charge. We had no service to speak of and had to chase twice for the drinks we ordered. It wasn’t worth the journey to get there and we certainly wouldn’t return.

Superb food, great service, easy parking, wonderful location and a Crackerjack of a shop to stock up with freezer meals, and chutneys.

Stopped here on way to the silent pool distillery - just had a couple of samosas which were nice and they were served quickly

We have wanted to visit for a while. We think outside is much nicer especially on a sunny day. Order for starters & mains were taken. Everyone had clean plates! Biryani dry but isn't that usual? Few bits of chicken -leg etc. Then we wanted a pudding. Any service had died. Had to collect menus then order on QR code. Plate brought with all puds on & left for us to sort - fine but 12.5% service? Got up for bill. A bit pricey but it is Surrey. I am sorry but service did not warrant 12.5% - the same as paid in 5 star Hotel recently. Interesting experience

Lovely authentic, simple and cosy place to have a curry. No airs and graces. Dog friendly. Beautiful setting on the water. Great food (recommend the thali) and attentive staff. We walked to Newlands Corner though the woods with the dogs after our lunch, took about 2 hours and up a steep hill.

Had heard really good reviews about this place, and it's not hard to see why. The location was stunning, and although we had a bit of a wait for our food, it was well worth it. Super delicious- would highly recommend

The decor of this place is so colourful & fun! Love patio dining in the warm weather, but the new inside room is a great addition. Delicious curry. Always takes a little longer than ideal, but freshly cooked is best. Incredible chutney.

Delicious food and very friendly service. We really enjoyed our lunch today and hope to return. All our choices were full of flavour and very nicely presented. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

Breakfast was disappointing & expensive. We waited for ages despite there being only one other table occupied. £6 for half a tin of baked beans on a brioche didn't taste any different and Masala cheese toasties £8 wasn't great. Nice setting but not a good visit however I had had a previous nice cafe meal in the summer.

A real treat, and Indian mouth explosion. Went here with 6 friends for one of Mandiras menu tasting nights. With Delhi the origin of the dishes and winter spices used this was a really lovely experience. Mandira is charming, the food beautiful and the venue delightful.

We went here for our first date over a year ago and we keep returning. Not just for the local gin and food but more so to see Claire, who brightens up the dullest of English days with her warm smile and shinning happy persona. She makes this place very special for us which is why we keep visiting. Every restaurant should have a Claire. Many thanks, keep smiling and the gin flowing. Helen and Emlyn.

This is the perfect place for a Gin & Tonic during our regular circular walk from Shere. Claire is absolutely the best host you could ever ask for. Customer service second to none, we always receive a fantastic warm welcome and are treated like Royalty. Its an absolute pleasure to be served by Claire who mixes the best Gin and Tonic supplied by the fabulous Silent Pool Distillery you could imagine. Always so cheerful and nothing too much trouble we really look forward to our monthly meeting. Mandira's Kitchen has also recently opened a new place to eat which is beautiful. Fabulously decorated and so colourful and fun. Thanks especially to the wonderful Claire and looking forward to the next time.

I've visited the outdoor bit but wanted to give the new indoor bit a go. I wasnt disappointed.. The decor is fab. It's wonderful what they've done with it. The food was as delicious as ever. So tasty. Service excellent, friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back!

We went for a lunch on a Saturday afternoon and had booked a table in advance. Was really looking forward to this after seeing the great reviews and in beautiful setting. Had high expectations which is where I went wrong here. The table we were given was tucked up in the corner at the back of the patio which was very cramped so we had to move the chairs and table around ourselves to make it a little more comfortable. There was little to no view of silent pool, and for one of us just a crummy view of an overgrown garden which was in need of some tlc and a clear up of some old signs/equipment which was dumped there. We weren’t given any menus straight away so we were sitting there for a good 10 minutes until someone came over to us to give us a menu. Only one to share as there weren’t enough. But the table next to us had about 8 people sharing one menu between them. It was busy, however there are only really a small number of tables - but I don’t think they were really equipped for this. There were two waitresses one was very friendly, but a little OTT and it was slightly cringy. The other had a very matter-of-fact way about her including being heavy handed when putting a can of ale on the table which meant when my partner opened it, it fizzed out everywhere! Food wait time wasn’t bad at all. Although it was one of those situations where you’re hungry, the food arrives and there’s no cutlery on the table. We had the chicken Thali and chicken Byriani. The taste was okay, better than your average takeaway but I don’t know, I just hoped that it would be better. The Byriani was dry which gave us the impression it was just cooked chicken and rice thrown together rather than being cooked together as a byriani should. Samosas were full of filling but tasted pretty average. Mango lassi was very nice and so was the naan and chutney. Water was available for self serve but there were no glasses. We asked for the bill and the waitress came over with the card machine saying “that will be £48 including the service charge” and presented the card machine to us with no physical bill. Found this a bit strange and also the service wasn’t brilliant but felt a bit awkward as they were trying but it was all just a bit messy. Overall it was okay, but it needs more staff working on shift, they need to be better organised and tidy the place up a little to make the overall experience more enjoyable.

We bought food from Mandiras kitchen for a dinner party of 13. We had personal service from Mandira over the phone and face to face who helped us choose just the right amount and great combinations of fabulous tasting food. We hired tiffin tins too which was a real hit! Every member of the team was friendly, knowledgable, prompt and courteous with our order - an excellent experience! We would not hesitate to recommend.

We really enjoyed our lunch here. Food was very tasty . The Chicken Biryani was excellent but really needed a small portion of vegetable curry or dahl to go with it as a bit dry on its own. Maybe this could be either included with this dish at a small extra cost or suggested as a add on side dish? Lovely setting in the summer although the garden could do with some TLC to make it even better. Staff friendly and helpful and our waitress Meena (apologies if I've spelt that wrong) was efficient, sweet and charming. Will definitely return and maybe pop in to buy some frozen meals if in the area. Would recommend to all lovers of Indian food 👍

We had a wonderful lunch at Mandira’s. The food was delicious and the service was very good. It’s a lovely little spot to stop either before or after visiting the distillery.

We booked a table for a birthday lunch today and had requested meal choices using the pre-order option on their website at the point of booking. It didn't seem to make a difference as the waiting time for food felt long, and we were given a chicken curry kids's meal (we requested vegetarian), and this was swapped. When drinks orders were taken, we had to go back and ask for our son's drink, which came with his meal as this was missed. In the takeaway shop I asked for a "cuvee Albury" bottle to go, and this was put in a paper bag. Unfortunately I assumed it to be the standard cuvee and not a "limited range" non-organic bottle, which I only noticed when I got home. I felt this should have been pointed out to be or clarified at the point of sale, as we like to drink the standard cuvee for special occasions. These little details did let the whole experience down for me. It was a very wet day and the tables were quite wet - perhaps this could be addressed for the Autumn- winter season with side covers as a lot of rain was bouncing around us! The food was excellent and is always high quality, and should get 5/5.

Buzzy atmosphere. Lovely staff. Delicious food. We will definitely return and try more of the menu. Do book as they are busy.

We enjoyed delicious local food-masala beans on brioche followed by garam masala cake and ice cream-and warm, friendly service. What a lovely spot for a birthday brunch-thank you for the kind birthday touches.

After 20 years of driving past Silent Pool we finally actually stopped and had a look round. SP ok - name says it all. But walking round it we discovered Mandira’s Kitchen on the other side. What a find, what a menu, what quality. And impeccable service. Veggie samosas were among the best I’ve tasted (including in India). Mango gelato with the merest hint of cardamon. Superb. And homemade lemonade. My wife’s English breakfast tea was mundane by comparison. We came away armed with four frozen curries. If their quality is half of what we experienced then we’re in for a treat. This is a new business and deserves to be supported. We will be back.

I booked a table for 5 for Father's day, utilising the Father's day menu. The staff were friendly, but ordering food was very slow. The food itself was tasty. At £40pp we thought that it was on the pricey side, but we did have our...

We returned for the thali lunch today, having discovered this place in early May when we just had snacks late afternoon after a long walk. It lived up to expectations. It was lovely sitting on the patio in the shade of a gazebo and the...

This is a beautiful location with food to match. We went there to celebrate a birthday and easily found Mandira's Kitchen after a short walk - having parked by the main road. Service was efficient and the food was fresh and tasty - and not...

We decided to come here for my birthday as it was somewhere different to go on a Monday lunchtime out in the countryside. Right from the word go I could not fault the service - we were greeted like long lost friends ! The lady...

I enjoyed an excellent Chicken Thali lunch in the garden today. With vegetable pakoras and a Silent Pool Gin and tonic. Very enjoyable food enhanced by the relaxing surroundings overlooking Sherbourne Pond.

We spotted this place at the beginning of a 6 mile afternoon walk from Silent Pool up to Newlands Corner and St Martha's and then back, and it was a great incentive to keep up the pace, so as to be back for last orders!...

A nice location near the Silent Pool (arguably not as picturesque as advertised) but prices excessive at £3.50 for a very moderately sized slice of cake and £3 for what is in effect a home-made coffee/tea. Service notably slow. Extremely polite staff and that is...

What a fabulous evening, highly recommend it. We were given the lesson as a Xmas present, such good fun and informative. And best of all, you get to sit down together and eat what you cooked.

Okay so I am a chef and was given this as an Xmas present. I've been on a journey of learning about flavour all my life. I really understand why Mandira's is doing well. Indian restaurants are okay... But standards are well "standard" and maybe...

The food was full of flavour, loved the chicken biriyani and pakoras, would have liked a little more choice on the menu, and the service was a little bit lacking, despite that, we enjoyed the experience. Great location, and will be trying again

We stopped in for an informal lunch in the middle of our walk. What a great place. Delicious interesting home cooked food, veggie and chicken thalis were amazing and mango lassi to wash it down. Incredibly friendly service, and lovely to sit outside too. Can't...

What a gorgeous location! We ate overlooking the pond. Food was really authentic & full of flavour. Not fancy or served in a modern way, but just very good.

Nice quaint restaurant cafe with authentic Indian food. Staff are friendly and welcoming. We had samosa and carrot cake with Masala Chai. Great new discovery!

We had high hopes for a really authentic curry . Sadly not the case. When we arrived we were asked to find a table and they would bring the food. They weren't altogether aware of what soft drinks they had, desperately studying the fridge. They...

Mandira's Kitchen catered for my daughter's wedding last weekend. Absolutely faultless. The food was stunning, the best wedding food I have ever had. They were a delight to work with, thank you for playing a big part in a memorable day.

Indian inspired afternoon tea on the patio was magnificent. The welcome was warm and the service was super. The food was just perfect and I can’t wait to return. Thank you 🙏🏻

We visited this week for the chai on the terrace and our overwhelming experience was one of disappointment. The customer service was really quite poor. It didn’t start well with an unwelcoming host. We parked up and were simply stared at and the first thing...

We visited Mandira’s Kitchen and were blown away. The service from Claire was awesome - so friendly and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious too. We will be back for sure to enjoy the area and the lovely food.

What a fantastic, fun and informative evening. We made five dishes and then sat down to eat it with friends over a gin and tonic with the sun setting over silent pool. Recommend it highly.

Had the absolute pleasure to be at an event catered by the amazing Mandiras kitchen and was completely blown away by the incredible food served. A totally new experience for me, vegetarian Indian dishes but fabulous flavours, presentation everything. So good I came home and...

stopped off here to buy a meal to take home with us from their frozen range, some delicious sounding curries, we struggled to choose, wish I had a bigger freezer!

The food was served luke warm and the gazedo was freezing cold. We ate with our coats on. The few heaters they had were insufficient for the temperature and the gazebo had gaps where the cold air came in. Might be nice in summer but...

Tried the lamb and vegetable samosas before our visit to the Silent Pool Distillery. These were delicious. Placed an order for Railway Lamb curry , a chicken biryanis and naan breads. Collected all the food after the visit which was pre packed and frozen. The...

Good little location linked to Silent Pool Gin site - nice to drop in for a small bite to eat or even take away