SAI Restaurant in Merton

After a disappointing first visit to Sai a year ago, we gave it a second go as it is a popular local restaurant. Sadly, it failed to deliver again. The food is the main disappointment. Surprisingly, there are no side dishes on the menu which most top-end and local Indian restaurants do serve. We decided to go for a starter, a meat main, a vegetable main, a salade and a naan. All together. The paneer starter was a feast of sugar and sodium glutamate which would put most cheap Chinese takeaways to shame. It was poor. Very poor. The chicken in Rajasthani sauce was bone dry. The sauce was flavoursome but the chicken like plasterboard; it sucked all moisture from one’s mouth. The saag paneer looked like it had been reheated several times and had a disturbingly fatty/buttery taste; odd taste and not recommended. The cucumber salade constituted of a few slices of cucumber with some spices sprinkled on top. Rather uninspiring and not worth ordering. The naan bread had a lovely meat filling but sadly, it was barely noticeable. The papadums on the house were good but sadly, somewhat forgotten after a £70+ per person bill. The atmosphere and decor is pleasant. There is a good 'vibe' created by the open doors, good lighting and local guests. To finish, the service was hesitant and seemingly inexperienced. The owner/manager swanned around smiling at a few tables but disappeared at 8pm to leave his staff to thumble along. Second visit to Sai and last visit to Sai.

Had a lovely dinner here with my friend, the food was delicious, the staff were super professional and the whole atmosphere and service was fantastic. Would highly recommend this place definitely coming again! Big thanks to Vin and his team!

I always enjoy food at Sai. I am also very pleased that now they open for lunch as i work very close! I tried all lunch menu and every meal was super satisfying. Strongly recommend Sai if you are looking for good Indian cousins.

Visited a fair few times over the years and again tonight. Always top class - very friendly service, food spot on, and pleasant atmosphere. Best “Indian” in the area.

Great chicken curry and garlic naan bread for lunch very reasonably priced with a lunchtime special menu. Friendly service, in a lovely setting!

I absolutely love this place. I often go with my two boys and it is such a great experience for us. If you go during a summer evening it is perfect to sit outside especially with the lovely cooking aroma's and the friendly staff! The owner is a really great guy - very accommodating and adds to the quality of the restaurant.

Sai Restaurant is seriously underrated. Not many people seem to know about it, but the food is absolutely amazing! Every dish I’ve tried has been full of flavour, fresh, and clearly made with care. It’s the kind of place you want to keep a secret—but also feel like shouting about because it deserves way more love and attention. The atmosphere is cosy and welcoming, and the service is always warm and friendly. It’s one of those hidden gems that once you discover, you just keep going back to. Highly recommend to anyone looking for delicious food without the crowds. Sai truly deserves way more recognition! DOG FRIENDLY !!!

Usamos Sai para atender una fiesta de cumpleaños, y todo de principio a fin fue fantástico. Se instalaron maravillosamente, la comida era absolutamente excelente, y se despejaron impecablemente también. Lo volvería a utilizar para el catering y sin duda comeremos en el restaurante. Gracias.

We used Sai to cater for a birthday party, and everything from start to finish was fantastic. They set up beautifully, the food was absolutely excellent, and they cleared away spotlessly too. Would use again for catering and will definitely eat in the restaurant. Thank you

Excellent food and very pleasant staff. Lighting is rather dim so I had difficulty reading the menu but managed to.

Updated 2025* I haven’t been here in years since my first review but ordered a couple of parathas for takeaway and a paneer. It was all almost inedible. Not sure if there has been a change in management or if it was an off night but I do not recommend. Pre 2024 -Really excellent brunch. We loved all of our dishes and the service was just perfect.

It wasn’t busy but we still had to ask to be served drinks,for more menus,to have the table cleared,for the bill and to pay.

Good food and friendly service - will return!

Delicious Indian foods with good services.

It seems nearly impossible anymore to get a decent curry with the depth of flavour and intensity you could find on any high St 20 St years ago. However Sai delivered exactly that, not only great food put great service. My wife is dairy free and the manger came to our table to discuss options and was delighted that she finally could get an great curry without compromising. 10/10 We will be back.

Very enjoyable tasty meal! Lovely staff!

Reservamos una mesa en este lugar para un viernes ponerse al día con algunos amigos y tengo que decir que nos quedamos impresionados con la calidad de la comida , esto es muy recomendable y volveremos de nuevo

Just ordered a takeaway from Sai for 2 people. Over £80 inc delivery. Forgotten poppadoms. £3.50 for sliced onion (see pic). Two pieces of paneer in their spinach dish. 6 bits of chicken in tikka. Cold prawns. Utter crap. If you can’t cope as it’s Valentines don’t offer delivery. Complete rip off and will never use again.

V helpful waiter; patient with our fussy group! The biryani was really tasty and the garlic prawns also v delicious. Keen to return and try other dishes!

Fuimos allí para Nochevieja, la comida era sabrosa y el servicio bueno. Amplio menú con mucha opción. Ambiente agradable y habitación bien equipada. .

Interesting Punjabi curries. We had their chili garlic fish and Punjabi samosas as staters. You can taste the punchy garlic chili marinade on the fish… lovely! Their hariyali chicken tikka shouldn’t be missed.

¿Qué puedo decir? Tengo la suerte de haber comido en un montón de lugares increíbles en todo el mundo, pero entiendo que el ambiente es increíblemente importante, en mi opinión, cuando se come. La comida es por supuesto número 1, pero el alojamiento y el ambiente son otros para mí. Tuve una de las noches más agradables la otra noche. En primer lugar y lo más importante para los lectores de esto, la comida es absolutamente increíble. El cordero, la ensalada de garbanzos, los bhajis fueron sobresalientes (lo mejor que he probado en un restaurante) , la parrilla mixta y la carta de vinos fueron sobresalientes. Podría continuar, pero tuvimos una velada tan encantadora y el propietario y jefe de cocina no pudo haber hecho lo suficiente por nosotros. Volveremos una y otra vez. Gracias.

Great service and they made our Christmas dinner special The food was not great unfortunately but the venue was beautiful and free parking nearby after 6.30pm

Gran servicio e hicieron nuestra cena de Navidad especial La comida no era genial desafortunadamente, pero el lugar era hermoso y aparcamiento gratuito cerca después de las 6. 30 pm

One of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever visited! I went with my family to celebrate my dad’s birthday, and it was a fantastic experience. I’ll definitely be returning!

Este restaurante era absolutamente fantástico. La comida era increíble y todas las alergias e intolerancias fueron atendidas con facilidad. El ambiente era relajado y amable. Vin y su equipo hicieron la noche súper especial. Gracias Vin x

This restaurant is an ideal place to dine out regularly. The food is absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is both modern and comfortable. Additionally, I experienced really kind and high-quality service. I will definitely be visiting again more often.

We dine at Sai twice a month on a Thursday evening and usually order one the special dishes of the day.The cuisine is excellent , subtle and the service friendly . The restaurant has a good local following.

Este restaurante es un lugar ideal para cenar regularmente. La comida es absolutamente deliciosa, y el ambiente es moderno y cómodo. Además, experimenté un servicio muy amable y de alta calidad. Sin duda volveré a visitar más a menudo.

The food is nicely presented and delicious. The service is excellent, friendly staff it’s our local restaurant love it

Really good quality food (takeaway or eat in), extensive menu and specials are always excellent

The most delicious curry in the area. Fresh ingredients, delicate flavours. The service is great, a very friendly & accommodating team.

The staff were very nice food was good I would of liked more poppadoms on the table Also if you supply wine it would be nice to have a wine glass other wise it was very nice and would come back again Nan with butter was so nice would have got another one

Nice place, friendly staff. Food as expected but not earth shattering. Pleasant stop on our Sunday evening.

Great food, attentive service, reasonable price.

We have been to Sai twice in the last four weeks. On both occasions the service and food/drinks were excellent. The current starter special is Mango Pani Puri which is absolutely delicious. We hope it becomes a permanent additIon to the menu.

Food excellent and always busy. Value for money less positive - main dishes at around £15-£20, sides at £10 and service at 12.5% - prices just feel too high for a local - not central London - restaurant.

Excellent food and service. Just a bit noisy. Needs more soft furnishings

I went to one of the curry and comedy nights at Sai with some friends and had a great mid week night out with tasty food, good laughs, and some quality stand-up acts!

Celebrated a family Birthday at Sai last night, first time we have visited this local restaurant and can’t believe we’ve missed out all this time! Delicious and beautifully presented food and a fantastic menu, with unique features like thali’s on Saturdays and an inspired Indian street food menu for Sunday lunch - will be back to try that out asap! Really enjoyable, thanks so much!

The food was fantastic. There are extensive and delicious vegetarian options, and the service was excellent.

Great Indian restaurant the onion bajis are particularly good. Had the fish curry and my friend had a chicken jalfrezi. All great. The nans were a little thin and had some burnt bits but other than that an enjoyable meal would recommend.

Booked here last minute on a Saturday night and we were so pleasantly surprised at how good the whole evening was. The decor is tasteful, great ambience, service was very attentive and food was 10/10. Really good value for money - we will definitely be back!

Hands down the tastiest curries I’ve ever had. Incredible range of veggie options too!

Excellent food and service. Value for money. Great ambiance, however perhaps the tables were too close together making it very difficult for the waiters to serve the food.

Real authentic Punjabi food with a modern twist. Easily the best I've had. The atmosphere and ambiance are great with amazing decor. Try the butter chicken.

First time visit last night. We had a wonderful meal (butter chicken), full of flavours. Will go again.

Brilliant food and lovely service. We can't wait to go back again.

Always superb food and service Way better than other Asian restaurants The flavours are exceptional and what could be better than being looked after by the lovely Anjali 😄

Excellent, clean tasting food, friendly unpushy efficient service. Understanding of our need to delay booking slightly. An extremely enjoyable experience.

Anjali was an AMAZING host. Thank you, fab food and very welcoming. Lovely atmosphere

Unbelievably good flavous and great service. Top place

I ordered a delivery on Sunday and was taken aback at how flavourful the dishes were. I have been searching for a good Methi and I have to say this place has the best I have had. The Rogan Josh also is beyond expectations. Brilliant chef, thank you.

We had an excellent meal and delightful service. The food was extremely tasty without being overly spicy and hot. We were well looked after.

I only love round the corner but it was my first time. Really lovely place and the kids loved the food!’

We love the food at Sai, and it is perfectly complemented by the great atmosphere and excellent service. We’re already looking forward to our next meal here - our favourite local restaurant!

Great food. Lovely staff. Great service. Just what we wanted.

Really great food in Raynes Park, would definitely recommend over other local Indian restaurants.

Absolutely wonderful restaurant. The food was incredible (I had dhurandar chicken on the chef’s specials menu) and service was friendly, knowledgable and welcoming. Will 100% be recommending to family and friends. Thank you!

Absolutely the best Indian food ever, great value for money, very clean, staff very friendly and service impeccable. Would definitely come back here and if you haven't been, you need to its amazing.

Very good take away service - our whole family love the food, the one time we ate in the restaurant the service was exemplary.

A great place to go with friends and family. Friendly, efficient service and good price point

I came with my family and friends, and this was my second time here, the aura and the dishes are delicious, the service was so good. One must visit here. It is the best Indian restaurant, I've been so far!

I went to a lunch for the first time with my friends there, and I loved the presentation, plus the taste of every dishes, I got. Next time I went for a dinner with my family and few of my friends, the service is up to the point, and I liked the most is the chef's special ie. Parsi gosht, too good!! And the laal mass is my favorite too! I think it's a good value for money and best Indian food I've ever tasted in London!

This restaurant is best restaurant i have visited in london. They serve the most authentic food with great indian touch. The panner tikka masala and chilli panner are the best. The service is also the best i have seen in london.

The indian restaurant serving finest food i have tried in london till date in london with authentic indian taste. I had visited with my husband yesterday. The place is so nice, with extraordinary service and the best dish were the panner tilka masala and chilli panner with great taste.

Sorry to Say this but today i feel my worst experience i just finished my dinner with my friends at restaurant. Food is not up to mark. I order paneer tikka masala and vegetables are not even cook properly. And chilli paneer is quit good but most important is just one gujrati girl is good waiter and other staff not too much friendly😲😲 Thank you

Really beautiful dishes and the lamb was to die for; simply delicious. I am super fussy and even very high end restaurants I often find disappointing so this was a great find.

Great food well presented with excellent service. Really cant fault it!

Delicious food. Helpful staff. A lovely evening.

food was good probably just to spicy for my test but was well cooked . if you go a Saturday night I suggest to book .

I really love Sai and have been here a lot with friends. The mains are wonderful, delicious and fresh and the place is lovely. Really nice staff. Small things that stop it being perfect. There seem to be only vegetable mains (i.e. no side dishes) which means you inevitably choose one to share which is a shame as it limits the variety. The ice cream isn't very nice (funny texture and a bit artificial). I appreciate that this is not and Indian dish but since it is on the menu it would be nice if it was a better quality. Same with the coffee. Minor things.

Overall: ★★★★☆ A pleasant local Indian restaurant serving Punjabi inspired food alongside some well known curry house names such as a masala. They could easily get away with halving the menu and still be busy if not busier because everyone knows with so many items it’s not possible to be all made fresh daily. Service was good and Food: Indian (Punjabi) What I liked: • Friendly, attentive service • Nicely presented food • Balanced flavours • Reasonable price point • The hot towels at the end are a nice touch • Overall good attention to detail What I didn’t like: • Thought the prawns were a bit tough • Naan was not that great. Too thick and doughy on one side and lacked flavour • Menus shouldn’t be on a dark background as hard to read in the evening and low light • Large menu which doesn’t inspire confidence in everything being super freshly made Do I recommend going? YES Will I go again? YES Was it good value? YES Price Point: $$

Our 2nd time dining at Sai, a local gem. The food we've had both times was just lovely. A little on the spicier side than expected, but so full of flavour. Staff are lovely, great range of drinks, we'll be back again soon :)

The restaurant looked really nice service was excellent the food was lovely and we will be going back again would I recommend it yes I would but I'll let people know it could be a bit pricey but if you're going for a special occasion it's very good staff very friendly Overall really good experience

Suprinsingly good tasting curry for a trendy looking spot, normally those two don't gel but sai has got it right. I'll be back.

Good food and good service. The music could be turned down a bit though. Or maybe stop having music. It is a small place and with the music and people chatting, it gets too loud.

Food is not too spicy or oily. The service is good and in winter the restaurant is nice and warm. Service is also attentive. I have no complaints.

Don’t order takeaway from this restaurant! Placed an order at 7pm and it still hadn’t arrived by 9pm! Very difficult to get hold of the restaurant by phone and was difficult to get a refund. Bizarrely the delivery driver turned up at 10.30pm with the order - 3 hours 30 minutes after ordering!

Delicious food! Kartik was such a fab waiter, he managed to get us a table last minute when it was very busy on a Friday evening. Highly recommend!

Food is absolutely fantastic, would surely come again and bring my friends as well. Definitely a one stop to have real taste of India.Kudos to chef and the staff 👍🏻

This place was reccomend to me but overall I was disappointed with the experience. The atmosphere, decor, and service were good but unfortunately the food really didn't match the price. While the rice and garlic naan were both tasty with good flavouring, the same cannot be said for the mains. I got the Gosht Jalfrezi and my partner the Aloo Baingan; both were really bland. Lots of spice and not much flavour, the sauce was very watery and/or oily, which wasn't very pleasant to eat. The onions also tasted a little undercooked. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend this place.

Lovely fresh ingredients bursting with flavour. My favourite Pumjabi restaurant in London.

Love this place. It is 5 stars for its range. Must try the daily specials. The street food starter was a nice surprise to put the liquid in the ball and put it whole in the mouth

The food is ok , but stay away from the peshwari naan it's overpriced at £4.50 and they are small with not much flavour just get the regular naan and call it a day

Used to come here frequently when I lived in Raynes park! Would visit with my family. Great place, great food, great service and Vin was always welcoming! Miss the place!

Excellent restaurant. We are visiting from USA and found the food wonderful. The chef is also the owner and takes great pride in their food. Came here the next day too. Best chili paneer ever, and also great pani puri.

Yeah, nice food but only one attentive friendly waiter. The other 2 were moody, ignoring us, leaving us waiting, had to be called over multiple times and instructions reiterated and we never have any fuss eating out. And then finally one had the audacity to hit on my girlfriend in Spanish thinking I didn't understand, while the other repeatedly asked if it was me who was paying for the the meal because he saw out intention to split it. Very awkward and unhelpful ending to what would have otherwise been a nice meal experience. Won't be going back

Absolute gem of a place in Worple Road. Great atmosphere, excellent food and good service. Ben the owner is lovely and passionate about making great food and delivering quality. This is going to be our new regular hang out. Highly recommended to all. Thank you to Vin and his team.

Scrumptious food, authentic Punjabi cuisine, great ambience, excellent service

Authentic food cooked perfectly, a great atmosphere with attentive service and reasonable prices. Definitely worth a visit.

We love this restaurant! Since moving to Raynes park a few months ago this is a firm favourite. Great for take out and eating in. Food is really good, on the spicy side and so full of flavour. Waiting staff are really friendly and welcoming. Reasonably priced too, you can have a lovely meal out here!

The flavour of the food was fantastic. Everyone at the table loved their dish. Excellent choice for vegetarians and meat-eaters.

Best Indian in Raynes Park area! Great food. Pints of Indian lager at a good price.

Excellent food Brilliant services

Just had my 50th Celebration at Sai with all my family and friends, everyone had a fantastic time... the food was beyond amazing, Vin helped with the design of the menu and the service was excellent too, can't fault it. highly recommend.

We have just eaten a very delicious meal at Sai. Each course was fresh and tasty. The waiting staff were attentive and enthusiastic about the dishes. I would recommend a visit here.

Great food and dining experience

Leng waiter, got food under 5 minutes from ordering. Overall great experience, I would come back again.

Our leng waiter (Lewis) was excellent - food came in great time and there were no problems