Tamarind in City of London, Westminster - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

It's hard to fault this famous establishment which has quietly served up exceptional Indian fare since before I first experienced it over 30 years ago. During that time it's seen generational change but remains the original and best in its class. The dishes are creative but launched from an experienced knowledgeable base (it's nice that the spice/heat level hasn't been diluted to accomodate broader tastes), the wine list is good and the service team is there to ensure you have a faultless night. All served up in beautiful unobtrusive rooms, upstairs or downstairs. Do go, but book ahead.

Delicious biryani and exceptional cocktails. A bit on the pricey side.

1. Extremely rude waiter. The three of us ordered only to be told we hadn't reached the minimum spend. That's a first for us and very embarrassing. Took no account of deserts + more drinks we might order. 2. My wife doesn't eat gluten, garlic, shellfish. Most restaurants we've been to will give her help ordering. Our waiter just produced a vary complicated chart. We were then served with three rice hors deuvres which we ate only to be told that that was my wife's. Now there was the question of her ordering a main course. She waited almost an hour and was eventually served some weak 'soup' with a couple of pieces of chicken in it.

Great restaurant, from service to food but pricey. Been coming here for many years now and have never been disappointed by the food or the service or the atmosphere. Cocktails and deserts not so much, better stick to wine or beer. The started with pomegranate and yogurt is a must and the buttered chicken is exquisite.

One of the best Indian restaurants in London

Their website doesn’t say anything about a minimum of 55gbp per person and once you sit down to order they let you know about that. You can’t really get up when you are with other people and specifically when you are the one paying and the portions are so small. Horrible experience which i will never ever forget.

The food was amazing. The service was great. The ambience was awesome.

One of the best North Indian restaurants in London. Excellent service and food which was authentic and delicious

An Indian restaurant is tired and they have instructions for entering the restaurant as if you are inside a military barracks. It is forbidden to wear a sports cap, it is forbidden to wear pants above the knee, and strange things like this. If I had the power to enter this restaurant.

I was expecting a lot from this visit but finished the experience feeling disappointed. The restaurant itself is pleasant enough without having the opulence of some of its rivals in London. The food was mediocre and so I am glad that I did not follow the suggestion to order something from every section of the menu. I ordered churn chat, lamb rogan josh and crispy broccoli with a small beer that cost £8. I didn’t bother with dessert as nothing on the menu tempted me. Five staff members standing near my table while they chatted did not add anything to the ambience. I do not feel that I am likely to return.

Cute place with a cuisine matching the reputation. The grilled lobster was excellent and the crab pancakes truly stood out. Every single dish was otherwise very good, if not better. We had some English sparkling wine which worked well (I was surprised) with everything we ordered. Generally speaking, not spicy hot. The service was really good. Expect about 100 quids per person.

Our favorite place when staying in Mayfair, we often frequent multiple times during our trips. Absolute must hit!

I went there with my family and the restaurant was in the basement level with a great ambience. The food was amazing and the flavor was truly memorable. When it came to the service it was below average. There were no spoons on the table, when it came down to changing our plates for the main course, one of the waiters placed it aggressively and it 3/4s of it was outside of the edge of the table and I had to position it correctly myself. Some of the waiters looked drained, unengaged, and unpleasant.

The restaurant has lost its mojo. Once a warm and friendly dining experience, the emphasis now seems to be all about getting the customers to pay a sizeable bill which must include many bottles of water. Sad to see the decline of this once friendly restaurant.

Superb food superb service hands down best Indian restaurant in London

This is an amazing restaurant with brilliant cocktails and tasty food. Bit expensive but deserving by all means. We were assisted by Piyali and she was lovely. Her recommendation were unmatchable! A must go place..

An absolute MAGICAL 🌟 🎩 🪄 ✨️ Restaurant right in the heart of Mayfair. Wonderful, calming, serene, and therapeutic experience 😇. Attended to by lovely 😊 staff, all of whom took time to explain the wonderful choice of dishes ,but especially because I could not make up my mind 🙃 what to try ! 😋 The fascinating feature was being able to see all the chefs at work 😉 and WITHOUT any noise/ banging of pots/ pans 🤫 as they duly carried on preparing the dishes in a very professional manner. 👌 It is truly a lovely restaurant, a beautiful ambience, and a pleasure to visit. Since thanks 😊 to all staff.

My husband and I had a stopover in London on the way to Greece last month and heard Indian food is great in the UK. The concierge at Sheraton recommended Tamarind. It was the best Indian food we had ever had, and we had never seen so many different options on an Indian restaurant menu. Everything we ordered was 5 star, the level and quality of service outstanding, the basement seating was elegant and romantic, and the cocktail list was equally outstanding! I thought the portion sizes were very good, and yes it is expensive but worth every penny.

I wish I could give zero star, the food there is amazing the best Indian food in Mayfair I can say but the general manager(mr. Arvind) there think he is some king of Mayfair I made a booking for 6:45 on a Friday for 4 guest with my work colleges bcz I really want them to take there for best Indian food but after an hour I booked the reception called me back saying we cannot accommodate you just bcz the general manager doesn’t want to (because I used to work there and I left one year ago so he has some ego issues still going on this is not how a fine dine restaurant works he is as good as a KP tbh I won’t even come there ever again be safe with that place it’s doggy they get your credit card details and cancel you booking and refused to delete your details after calling for 6 times be safe around this place I hope they change the management everything else is super fine the food is just awesome it’s just the manager (arvind) there who thinks he owns the place .

Really lovely Indian, as there were 12 of us we had a set menu, but it was all delicious.

I have grown up cooking Indian food and I expected to eat Indian food. Instead I was faced with westernised weird food and to say it’s a Michelin restaurant, pretty disappointed. No proper Indian deserts either! I wanted to roll up my sleeves go in the kitchen and teach them how to cook proper Indian food!

This place was incredible. I have a whole new take on Indian food now.

Amazing very posh and extremely tasty Indian food- lobster, scallops, mangosalad, curries and unusually and unexpected fantastic desserts!!! Plus really good wines- loved it.

Fantastic lunch here, good value. Very much enjoyed the chicken tikka, pleasantly surprised by how that turned out. Would gladly recommend and return!

I came here in January 2024 with a group of six of us and absolutely loved it. The food is incredible and we found the service very attentive, and we took many of their recommendations. I couldn’t say a bad word about any of the dishes I tried, which included the Tandoori Paneer Tikka (probably my favourite), Allahabadi Baked Samosa, Crispy Lobster, Nutty Yoghurt and Corn Kebab and the Calcutta Prawn Curry. The Paneer Tikka and Lobster in particular are amazing.

This is one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to. Every bite is super flavorful. The vegatarian options initially seemed basic to me, but they tasted phenomenal! The paneer tikka was loaded with ghee and had a nice smokey flavor. The Jackfruit biryani had a very royal feel to it (probably due to rose water) and the mewa mawa kofta curry was creamy and super rich. Apparently this place had a Michelin star before. If you’re in London you must visit!

They offer high-end dining experience with excellent service and a pleasant atmosphere. The menu features a variety of vegetarian dishes and all food is halal. The appetizers, chicken breast and lamb chops are buttery, soft, and highly recommended. However, the kale salad on the hard side, and while the lamb biryani was good, the creamy chicken with cashew paste was overly creamy. Desserts, especially the signature chocolate fondant, gulab jamun, and fresh mangoes, were delightful. Overall, the appetizers, mid-course dishes, and desserts are the highlights, while the main dishes are just okay. I would definitely visit again. Keep in mind it’s very pricy!!

We sat and ordered cocktails and then placed our order for the food, then after about 5 minutes we were told there is a minimum spend of £55/per/head. My girl friend and I are not big eaters and didn't want to order food we would not eat. The restaurant was empty!

The food is absolutely amazing, Its very elevated Indian food, I would go as far as saying the best Indian food I’ve ever had. I liked it better than Gymkhana. The issue is, the prices are simply far too high for the dishes being served. £30-£40 for a small curry. Plus a 15% service charge. Can you imagine paying £45 ($60) for a small curry ? I can’t complain about a single dish. They were all very good. We tried the seabass, it was very good, creamy and spicy, a wonderful dish. Problem is it’s maybe a 4 oz portion of fish for £28. The green chicken curry for $45 was spicy and fragrant, very flavorful. Again, there were 4 bite size pieces of chicken in the dish. You simply don’t get any value for money. If you are sharing, a table for 4 would each get one mouthful. So about $12 per bite ! The curry doesn’t come with rice. They make you pay extra. If this restaurant lowered their prices by 20% or included rice and naan with the price of the curry, it would be a top 10 restaurant in London. I would go here twice a week. But even for a splurge, the size of the dishes don’t match the price tag. Our bill with NO drinks (drank tap water) or bread (naan is extra £6) was £155 and we left feeling a bit hungry. IF you don’t care about money at all, you will love this restaurant it’s the best Indian food in London. But if you just want Indian food, Dishoom can fix your craving for 1/3 of the price.

Food was delicious but incredibly overpriced for what it is. I do not think at all this food has any defining factor that sets it apart from other high end indian restaurant to justify the price points. It was like 20 pound for 5 of the smallest chicken wing lollipops. There was also a lot of back and forth between us and the waiter because apparently is was physically impossible to have all the items come out at the same time. We told him numerous times we were trying to do it family style/share and asked for guidance to no avail. If you are a family eating here I recommend to get like 2 curries and 2 Biryanis plus naan and rice. Don't bother with the grilled stuff, it was so tiny and not good to fill/feed a family of four. We really enjoyed and recommend the green curry and chicken Biryani.

Modern Indian food. As long as you know that you will not likely recognize anything on the menu, you should be good to go. Our waitress made great recommendations and everything was good. Favorite dish was the okra ( like I said, not your normal disk ).

The food is amazing, it will satisfy hunger and indulge your palate with delicious flavors

Food was good but didn't blow my mind. Didn't feel any level of grandeur, so sorry to say it felt slightly underwhelming at the price point. Staff were friendly enough, and the restaurant is nice inside.

I have dined here a few times now. On every Occassion you Indulge in a culinary masterpiece at this Michelin starred restaurant in the picturesque surroundings of Mayfair. Each dish is a symphony of flavor, showcasing the chef's dedication to top quality ingredients and preparation. I highly recommend trying the vegetable and kale seekh kabab, bursting with savory goodness, and the velvety methi malai paneer. From the first bite to the last, every dish promises an unforgettable dining experience, making it a must visit destination for food enthusiasts seeking excellence in fine dining. Once again thanks.

The food was truly tasty and very well presented. Lovely environment and great service. My in laws told them it was our engagement celebration and they brought us a little congratulations treat.

Great food, amazing Coconut Seabass. Loud atmosphere

No words - just: DELICIOUS! Been there many times. Will come back again :) Favourite dish: Lamb Chops with Pistacchio from the Grill

Probably the best fine dining Indian restaurant in London; incredible!

Outstanding in every way! The food quality is exceptional, the location is meticulous and the service is friendly, professional and warm. I can’t recommend more them highly enough!

Memorable food Great service. I would go there again given visiting from San Francisco.

It provides Indian food in London. But there is scope of improvement in terms of taste.

Had the private dining menu B and it's among the best and finest Indian I've had. Pure quality, distinct tastes and amazing presentation.

Some years ago, Tamarind's cooking pushed the boundaries of Indian cuisine in creative and imaginative ways. Now, most of the dishes are merely good examples of Indian food. Tamarind has gone from a culinary destination, one that was well worth the investment, to a local Indian restaurant full of people with more money than soul.

Our favourite Indian in London, we’ve tried them all and Tamarind never disappoints, the food, the service, the atmosphere is always so lovely. Please bring back the Mango Kulfi though, it was so refreshing after a spicy meal!

You will not find better Indian food in London (or anywhere else I’ve been). I’ve been to all three locations multiple times and their food is magnificent. They do delicate dishes extremely well and the traditional dishes are always amazing. The service is top notch…I’ve sent at least 10 people I know to this place to eat and every one of them feels the same.

It’s a beautiful restaurant! We were greeted immediately, went to our table. The chef tasting menu, is a lot of food , but a wonderful experience and best food we’ve had ! Wait staff ; close bye but not hovering, perfect. Both food and wine selection was fantastic. We will be back . Thank you

I go to Tamarind regularly because it has all the positive aspects of a top London restaurant: great food, attentive service, good ambience etc.. but without the typical annoying London hype that makes you have to book a table weeks in advance. Will be there again soon!

Some of the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever had. 10/10

Amazing upmarket restaurant in Mayfair. Worth the money and a visit.

Always wonderful. Really lovely Mothering Sunday lunch

Tamarind is truly one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever experienced. Everytime I'm in London I come to Tamarind at least once. This trip it was more than 3 times.

Service was great very attentive Food fabulous Lunch menu good value

Very nice service Staff behavior is good

Although the food was delicious, I was disappointed that it was very spicy when I was told that it was mild (and I requested it to not be spicy). The drinks were mid. There wasn't enough variety. It didn't feel "Indian enough". It feels... "too fancy". The service was excellent though. The servers were accommodating and friendly. I liked how cosy it was but the restaurant was too dark and quite crowded and cramped. I loved the layout but why are there 2 entry doors? Seemed unnecessary (have just one). Regardless, I personally loved this restaurant but I wouldn't visit again. It feels more like a "one-time experience".

Been here twice, lunch menu is good value. We wanted to book a special meal here for a group of around 20 people. The manager here is so uncompromising, they want you to pay a large deposit but can’t even guarantee where you’ll be seated. Taking our business elsewhere

We have dined here many times and always had a wonderful experience the food was a delicious as always and the staff were attentive but not in your face, my favourite on the tasting menu this time was the prawns and the dessert, we look forward to a returning visit soon

Food is interesting but it is too heavy and uses too much spice. Less ghee/butter in the dishes and marinating the grilled food more lightly would result in a really good product. Servers need to be more attentive and also less servile

We had the tasting menu with wine flight and it was absolutely superb. Delicious to taste and stunning to look at! Well done

This is simply one of the very best restaurants in an excellent restaurant city

Service, food and atmosphere was outstanding! We had the gourmet tasting menu and it did not disappoint. Our favorites were the sea bass and the prawns.

This was our third visit to Tamarind and while the food was excellent as always and the cocktails were fantastic, the service was a bit lacking. The food was put down on the table with no real presentation or explanation of the ingredients. The wine list is expensive and while the wine we were recommended was good and went well with the food, some was spilt when served and there was not the finesse in service I expect from such a high quality restaurant. Sadly we will not be returning soon.

Every single item was delicious! Highly recommend

Great place to dine and experience a top Indian cuisine.

Beautiful restaurant. Food is unbelievably good and staff attentive and professional. Cocktails are out of this world.

Such delightful flavours. Had a fantastic evening meal here . Truly gorgeous tasty food . I shall definitely be coming back for more

I didn't like the previous one, the one who doesn't order drinks, it won't be the same

Food was very good but not excellent. Service was impersonal and slow. Not what should be expected at a high-end restaurant. Would not go back.

Wonderful! We will definitely be returning with future visitord

Beautiful and serene space. Attentive service. Delicious food - to the eye and taste.

Lovely meal. The service was excellent. Really great evening out. Would highly recommend.

Without doubt the best Indian food we have ever eaten in the UK and totally authentic. Wonderfully presented by courteous and attentive staff in an oasis of calm. The menu was short but comprehemsive and felxible with many dishes offered in two sizes as starters or mains. The tandoori octopus was a revelation, the crab cakes delightful and the chicken biriyani sensational. All in all the perfect luch and we look forward to a return visit.

Amazing food, lovely ambience and nice staff. Tamarind is indeed a nice place to have a good time with good food. The dishes were wholesome and tasted really good. We had a very good time and would surely visit again.

Food is good, but not amazing for the price, service not fine dining by any stretch. Had set valentines dinner £95 per person. Price does not match service or food. If you want fine dining this place is not it

Probably our favourite high end Indian restaurant in London. Have been going for many years and nothing quiet matches it. The small plates are a delight though on the pricey side, and the biryani and Kerala prawn main course superb. Highly recommend the place

One of the best dinners of my life. Amazing Amazing

We all enjoyed our experience at Tamarind and doubtless will return. Thank you for your attention.

Lovely food - kind waiting staff - breads weren’t served piping hot to the table . Didn’t mention this since we were running late for lunch . Would visit again

We went for the valentine's day menu with wine pairing. Food was OK but not value for money as it wasn't better than what we can get much cheaper in London. Wine pairing was uninspired, all wines served in the same type of glass which was brought filled to the table, with us never seeing the bottles. Mid way, they stopped explaining what the wine was. Overall, more than 200 pounds per person for service and food that is worth less than that.

This is a restaurant that I always try to go when I'm in London

Tried this restaurant on trip to London Nice anmbi good food and service.

Service was not very good - they did little to explain the menu and food was mediocre

Food is great but service a let down. Staff do not look interested in providing a good service and food service was slow. Need to prompt waiters each time to take orders.

Good seems to have slipped a bit from its peak. Service remains consistent but a little abrupt

Great restaurant. Superb food. Friendly & efficient service.

The food came so quickly, the meal was over within an hour!

Amazing authentic Indian food and quantity looks small but end of the course you fill full. They do have time restriction do keep that in mind and it is pricy too. But I guess that is fair price for a place like that in that location in London.

Our Sunday lunch experience was amazing. Wonderful food and beautiful restaurant. Service was excellent and courteous.

Excellent food etc. Felt slight rushed. Placed order for Gourmet Tasting menu. Told on several occasions that kitchen closing so had to keep bringing the food. A bit irksome but didn’t really detract from the dining experience

Absolutely outstanding in every way. Can’t wait to return. Thank you for a great experience.

It was overall a nice experience. We wanted to try the tasting menu. One of us is vegetarian and other non vegetarian and we were informed we can’t order a veg and a non veg tasting menu on the same table which is a bit weird given it’s a fine dining restaurant and one of the best. So was a bit disappointed. Also it was our anniversary as well (which we mentioned on the booking) but there was no gesture not even a note from the team there. Which was again a bit of a bad service. I feel these small things are what which differentiates a good restaurant from a great restaurant.

It was overall a nice experience. We wanted to try the tasting menu. One of us is vegetarian and other non vegetarian and we were informed we can’t order a veg and a non veg tasting menu on the same table which is a bit weird given it’s a fine dining restaurant and one of the best. So was a bit disappointed. Also it was our anniversary as well (which we mentioned on the booking) but there was no gesture not even a note from the team there. Which was again a bit of a bad service. We feel these small things are what which differentiates a good restaurant from a great restaurant.

Food was fantastic, very creative. A little pricy but I think worth it since I don’t have restaurants like this back home.

We had a very enjoyable experience - great food with very attentive service.

Wonderful experience with incredible food. Smart, attentive service. Other reviews mention small portion sizes. We did the Gourmet Menu with wine pairings and did not leave hungry! Not a cheap night out but still a wonderful example of thoughtful, delicate and precise Indian cuisine. Looking forward to visiting again.

Dinner was outstanding! The most beautiful and flavoursome dishes. I highly recommend.

Food was good -it came quickly. The tasting menu. But the crowd sitting next to us were just sooo loud that we could hear them rather us on our table. It really was a major spoiler and I will not go again. When you pay so much you need some peace at the end of the day when you are enjoying an expensive meal. Poor ambience

It was a two year anniversary for my BF and me, and they made it special by 1) giving us a quieter seat (there was a big group nearby), and 2) giving us a small anniversary dessert. Service was super professional.

It waz ok for a lunch. We will return soon for dinner.

Beautiful food. The crispy broccoli wasn’t as sticky as I remember. Overall the service was impeccable and the portions sizes good.

Excellent Indian food and service