Tharavadu in Leeds

They don’t entertain single customers. I was hungry and walked to them. There were 8 tables which were vacant but they didn’t let me eat. The reason was “you are single and we don’t have table for one”. Even telephone booking didn’t allow to book table for one. A No for all travellers.

They do not entertain solo customers. I was hungry and walked to them on Wednesday (a weekday). There were eight vacant tables, yet they would not let me eat. The rationale was that "you are single and we don't have a table for one". Even phone booking did not allow you to book a table for one. A no for single, hungry travelers. I am not sure if their owner is aware of such practice. Turning away hungry customers is not et-all acceptable. A little background about me: I travel practically every week for business and make sure to visit the top restaurants in the UK. Since October, I've been visiting Leeds every Monday for work, staying for three days. Tamatanga, Akbars, Jodhpur, Indian Tiffin Room, and Thrisuur are all common haunts for me. I visited myLahore and Anand sweets as well. They have never turned me down. Even if there is a large table available, they will offer it but respectfully ask "Sir, would you be able to finish within 30 minutes as we have a booking?" According to me Tamatanga, and Jodhpur are best if you are looking for Indian taste and Hospitality in Leeds. For Tharavadu, a strict no if you are tourist and hungry. Take your money and hunger somewhere else. Note to owner: Most hotels allow walk ins (Akbars, Tamatanga are great examples). There may be a delay of 10 to 15 minutes but they don't let their customers go. Your front desk guy just turned me down. I will visit again next week to taste and rate your food. Already reserved a table. I hope, I will be welcomed.

Don't go with much expectation you I'll be disappointed..the food is well and good but not at all a taste of Kerala..

We visited this restaurant for the first time and the whole experience was fabulous. As we walked in the restaurant had a lovely feel to it. A member of staff greeted us and took us to our table. I was surprised how busy it was at 3pm but to me that was a good sign. We had the squid rings to start which were cooked to perfection. I had the Kerala Kozhi Curry for main and my husband had Kozhi Kurumulag. We had a rice to share and a paratha to share. Both dishes were fantastic. It was one of the best curries we have had. The choice of drinks were good and reasonably priced and the service throughout was excellent. All the staff were so friendly and happy in their work. I definitely recommend trying this restaurant.

Recently dined at Tharavadu, where the food was delicious and the service good, albeit a tad rushed between courses. Despite the swift pace, the portions were ample, leaving us feeling satisfied. While a bit more time between dishes would have been appreciated, the overall experience was positive. I'd still recommend Tharavadu its delicious food, just be prepared for a speedy dining experience.

Beautiful food, really great service and catered well for intolerances and dietary requirements, thanks for a great meal!

The food was lovely definitely recommend it for anybody, staff were lovely as well, and service was excellent as well

We have been going to the Tharavad restaurant for the past few years. But today I was disappointed as the quantity and taste of the food went down. The Malabar Biriyani tasted like North Indian Biriyani. So disappointed as it was not worthy.

Very good lunch deal - a mix of versatile styles and flavours and the options are unbelievable for less than 10£. I came in twice just to get this and all of the currys were different this time but all equally amazing! No base sauce, and very creative sides such as chutneys and sauces. Great service as well!

I often travel to Leeds for work for a few days at a time and every time I visit I make sure to come here. I've never had a bad meal, the team are always very friendly and work feverishly to make sure service is good. This latest visit was no exception, the lamb was exceptionally tender and the sauce was perfectly spiced and had a great heat to it. The paratha is always flaky and delicious and definitely worth trying if you've not before.

Lovely place. Decor was great and felt authentic and food was delicious. The menu isn't massive but has a decent variety to choose from. We will definitely return to sample more of what Tharavadu has to offer!

Fantastic Indian food. Plenty of flavour and spice but not too much. Dishes were beautifully plated and service was excellent. Only complaint was noise from the kitchen, but otherwise if I was local, I would hit the place regularly. Dude’s Food Score: 4.5 stars

I can say that this is a truly authentic kerala restaurant ( been there a dozen times!) with quality ingredients and professional service. The food was exceptionally tasty and perfectly spiced. The paneer starter, seafood platter, chicken curry, parrot and beef were simply outstanding. Book ahead as this is where celebrities dine when in Leeds!

Not sure how this place is so busy. The food is ok but the portion size and presentation is lacking

Really great food, best Indian food we have eaten in Leeds. Service excellent and a real buzz even on a Wednesday night.

This restaurant's chicken special truly stands out as a customer favorite, surpassing even the beloved chicken tikka. The mango lassi and jappati were delightful accompaniments, adding to the overall dining experience. The staff were friendly & always there when we needed something. I'll definitely be returning for more!

The restaurant was very accommodating, seating our table of 5 on a busy Wednesday evening without us having a booking in advance. Service was very hands-on with plenty of check backs and a fast turnaround. The only downside to the service was the pressure to leave the table with several check backs from multiple staff after we finished our meal spaced roughly 2-3 minutes apart. The food looked, smelled, and tasted great no complaints from any of us there. However, all 5 of our party the past two days have suffered from gastroenteritis leaving cause for concern about kitchen cleanliness and/or hygiene. If not for this, it would've been a 5 star review, shame as staff clearly work very hard.

After hearing a lot about this place I Finally had an opportunity to visit and taste the delicious food served. It's an awesome experience to taste the authentic Kerala food without leaving the original taste back in Kerala. Visited many places in the UK which serve indian food with no taste of original recipes from India. But this Tharavadu surprised me by serving the typical authentic Kerala food. I would definitely visit this place in future and suggest it to all my friends.

Food was just ok. Curries could do with more flavour. Although the servers were friendly we felt really rushed and we were not able to finish the food.

Very nice place to taste indian food special south indian dhosa

Went to Leeds for a football game and stayed at Hilton, we went bye this restaurant and we popped in the food is fantastic original Indian food good service and fair prices Recommended 👍🏻

First time in Leeds, had to come back next day. I’ve had alot of indian food, and Tvis is the best I have ever had. I would travlt to Leeds again just for the food here!! Amazing

Amazing service! We had a lovely time and amazing food

In my opinion, the best Indian restaurant in the UK. Everything is outstanding.

Absolutely loved the food. We took our 4 year old who ate all of her dinner - she loved it. All of our meals were delicious. The service was brilliant, can’t wait to go back again. Loved it!

You won't find better Indian in Leeds. Paper masala dosa is elite.

Fantastic evening. Delicious food, great atmosphere, attentive staff. Will be back.

Very tasty Indian food, excellent service and reasonable prices.

We went to Tharavadu on our recent trip to Leeds, it has been recommended to me by quite a few friends. The food was incredible! We ordered the chicken dosa, grilled fish in the banana leaf, seafood platter, mattar paneer and loads of appams. Every dish was amazing! Even the chutneys that come with some of the dishes were yum. They had Kingfisher beer on tap, which was quite a pleasant surprise :) The one thing that we didn’t appreciate was the impatience of the staff. One of them greeted us well and got us seated at the table. But after that, she just seemed in too much of a rush to get us out of there. She came to us within 2 mins of giving the menus to ask for our drinks order. When we said we needed a couple of more mins, she was back within a minute again to check. It seemed like she was getting irritated by us taking this much time (and we did not take hours to decide our drinks). Similarly, when we were all enjoying the pappadom basket, she asked us if we’re done (there was still a bit left) because she needed to make space for the mains. Almost kind of nudging us to finish the leftovers quickly. Now, I’ve been to other restaurants as well, where the staff likes to wait for the starters to finish before they can bring out the mains. But I’ve never been to a restaurant that makes you gobble down your starter quickly so they can “make space”. We were at a huge table of 6 people, and the starter was barely one plate. I don’t understand why they couldn’t just make space for the rest of the dishes? Other than this hiccup, it’s a good place for a hearty meal. P.S. don’t miss out on their mango falooda dessert

Wow, been wanting to eat here for a while! Didn't disappoint. Six of us had a variety of starters - all delicious and then 6 mains, with a variety of each rice and several breads. Food was so delicious and when requested 1 mild, it was perfect 👌. Lots of tasty vegetarian choices too. Lovely attentive staff. Highly recommend and will return.

Been 8 times all the way from Sheffield. Never disappoints. Bring different friends every time and they always love. Was my sister’s 50th the other day and made a a fuss!!! Keep up the good work and see you again soon xxx

Just freaking incredible! Amazing food, amazing service, dam good price for what you get and portion size. Make sure you book as the place was full and so it should be. Can't wait to go back!

Tharavadu isn't just a meal; it's a journey to the heart of Kerala. This Michelin-recommended restaurant offers an unparalleled experience for anyone seeking authentic South Indian flavors. Walking into the modern venue, you're greeted by the warmth of polished wood floors and light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet inviting, setting the stage for a delightful culinary adventure. The attentive staff is knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu, making recommendations based on your preferences. Tharavadu Leeds is a must-visit for anyone seeking a taste of authentic Kerala. From the vibrant flavors to the warm hospitality, it's a restaurant that will leave you wanting to come back for more.

Flavours of Kerala very different from the standard Indian cuisine available in the UK restaurants. Excited to experience this tasty offering which did not disappoint. Excellent food, perfect prompt service. Cafe Restaurant experience Very popular so recommend advance reservation. A truly Authentic experience

Very nice service and ambience. I loved the pre-starter nibbles and the starter. I loved the Kerala paratha. I was less keen on my main course of fish curry. For my taste it was too runny (like a soup) and too red (?tomato-based?). Would like to explore other menu items.

Absolutely first class food and service... will definitely return

Stunning. One of it not THE best curry house in Leeds. Staff and food equally great

We came here after reading great reviews from the internet and were impressed with the food presentation, ambience, and service provided to us. However, we felt bit disheartened with the taste of the food. We placed order for Meen Polichathu and Njerippan Kozhi, and though the food had a great mix of ingredients, it was amiss the flavour we hoped to experience. But the winner was the semmiya payasam, it was a sweet end to our overall experience. Perhaps by trying to localise the food to cater to the British customers, the authentic taste has been missed out. It would be nicer to have more starter options for poultry dishes.

Fantastic food always, helpful, informed & interested staff. Always a treat coming here.

Love this place. My favourite food destination for quite sometime 😋 Lunch yesterday was super tasty and at a very reasonable price. They have been serving Keralan cuisine here for almost 10 years and the consistency of the food is amazing. I would recommend Tharavadu to anyone who likes great food. 👍

Amazing vegan and veggie options as well as meat. Bright colours. Beautiful food, great staff. Went per the recommendation of basically everyone in Leeds. An absolute gem.

Delicious authentic South Indian food! At Tharavadu, authenticity meets excellence in every dish. From crispy dosas to fluffy porotta, each bite is a journey through the vibrant flavors of South India. The aroma of spices fills the air, transporting you to the bustling streets of Kerala. With warm hospitality and mouthwatering cuisine, Tharavadu is a must-visit for anyone craving an authentic South Indian culinary experience.

Incredible place in Leeds - amazing service by Prakash and his team including Sibby.

The first review I've ever written on Google, because Tharavadu absolutely deserve it. The best curry I've ever eaten so far in my life (the Kerala Kozhi), 10/10 will be back again.

Friendly, cosy atmosphere with delicious curries - the fish curry is one I'll keep going back to again and again, unreal! Also very coeliac friendly.

Booked for my husbands birthday. Amazing food, brilliant service and attentive staff. Loved it!

Very good good quality food quite spicy Very happy Highly recommended

We visited this restaurant as the last stop of our Indian Food Tour run by Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours. It’s very popular so best to book but we had our table reserved and the whole place has a great atmosphere. We had an amazing dessert called Kulfi - pistachio or mango - and it was delicious. We’ll definitely be going back.

We came for dinner and a catch-up with friends, and had a superb time; service and atmosphere was excellent and the food was superb. I'd definitely recommend both the fish curry and kerala kochi chicken curry. In my experience Tharavadu never disappoints, so much so that it's now my go-to eatery for bringing TV guests to ahead of events in Leeds. Will definitely be returning.

We booked a table for 5 Friday evening for my 70th birthday celebration. Never tried South Indian food before and we were delighted with the quality, presentation and obvious care that had been taken. The service was outstanding, the waiter was so obliging to our needs. The manager checked on us twice for any feedback. The evening was very enjoyable thanks to the care and attention of this restaurant. We will certainly be back in the not too distant future. Thank you.

Hands down the best paratha I have ever had anywhere. And everything else on the menu is fantastic too

We had a wonderful lunch. The food had spice, heat and cooked to perfection. The staff were helpful and we enjoyed our food. I had the express lunch , my friends had the seafood curry. we will be back.

Great little restaurant with very tasty food. I had the "Express Lamb" which was fantastic.

Just delicious! Really interesting menu, wide choice of authentic dishes cooked to perfection using really fresh spices to create wonderful flavours . Generous portions, great service - would highly recommend

Enjoyed eating at Tharavadu with my friends - loved our meals and the service was good as usual. However, I found the lamb I ordered chewier and was not as tender as I was expecting. My friends enjoyed their first time at Tharavadu though especially their orders.

Fantastic, excellent service all round, we were a tad early and so let in to keep us from waiting outside. Friendly staff and excellent food!!

This was a truly beautiful curry

Awesome food and service. We were a large group of 13 and they were very accommodating

The thali was scrumptious. Yoghurt could have been added. Professional and courteous staff and good ambience.

Delicious! This place is always busy so it’s been difficult to get a table but managed to get one on same day during a work trip. Definitely recommend booking ahead. The food is delicious and a great deal of care and thoughts have been put into them. Great customer service and busy atmosphere! Highly recommend.

This for me is my favourite Indian restaurant & serves authentic Keralan cuisine. Working my way through the menu & surpasses expectations every time.

Very telling how every negative review is just a brat angry they couldn't get a table when they didn't book ahead. Very telling indeed! Could not fault a thing. We went for our anniversary and were looked after so well, no rush and this was at 6pm on a Friday. The staff were welcoming and kind all the way to the end and the food experience felt Michelin-level. There were so many nice touches from the decor and historical pictures, to the presentation of food and a cute miniature trolley to deliver the bill in. Best Indian restaurant experience I've ever had and plenty of new and unique dishes to try out if you're bored of the same old thing.

Very tasty food. Well presented. Perfectly balanced flavours. Went on a Wednesday evening and it was surprisingly busy. I'd recommend booking a table in advance. There were 5 of us and the table space provided was a bit small. I had to keep flagging down staff to try and get them to take empty plates away to make more space. I feel that some improvement could be made there with serving staff protocols as it's nice when someone comes over and asks if you're enjoying your meal, if you want any more drinks and takes any empties away, but they were very busy and looked to be rushing around a lot. Overall a very good experience and a place that I would highly recommend.

Food was great but staff was not kind enough.

The customer service at Tharavadu was great. Professional and understanding waiters who were patient and even recommended dishes to suit our taste buds. The atmosphere was even soothing and calm with great Malayalam songs. The food was amazing as well. All of my guests enjoyed the food and the portion size was a great value for the money. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience at Tharavadu and I would certainly visit again.

Really enjoyed the food and the service at Tharavadu

Most authentic Indian meal is Leeds. Subtle and lovely flavours. Service spot on.

Brilliant food and great service!

Great South Indian food served here. As good as any of the top Indian restaurants in London at much lower prices.

We had a great meal at Tharavadu on Wednesday evening. The meen chuttathu and muttar paneer were the highlights of the lovely meal. Great service from friendly staff too. Thanks

Lovely food, served quickly, friendly staff, reasonable prices, would highly recommend.

Whilst on business in Leeds, I was looking for a great curry and found it at this restaurant. I chose the Adu du Cheera Mappas, which was a delightfully tender boneless lamb in cubes and was cooked to perfection in a fresh spinach and a unique Kerala sauce with rice as a separate purchase. Total price at £22.60 was well worth it.

Whether you are near the train station, arriving or heading home or in town as a local...best Dosa house in England by a country mile...and I've been to a few over 30 years! Do go and try. The starters Fish, Chicken and Vadu were terrific...then you have to have a traditional masala Dosa...so so so good

One of the best Kerala Restaurant in UK. Must try the Masal Dosa and Alappey Meen curry. Best in UK. Well recommended.

Genuine taste of South Indian cuisine brought to Leeds. The must have is the dosa.

Having heard so many positive reviews of this restaurant, was looking forward to trying it. The food was good but not amazing…. Sadly we felt rushed to order and after the meal were informed that they needed the table for 8:30 - it was only 8:10, the bill arrived promptly after….. I would suggest that perhaps when bookings are made or when one is sat down that we are informed of the 2hr limit on the table. Sally the food wasn’t that good to entice me back - let down by the service!

Been trying to book a table at this restaurant for ages finally managed to tonight and I can see why it’s so popular. The food was amazing, the service very good and the place itself very nice. Will definitely be going back

Excellent, restaurant one of the best Indians in Leeds. It was great reading the history of Kerala around the room and this is something really unique to Leeds. Also shout out, to the excellent customer service from the team and their knowledge advising on nut allergies.

The food was absolutely delicious. Very authentic freshly made south Indian food at it's best. The place was fully booked and the service was great.

One of the best currys in the UK. Interesting menu and friendly service.

I must confess the wife and I ended up here looking for a place to have lunch on a busy Saturday midday in Leeds, but this was a happy discovery. The Indian food we had was absolutely delicious, and quite new and original from other Indian places we have been to in the past. The staff was very friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed our dishes. Keep up the good work!

This is a favourite restaurant of mine when I'm in Leeds and the food never fails to disappoint. I visited on a Monday which was surprisingly busy and was seated quickly despite not having booked. Service took a little longer to get food than normal, however when it came it was exceptional. The paratha was as expected perfect and the curry itself was tender, beautifully spiced and plentiful. Always worth visiting this place when in Leeds.

Amazing food amazing experience and they went above and beyond, highly highly recommend. Best food I’ve had in a while!!

Service was good and food was pretty tasty too. Lentil donuts were a bit dense and chickpea curry was a bit grainy but aside from that food was pretty good. Not the best Keralan food I've ever had but would definitely go back.

Really lovely food, great atmosphere.

Great food, service, atmosphere. Nice vegan options. I particularly liked the donuts to start, yum! Very busy but service was excellent.

We were recommended to come here by our friends at Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours and we were so glad they introduced us to this place. Lovely warm atmosphere with delicious food and friendly service. We will also recommend it onwards!

Excellent food and efficient, polite service. I would definitely go again!

Being from Bradford, the price of a curry was a bit high, but loved it!

Absolutely beautiful food, one of the best meals out we’ve had! And the service was amazing too, everyone was so lovely and went out of their way to make us feel welcome! We can’t wait to come back!

I reviewed this place when it had not long opened. It’s success is well deserved. Every dish had something special - started with pickles and the star of the show was the lime pickle; simply the best I’ve ever had. I opted ;unusually for a meat main - lamb chops which were cooked to perfection and in a delicious sauce accompanied by delicious vegetables in a tiny dosa. I’ve been to India and this food is superlative (and, sorry, better presented!). You have to book, don’t turn up drunk on a Friday expecting Chicken Tikka masala.

This restaurant in Leeds is truly one of the best. Their authenticity shines through in every dish, offering an amazing selection from Kerala, India. While maintaining true to their roots, they've made subtle adjustments to cater to local tastes without compromising authenticity. Highly recommended for foodies seeking an exceptional Kerala dining experience. Booking ahead is essential due to its popularity, and don't forget to secure a parking spot.

One of the best Indian food places I've been to in 25 years. Kind, helpful and super attentive staff, beautiful, delicious and authentic food, and a gorgeous aesthetic and atmosphere. Two of my party were coeliac, and had all the options they could want!

One of the best Indian food places I've visited in 25 years! Friendly, helpful and super attentive staff, beautiful, delicious and authentic food, and a beautiful aesthetic and atmosphere. No complaints at all!!

Meen Koottan, fish curry, was absolutely brilliant. The fish was so soft and there were some tomatoes in it. I felt quite spicy so it went so well with rice and fizzy drink. The restaurant was very nice and the staffs were kind and welcoming. It’s little hidden but close to city centre and Leeds station. I booked the table for Thursdays night, I’d recommend booking a table since it was very busy.

Took very long for my order. Plus the waiters do not attend to you to ask for further orders or request feedback about food or service. Extremely racist staff since they give better treatment to European customers rather than other nationalities. Extremely rude staff especially if u don't reserve prior to visiting. They make it a big deal even if there are vacant seats available. Strongly recommend delhiwala or bundobasth which Is just adjacent to this restaurant.

The flavour of the food was strong but sophisticated. Service was superb. Well worth a visit.

Very nice ambience. Good for large group. Food is good. However, I prefer Grandkerala restaurant in Sheffield over this in terms of food taste, and loads of options. Falls in between medium - high expensive.

Over for the night from Ireland visiting friends in Leeds. They brought us to their favourite Indian restaurant. I see why they come here all the time. From the friendly welcoming staff to the decor inside my first impression was amazing. Then the food .... my god the food was out of this world good. We ate every crumb. Would definately recommend and we will defo be back ourselfs.

Over priced and busy place. Menu is very limited.