The Mahal in Cheltenham

We visited to celebrate a birthday, what an amazing restaurant, really gorgeous food and attentive and knowledgeable staff. We had a wonderful evening and will definitely be coming back. Thank you to everyone that served us, we had a lovely evening.

This place... Every single time I order food from the Mahal it thrashes every single curry place I've ever tried, I always get a delivery just after payday, I've yet to go into this restaurant (trust me I'm dying to but chef life is crazy) consistently the food is tasty, fresh and packed with flavours, will definitely be going in as soon as life calms.

Friday 8th November 2024. Dinner for two. We had the 7 course tasting menu, which was really excellent. Each course was bursting with flavour, and it's clear that only top quality ingredients are used. Helpings are sensible, so that by the time one gets to the dessert you feel full, but not stuffed! Service was friendly and professional. The restaurant we were in (there are a number of rooms) was beautifully decorated. All in all a top class experience. We will definitely return.

Best curry I’ve ever eaten. Had a garlic chilli chicken curry and the flavours were phenomenal. Spice, taste, aroma it had it all. The naan breads were delicious too. Friendly staff will be coming again!

The food was absolutely amazing, and was matched by the impeccable service we received. The parking was an added bonus. We would definitely go again.

Great service and food for a special occasion

Great 1st time ordering. Easy to order. Lovely food, very hot at time of delivery. Very tasty and enjoyable.

Amazing Indian food, super high quality and not ridiculous prices either. Service very diligent and efficient. And a lovely setting, an old converted Regency house. Unhesitatingly recommend.

We found Mahal online whilst staying nearby. We did not have a reservation but it wasn’t too busy and we were seated quickly. Mahal seems to be located in what was once a large house. The dining area was in a room with about 6 tables ( there may have been other rooms but I don’t know). Service was good, we started with poppadoms which were in pieces rather than the usual big round. A sample of a soup was served which was tasty but spicy. The waiter made a point of telling us that main courses were a single portion. At an Indian we order 2 meals but share. We ordered a butter chicken and a lamb dish served on the shank, however this was served in a bowl and given to my husband. I was given an empty plate and the butter chicken was placed in center of table. It made things a little awkward but we made it work. Although the food was tasty we have eaten at many Indian restaurants and this one was not particularly special. Parking was available.

Would highly recommend this restaurant. Excellent food and service, with a very relaxed vibe. We will definitely be back.

The restaurants in London could learn from this place , it was high end but reasonably priced, large portions and tasty food, the staff made us feel that they were thankful for choosing their establishment, they explained every dish that came out and recommended well when asked, it was my partners birthday and they came out with a cake and card signed by all the members of staff, £100 meal for 2 people that left us stuffed is amazing value, will definitely be returning here.

Great Indian restaurant, we had gone to celebrate a birthday . It’s fine dining with great presentation and taste though I would say the malbar curry was a bit of letdown compared to my expectations . The naans are freshly made and come out straight from tandoor. The drink are great and so is the house pour wines

A totally fantastic experience from start to finish. We were given a warm welcome and taken into the bar where we started with some grown up cocktails. The food was exceptional, we had the tasting menu, quite frankly one of the best I have ever had. The service was perfect and the serving staff were professional and approachable. Would recommend and will definitely return.

The food was amazing and even better than that was the staff and the service! 10/10 would highly recommend to everyone.

Had an excellent night tonight at Mahal , ambience, food and staff were amazing , can’t wait to go back and try their taster menu, thankyou all so much for a very enjoyable and pleasant evening, 007 😊

We wanted a special meal for our anniversary and found that The Mahal had good reviews.  The Mahal is not your typical Indian restaurant but what I imagine are traditional dishes not westernized. The waiting staff were attentive but not overly, just right.   We had The Mahal Mixed Ratan for 2, wow, the flavours were amazing.  My husband had the lamb shank rogon josh, which fell off the bone and  I had the chicken chettinad, both were amazing.  We didn't have room for dessert.  It wasn't overly expensive and definitely worth a visit

Visited today as a party of 3 - we arrived at 6:30 and were the only party in the restaurant (which worried me a little but it was a Monday evening) but started filling up closer to 7pm. The positive reviews are absolutely deserved - we chose food from the ala carte menu - samosa, pakora and I had lamb Biryani (see photo) which was the best I’ve had in a restaurant. My parents had jalfrezi and also commented it was one of the best they have had! The service was excellent - attentive but not over bearing and the manager checked in a couple of times. Overall a fantastic experience - just we were here long enough to come back again!

The Restaurant it self was lovely, it was the food we had an issue with. We chose the A la Carte menu. We paid £18 for a mixed starter. We only got one piece of chicken tikka each, one prawn and the lamb kabab with egg filling each. I could not eat mine. It was tasted grainy and reminded me of pate. Main courses were chicken biryani, which was dry with too much saffron. Tasted soapy. I couldn't eat it. The Lamb shank was chewy with no taste. Our tandoori paratha had no tandoori taste. This was mine and my husbands anniversary meal, and it was spoilt. When the bill came there was no deductions, even though we didn't like some of the food or wasn't offered a free drink or anything. Our bill didn't even have complimentary mints or chocolates. We even get this up North.

Impeccable service. Exquisite food. Delicious cocktails. First class sommelier called Swenkatesh. Pricey, but well worth it for a beautiful dinning experience.

This is a phenomenal Indian restaurant in the heart of Cheltenham. The building and atmosphere are elegant. The wait staff are very friendly and considerate. Our cocktails were splendid. But what impresses most is the food. The curries are prepared with loving care, the taste is exceptional, the presentation perfect. A lovely evening.

The tasting menu is amazing! I also had the paired wine flight too which was brilliantly matched. Some lovely touches by the Mahal’s team to mark celebrating my birthday too. We will definitely return and would highly recommend!

The cleanest flavours from South India. The food was the best and well worth the last minute booking. Don't be put off by the exterior! Venkatesh was our table host and his attentiveness, professionalism and ease added to our enjoyment. First class experience on all levels. Thank you! We'll be back.

A cocktail was prepared for us during the waiting time. The food has a taste palette that many Michelin cannot match. Distant flavors make the holiday. Friendly patient young men in the service.

Absolutely the best Indian food we have ever had. Service was also amazing.

Beautiful venue with an excellent drinks list, top quality delicious food and superb service.

I recently dined at The Mahal, and I must say, it was a incredibly good experience overall. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The staff were very professional, friendly and attentive, ensuring that we felt welcome from the moment we walked in. The menu offers a nice variety of dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. The lamb kebabs in the Appetizers menu was particularly nice, cooked to perfection with a rich mousse-like texture. The duck from the Mains selection was also impressive - the dish was well balanced and achieved a scrumptious combination of flavours. Overall, The Mahal is a nice spot for a dinner or a special occasion. The combination of good food, pleasant atmosphere, and excellent service makes it a place worth visiting.

We had a fantastic dining experience at Mahal while traveling through the Cotswolds. I've had Indian food around the world and homemade by Indian friends and can say this is some of the best Indian food I have had. Beyond the high quality and exceptionally executed dishes, upon entering the restaurant, we were asked if we'd like to go into the lounge for a cocktail before being seated at our table. What a treat! Why don't restaurants do this more often; slowing down the pace and being treated like elegant guests. It turned dinner into an experience and was fun to watch the bartender make my cocktail. He took his time, attention to detail and it was delicious! Our waiter Venkatesh was personable, knowledgable and a pleasure to meet. Helpful with our selections, balancing providing attention while giving us time to relax and enjoy, but always within eyeshot should we need something. I highly recommend Mahal when in Cheltenham.

Excellent food and service in nice surroundings. Good selection of dishes to choose from and everything we had was delicious. Staff couldn't have been more helpful.

I went here with my partner and we both absolutely loved the food, which was absolutely delicious! Venkatesh was especially friendly and helpful. Fantastic service!

I enjoyed my succulent indian meal.

This restaurant is located outside of the main city centre, area, but definitely worth a visit. There is well stocked bar situated in a comfortable lounge, you should try the cocktails ! The food was exceptional and top quality. Classic Indian cuisine with elegance. Staff were friendly and attentive.

Nice location with easy parking. Fine dining experience. A little pricey but worth the experience. Very friendly and atendentive staff.

We dropped by on the way back from watching Middlesex cricket at the college ground so very convenient as impressed with reviews. And no regrets.A I’ve.y well decorated ornate restaurant which we both really liked too gives it a real sense of occasion. We shared a starter & main & 2 vegetable side dishes as weren’t famished & we finished it all. Chicken was superb. Just faultless & will def be back next time we’re in town.

Absolutely terrible service! Despite paying £3 for delivery and the maximum service charge, we got the food where the curry leaked out from all of the containers. When we called the restaurant, their behaviour was appalling and was not taking any responsibility for their service. Avoid this restaurant at all costs!!

Wonderful food . Found this restaurant by chance . Friendly and welcoming staff . Spoke to a couple of locals who confirmed that it is consistently a great dining experience. Will definitely return on our next visit to Cheltenham 👍🏼

The best Indian food I have had in my 15 years in the UK. The food is exquisite and service exceptional. The vegetarian share plate was brilliant and so was the black dhal. Garlic naan would melt and the almond/ jaggery kheer was a hit. Pricey but you get what you pay for.

Worst food I experienced from Mahal.. Been ordering food from Mahal from past 5 months.. This is my first bad experience with Mahal food.. Food quantity and quality went down..

Absolutely stunning! Food amazing, extremely reasonably priced, staff fantastic. Went for my birthday last weekend and the staff made it very special even presenting me with a little cake and birthday card! Thankyou so much, will definitely be back and wouldnt hesitate to recommend x

Microscopic portions, very expensive, restrictive menu, average food. Wouldn't go back, hungry after I ate.

for the third time you have failed to deliver the veg curry with the Lamb Biryani..., which is a shame as the food is really very good, but I really can't be bothered having to remind you to send a complete order each time.

As a frequent visitor to this vibrant city over the last five years, I’ve had the pleasure of dining at many establishments. Yet, it wasn’t until my recent visit to “The Mahal” that I truly felt I had discovered a culinary gem. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was enveloped in an ambiance that married elegance with comfort. The staff greeted me with the warmth and hospitality that one would expect from a venue of such high calibre. The menu, a testament to the chef’s expertise, offered a tasting journey that was both innovative and deeply rooted in authentic flavors. Each dish was a revelation, with the tasting menu standing out as a highlight of my dining experience. It was not just a meal; it was a celebration of the senses. The Mahal’s commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of their service. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a special occasion, this restaurant has set a new standard for what I consider a decent meal. It’s a place I would recommend without hesitation, and I look forward to returning to what I can only describe as a culinary haven.

The staff were very friendly and polite. The food was incredible! Very well balanced and the portions were perfect! Couldn't recommend these guys enough.

We were lucky enough to celebrate a memorable birthday meal here with the 7 course tasting menu. The menu combined delicate spice and wonderful flavours which paired with the wine selections from Venkatesh made the meal one of the best in Cheltenham. Would highly recommend arriving a little early to enjoy one of the Mahal’s house cocktails!

The Mahal is a restaurant with a difference, excellent service from the moment you arrive. The building and decor is lavish yet relaxing and you really can feel the warmth and passion from the team. The food was absolutely fantastic and surpassed our expectations. We don’t live in Cheltenham but if we did we would most definitely book again.

The beautiful building puts this Indian restaurant in a different league, and the owners and staff are not wasting their opportunity to provide a fantastic experience for their clients. The bar area is very chic and immediately puts the visitor into a relaxed mood before sitting at table. The staff are very polite, helpful and good humoured. The dining room is spacious but also cosy and intimate. The food is really excellent! A great experience.

I really really wanted to like this place as had been looking forward to going for some time. Sadly it gets a 1 star from me. I don’t leave 1 star reviews lightly but the menu is not clear on what the food is (which is fine as we then proceeded to asked several questions to what appeared the manager for clarity) we got told that all the menu is curry’s and then I said so they are all in a sauce and saucy and then we got the response yes. When it arrived it was a duck filet which is not a curry and not in a sauce and saucy but it took so long to arrive that we didn’t have the energy to pull them up on their misleading menu and communication. Not only this the dishes especially the rice and naans are super small which is a shame as it’s more at the top end for pricing. We did come away hungry tired from the wait and mislead on what we were ordering. Building however is absolutely gorgeous and it is a really grand entrance which was nice.

Absolutely delicious food, beautifully presented (nearly all gluten free), superb silver service: attentive with top notch attention to detail, yet friendly and welcoming. We had such a pleasurable lunch, so glad we found this place. Perfectly placed for a stroll around Montpellier gardens afterwards.

This restaurant is a delight. Staff were very friendly, informative and service was excellent. Food was delicious. We really enjoyed our evening here.

Now probably one of my favourite restaurants. Had the 7 course tasting menu and it was delicious! 100% recommend!

Delicious food that you don't see on 'High St' restaurants. Well worth a visit. We would return next time we're in town.

Fantastic food, really quick and hot.

It was nice restaurant with taste of Indian food. We ordered Peshawari naan, butter naan, butter panner, chicken chettinaad, bhindi and kheer as dessert. Overall, food taste was good. Size of the naan was really small.

Great food just very small portions and expensive.

Amazing fine dining experience- excellent service, by Bharat, Delicious food, ambience, and small talk, will surely visit again and happy to recommend - made our special day👍👌🥰👍✨

Very good lunchtime menu. Tasty, 😋 interesting and good value set price option.

Best curry i think iv ever had ,fairly pricey however its more than worth the cost , service and staff were excellent quality of food was top notch and the interior is very well downe out

Excellent food and excellent service in a lovely building with a welcoming environment.

Some very nicely cooked food. Not the usual styles of indian cooking. Very tasty. Good service. 2 mains, starter and drinks £70.

What a fabulous night we had - delicious food and warm, friendly service. As it was our wedding anniversary, we decided to celebrate with the tasting menu - each course was beautifully balanced and for the wonderful evening we had was really good value. Sadly, we don’t live locally - otherwise we’d most definitely be regulars!

Superb meal and atmosphere. Thank you

This is the second time I have returned within 2 months. The first time was with our curry club and each person thoroughly enjoyed the food and service on that occasion . On that basis I returned with friends today telling them just how amazing and different the food was to a standard curry meal. I promised myself the £65 taster menu which did not disappoint. Each course was superb, encompassing fish, lamb beef and chicken with subtle flavours to enhance the respective meat. Although it may appear to be more expensive than your average Indian restaurant, the food and superb service is truly value for money. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and would go as far to say "is this now the best Indian food in Cheltenham at the present time" Great effort from all your team, you made it a truly wonderful experience. Thanks

There are several spaces for cars in the car park immediately in front of the restaurant. We were welcomed into the bar area to relax with a drink before being seated in the dining room where the art work is beautiful. Knowledgeable staff can advise about flavours and ingredients for each dish and wine pairing is an optional extra. There is an imaginative menu of dishes, many of which have Indian spices. There are also European alternatives with much of the meat being locally sourced. The desserts were excellent, I would happily return to sample the other creative delicacies. We had a lovely evening, the staff were attentive and helpful. We look forward to visiting again, thank you.

for the second time in ordering from the Mahal, you have failed to send the complete order, how can you send a biryiani without the supporting veg curry, especially when I reminded you when ordering,

We had a really lovely dinner at The Mahal. The food is fantastic in quality and taste, and I would 100% go back. The atmosphere there was also great. We went over the Cheltenham races and it was very busy. Despite having booked, we waited close to 40 minutes for our table, with much larger tables who had booked for the same time being seated before us. I imagine we were less important being only two of us. The food was worth the wait to be seated though. The parking is a challenge as it's quite tight.

Great place, a harmonised combination of great service , delectable food and tasteful ambience. Amazing hospitality by Bharat accompanied by vinod and venkat made our lunch date enjoyable and memorable.

Six of us were holding a 50 year reunion in Cheltenham. Decided to eat at Mahal on recommendation. The food and the service was absolutely fantastic. I would say one of the best. There are a lot of great Indian restaurants in Manchester and London area, where we live and we all agreed the food here was great. Highly recommended.

Wow we booked to go to The Mahal for our mini moon dinner and had the vegan tasting menu. The service was perfect and the food was absolutely delicious. Could not recommend enough and cannot wait to visit again!

We visited Cheltenham as a family for a few days, and booked here to dine one evening. The staff were very friendly and the service was excellent! The food was served in hot bowls and tasted tasty.

The best birthday dinner at The Mahal in late September. It was a busy evening for the restaurant but they still did not disappoint! Seen and heard lots of good things about this restaurant and it was just a fab way to spent my birthday. Food amazing, atmosphere buzzing and staff wonderful and friendly. THANK YOU! ♥️

35 mins to take order. 65 mins had to ask where starter was, it was then bought to us. My wife's starter of scallops was excellent, her main course of chicken sahi kurma was also excellent but the portions were very small. My starter of beef boti kebab was very tough (taken off the bill), my lamb rogan josh was bland, but the lamb very tender, the sauce had a good spice, but bland. The rice portion was very small. We both felt that the service was poor, and the drinks at £11 for a glass of wine was very overpriced. We love good service and food, but would not visit this restaurant again, first impressions are lasting impressions.

We've had the tasting menu twice here, and it has been an exceptional experience. My two suggestions for management: 1. The bathrooms need a refit - they are clean and functional, just not up to the same standard as the rest of the place. 2. Throw out the old drinks menus when they become dog-eared and tatty.

We tried the tasting menu and we were not disappointed. 7 superb courses with brilliant, knowledgeable waiters

Fabulous food! It is surely worthy of greater accolades

Unattentive and uncoordinated, food alright but severely overpriced. Would not recommend.

Stumbled across this place whilst on a weekend in Cheltenham. Fantastic food, excellent customer service and warm inviting ambiance. So many wonderful dishes, with flavours and presentation to make you go Wow! each time a dish arrives. Book to avoid disappointment, it's popular. Chutneys, tasting menu, great variety. Enjoy, we did.

Amazing naan bread and starter was gorgeous. Didn't care for the rice or main dish but that could be personal taste as I've never had butter chicken before. Overall very good and would order again.

Support curry one of the best I’ve ever had

Well this was truly a wonderful evening.attentive staff, looking after my father, relaxing atmosphere, the most wonderful food. Was just wonderful with my family and friends before I head back to Canada. The chief did nothing less than a wonderful original vegan tasting menu and my friends had wonderful vegetarian food and my parents so enjoyed there evening twice we have been to Mahal in Cheltenham both times legendary service and food. I cannot recommend then enough.

We visited here during a trip to Cotswolds. The atmosphere is lovely and the service great but the food itself was not actual Indian food. Everything was very bland and lacked any seasoning or flavour. It suits the audience but isn’t for us Indians who are used to spice and seasoning. It is on the pricey side as well but the manager is very nice.

Our 41st wedding anniversary which we decided to celebrate at The Mahal. Even on a Monday night it was busy ,the food was glorious and the service excellent. The recommendations of what to have by the staff were appreciated and spot on A true 10/10 meal a rare treat

Incredible high quality Indian food, super friendly and welcoming staff, highly recommend

Simply the best food and service l have ever experienced.

Absolutely stunning food! The service is amazing I can’t wait to go back again!

Absolutely exceptional curry, I'd go as far as to say the nicest I've ever had. A real top class restaurant

Delicious food, beautifully presented, great service. Will be returning !

Absolutely delicious & beautiful food. Excellent service and location too. Really cannot fault them, celebrated a birthday and them added some really lovely touches. Thank you so much, looking forward to coming again!

As usual fabulous food. Thank you!

The best food and service. Thank you! For of your had the 6 course tasting menu with paired wines. Everything was wonderful. Ranjeet looked after us and is a fabulous sommelier. We ate superb food with great paired wine. Thoroughly recommend.

One of the best Indians I've ever had, 5 stars

So good!! Amazing food and the service was fantastic. 5* Thank you Mahal - back soon xx

Brilliant place , from the minute you walk it’s a special experience. All the food is brilliant , combine flavours excellently . The service was also brilliant especially randish who even provided a birthday card !

Very friendly and attentive staff. Food was exceptional Nice atmosphere and reasonably priced

Recently went to The Mahal for dinner, the food was great and the service was exceptional. We had chicken tikka and a kofta dish and both were fantastic. Also Ranjit served us and he was both informative and engaging. Would highly recommend.

Superb food great service and would thoroughly recommend 👌

This was a meal to remember for a while. All the food we tried was so delicious and the staff was very kind, friendly, and helpful with determining what to eat. I want to go back now to try the 7course meal now! Highly recommend.

Excellent taster menu - they were able to accommodate switched so we could try a bit more. Lovely staff and we will be back. Masala tea was SUPERB

It was amazing, the best Indian restaurant in Cheltenham. Highly recommended

My partner and I celebrated my birthday at The Mahal. We chose the restaurant based on the positive Google reviews and we were not disappointed. Friendly staff, great food, and a special birthday song. What more could you ask for? Brilliant.

The food was delivered in a leaked packet, with the curry leaked out. While I have placed hundreds of orders, this was a terrible experience. It was even more frustrating that just eats would ask me for evidence over and above the pics taken, and refuse to believe me!! Could I please have an explanation of why would you not speak to your delivery executive? Why would you not trust your customer who has had hundreds of orders with rarely any complaints in the pas?

We have never left a review before but this meal was amazing; better than any other Indian takeaway in Cheltenham. Unlike many takeaways we have had in the past, these are clearly freshly cooked, with high quality ingredients and distinctive spicing for each dish - so it all tasted authentic but prepared with imagination, care and creativity. Thank you!