The Cinnamon club 

Old Westminster

Their motto is to challenge the age-old belief that Indian cuisine can only be traditional with time-tested combinations. So the Cinnamon Club brings some of the haute cuisine from India in all new avatars. As they successfully experiment with local produce to bring out the Indian flavor and some mix-n-match of Indian and European techniques to come up with a distinct flavor of its own.  Apart from having a lavish menu for festive occasion, breakfast and gastronomic, the restaurant also flaunts a special menu for parties that are organized in their private dining areas. Scrambled egg with cumin pao, and utthapa are a few of the Indian breakfast items available. And some of the hot favorite Indian desserts are – rice pudding in sweet vermicelli nest and pistachio and green almond kulfi.

Amaya 

Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street

In an Indian restaurant, do what the Indians do, that is, eat with your hands, lick your finger and savor the Indian spicy flavors. Amaya bar & grill restaurant brings out some authentic Indian grill dishes prepared in show kitchen, which is a full view. As Indian meals are served as they are prepared sans courses, the restaurant too follows the rule. The place offers an ambience to unwind and let you be yourself, while you enjoy the food in the way you prefer the best and not going by the rulebook. Food here is usually prepared by following three Indian methods – tandoor (in hot clay oven), tawa (on hot thick iron plate) and sigri (cooking over naked coal flame). A list of selected wines complement the dishes served.

Dishoom, Bombay Café

12, Upper ST. Martin’s Lane

If you are an Indian, or you have been to India, then Dishoom will take you back to aroma and design of a typical Iranian Café in streets of Bombay (now Mumbai). The casual restaurant is for all and one—students, young or old couples, professionals, or anybody who just wants a place to sit and do something or nothing. The name, Dhisoom, which means the sound of a punch that a hero lands on the cheeks of the villain in a typical Indian movie, gives a typical Bollywood feel. Not only the food, but the crockery too reminds of the road side stall in a Bombay lane. No conventional combination or courses followed as one just needs to follow their heart and have some chilli cheese toasts with chai (Indian term for tea). The menu also features photographs of Indian actors of yesteryears. The names of the dishes, though primarily Indian, either self-explanatory or described well.  You can start with Desi Fish Finger and culminate with kulfi on a stick.

Tamarind

20, Queen Street, Mayfair

Sophistication and style combined with Indian haute cuisine, seasoned with finest spices for the distinct taste ---is what Tamarind is all about. While you just have to relish the flavor of Indian cuisine, the staff will guide you in making the best choice. Primarily serving Moghul cusine—meat, fish and even bread cooked in clay oven—the restaurant updates the menu with seasonal offers and new devised methods of preparing Indian dishes. Under the Shahi Dawaat menu dishes like – Chiken Tikka, lamb cutlets and prawns are among most popular dishes.

Rasa

5, Charlotte Street

If you have had enough of gourmet, then head for some home-cooked South Indian cuisine, prepared in home-made fashion to make you feel at home both as a guest and family. Amidst a whole lot of junk and fast food jont, Rasa makes you feel nourished and cared for by serving Kerala dishes. Owned by Das Sreedharan, who missed his mother’s food , when he shifted to London and started rasa to not only promote Indian cuisine but to bring some home-cooked food to the immigrant Indians. 

With this enchanting list of Indian restaurants in London, we are sure you would surely get a taste of India without really having to travel the miles!

Image Credits: Ifood.tv