Prashad — Restaurant in Leeds

Upon arrival, you are greeted by friendly and polite staff. Parking is tight, but it is full, which is a good sign.

Amuse Bouche The flavor of the beetroot chutney is strong—sweet and subtle.

First Course Garam masala-infused chestnut and sprout cones—more of an open samosa cone. Initially, I was hesitant about the sprouts, but I was pleasantly surprised. The taste was elegant, with a nice kick from the pea and coriander chutney, and the texture had a satisfying bite to it, rather than being just a smooth paste.

Course Two Lassan paneer tikka with oyster mushrooms. The dish is earthy with a hint of smokiness from the tikka paneer, complemented by a refreshing mint sauce. Served on a leaf and stone plate, this left my taste buds dancing with spice without being overwhelming. Probably my favourite love the versatility of mushroom.

Course Three Shabazi kebab: lentil and broccoli kebab. This was not my favorite, but my wife enjoyed the nuttiness of the lentil kebab, the heat from the chili sauce, and the popping freshness from the pomegranate.

Course Four Chowpatti: crisp rice and tamarind. This cold rice crispy dish balances sweetness and bitterness, with the combination of Bombay mix flavors and tamarind being surprisingly tantalising sweet and sour.

By this course, I had already decided I would come again. The restrooms were clean and spacious. The layout of the restaurant was cozy, although the brass banisters marred by greasy fingerprints were a bit disheartening.

Course Five Masala dosa: lentil crepe with potato curry. I was excited about this one, as I love dosa and not many places offer it. I always find my mouth watering while watching them being made on Facebook. This dish is a three-in-one: the lentil broth resembles a Mauritian/French dish called La daube, the potato and onion curry was heavenly with beautifully cooked al dente potatoes. The dosa itself was nutty with a nice texture. I wished there was more, but there were still more courses to come.

Course Six Kofta: paneer and spinach kebab served on a light, fluffy bed of rice infused with caraway and browned onion, topped with okra. I found this dish a bit heavy, but I kept wanting more, so it definitely gets a thumbs up. It was a very rich dish.

Course Seven Potli: dessert. By this point, I was feeling quite full.

But give me honeycomb with anything, and I’m happy. This dessert is like baklava, but instead of pistachios, it features almonds and cranberries, served warm with lychee ice cream that brings it all together beautifully.

Cons The music can be irritating at times. It was very warm, possibly due to the number of patrons. I wished there was something to cleanse the palate after each dish to fully appreciate all the flavors.

Pros The food is definitely recommended, and I will be back to try the Thai offerings. The staff were very attentive and welcoming; they couldn't do...

Disappointing Experience Due to Hidden Service Charge

I recently visited Prashad with a tasting menu voucher for two, and while the evening began well, the experience declined quickly. The first four courses were flavorful, though portions were overly large, leaving us full too soon. The dishes were also too spicy at times, with chunky herbs that detracted from the meal. By the time we reached the final three courses, including an underwhelming dessert, the quality had noticeably dropped.

The menu itself was tasty for the first four courses—flavours were fresh and very aromatic. However, portions were much too big and we were full by the 4th course. My partner felt that the dishes were a bit too spicy at times and the herbs and aromatics could be quite chunky and need spitting out. Does not make for a romantic dinner date!

The last three courses, including the dessert, were quite underwhelming. Service felt rushed, with plates whisked away too quickly. We felt that this was overwhelming and rushed the pacing of the meal. When it came to getting the attention of the waitstaff for other things, it felt like it took forever to get their attention. Service was slow and inattentive once the dishes were on the table, which diminished the experience.

The atmosphere wasn’t great either, for a ‘fine dining Indian restaurant’ it felt more like a family style restaurant. Disappointing as we were expecting a more refined experience. We had to move seats as we were sat in the corner table initially, which was extremely cramped. Tables were so crowded together you could hear every conversation happening at once. This also made it difficult to hear the descriptions of the tasting menu- which were not delivered with the most enthusiasm… this would’ve been resolved if we were provided a tasting menu list on the table to follow, which is standard for such experiences.

The real issue, though, was the unexpected compulsory service charge. Despite being labeled as “discretionary,” we were told it was mandatory for the tasting menu. This was especially frustrating as it was a gifted experience, and we didn’t expect to pay extra on a prepaid voucher. While I don’t mind paying service charge on drinks or extras, it feels unfair to impose it on the portion of the gifted meal. It would’ve been better if they had simply factored it into the overall price. We ordered £12.75 worth of drinks but with the service charge we were expected to pay over £24! They removed the service charge on the drinks after we told them to but they refused to remove the £8 service charge on the tasting menu!

While the first few courses were excellent, the poor service and forced service charge ruined the evening. It’s a shame, as I otherwise might have recommended Prashad, but this hidden cost and lack of refinement mean I won’t be returning. Don’t expect Michelin-level...

Poorly executed food and service where you pay high (London) prices. Here are some points based on the experience: The restaurant needs a thorough clean. Cooking smell has diffused into the furniture especially the cloth. The premise needs a fresh look and feel. The service was sub-optimal. When asked about dish size and number to order advice was it depends on how hungry you are. The service, post ordering, was polite but not exceptional. The food, both starters and main, were simply poor. For example, (i) the starters did not present their subtle flavours - chowpatty bhel overly harsh; the lasan paneer tikka was very average with the chutney lacking the 'mint kick', and the piece of corn on the cob hard and difficult to chew; sev puri masala was not wow, just passable. The starters were not exceptional. They need to be as they set the scene for the main course. (ii) The liberal use of garam masala in the main dishes and the lack of bite in others did not help. In fact the Chevti Dhal under cooked albeit slightly. The flavourless chola and the Mumbai Bataka Bhaji dish had an incorrect balance of potato and greens - it is not like what is available in Mumbai. (iii) Naan breads awful - seemed non fresh and really chewy. The waiter stated that it was made fresh - Something has gone wrong, and you simply cant get this incorrect. The tap water was stale - it should be fresh. The signature moctail cocktail passable. Overall, the restaurant, given all its plaudits, simply did not live up to expectation. It is very expensive for the service rendered, and given the taste and quality of food. London prices with the restaurant riding high on the 'Gordon Ramsey endorsement' coupled with some adept marketing. A hype! Prasad in Drighlington can, and should, do so much much better for the prices it charges.

In short, Simply avoid there are better Indian (vegetarian) restaurants to spend your hard...