Bombay Brasserie — Restaurant in London

Bombay Brasserie in Kensington is a hidden gem that deserves far more attention. From the moment you step inside, you are struck by the beauty of the interior. The centrepiece is a stunning chandelier that immediately sets the tone for an elegant dining experience. The restaurant balances sophistication with warmth, making it an inviting place to enjoy a meal with family or for a special evening out.

The service throughout our visit was excellent. Every member of staff was friendly, professional, and attentive without being intrusive. A special mention must go to Siraj and Siba, who went above and beyond to ensure my wife and I had a memorable evening. Their hospitality was genuine, and they ensured everything from our drinks to the pacing of the courses ran smoothly. Small touches, like checking in at the right moments and explaining dishes with enthusiasm, elevated the whole experience.

The food itself was a journey through flavours, with a menu that balances tradition and creativity. We began with the amuse bouche, which included the Palak Patta Chat, a crispy spinach leaf coated in gram flour, topped with tamarind, mint, and sweetened yoghurt chutneys. It was crisp, tangy, and refreshing. It was a sensational dish and I would recommend it. Alongside it, the Sindhi Aloo Tuk offered spiced Jersey potatoes with tamarind and dates, delivering a satisfying crunch and depth of flavour. The Aloo (potato) was bland, and it needed some seasoning.

The second course continued to impress. The soft shell crab with coconut sambal was fragrant and beautifully spiced, with fennel, curry leaves, and ginger bringing balance to the richness of the crab. The tandoori prawns (huge) were chargrilled to perfection, marinated with yoghurt, coriander, lime, and green pepper, and paired well with the mint sauce. Each bite was tender and packed with flavour.

For the third course, we enjoyed the Banjara Chicken Kebab and the Adraki Lamb Chops. The chicken, marinated with a spicy herb blend, was moist and smoky from the grill, lifted by the mint sauce. The lamb chops were a highlight, marinated in spices and infused with ginger before being grilled in the tandoor. They were succulent, with just the right level of char, showing the kitchen’s skill in cooking meat. One of the best lamb chops I have had in London.

The main course brought even more variety. The Tandoori Monkfish (huge), marinated in kasundi mustard with dill, ginger, and chillies, was delicate yet flavourful, and the Bhuna Lamb Roast provided hearty comfort with cubes of lamb roasted with tomatoes, shallots, ginger, and spices. The Chicken Tikka Makhani offered a classic favourite, with tender chicken thighs in a creamy butter gravy that was rich but balanced. Vegetarians were not left out, with the Jackfruit and Carrot Sukhe providing texture and freshness with roasted spices, lime, and coconut, alongside the comforting Dal Makhani, slow-cooked over charcoal with cream and butter. These mains were accompanied by fluffy steamed rice, soft Malabar parathas, and garlicky naan, all of which paired beautifully with the curries.

Dessert was another highlight, beginning with Kalakand, a soft-set sweet made from reduced milk, sugar, and cardamom. It was followed by a Macadamia Saffron Slice , which, unfortunately, my wife and I did not enjoy. The saffron flavour was overpowering. However, Carrot Halwa, and Jawa Fruit Kulfi. Each offered a different texture and flavour, from nutty richness to the cooling sweetness of kulfi, rounding off the meal on a memorable note.

Bombay Brasserie delivers not only on food but also on atmosphere and service. It feels like a hidden escape in Kensington, where traditional Indian flavours are presented with finesse in an elegant setting. The chandelier, the calm yet refined décor, and the welcoming staff make the space feel special, and the menu shows off the depth of Indian cuisine with creativity and balance.

I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone seeking fine Indian...

Opened in 1982, this Indian restaurant in Kensington has been a fixture of the dining scene for nearly four decades. Comprising of bar, restaurant and conservatory area Bombay Brasserie serves a fusion of Goan, Bengali, Parsi & Gujerati cuisine. We visited to try their weekend buffet brunch.

The door to the restaurant opens directly into the dimly lit and classically decorated Bombay bar. As our eyes adjusted, the sound of classical Indian music truly transported us away from the London hustle and bustle we had just stepped in from. Our coats were taken as we admired the bar and lounge area and we were led into the dining room – a vast space decorated with sparkling chandeliers, greenery and vintage Indian photographs. The buffet itself is located in the light and bright conservatory with separate stations for each course and you can top up your plate as often as you please.

The starters station has a “live chaat counter” with spiced chicken and prawns (not too spicy), spinach and potato cakes, bhel, sev puri and paani puri (the king of Indian street food in my opinion) prepped on the spot for you by the in-house chefs. A range of delicious chaat options are available to add.

There is a huge variety of main dishes from chilli pepper fried fish, a South Indian tilapia speciality that was gorgeously flaky and crunchy in breadcrumbs, lamb biryani, tinda coconut masala, murg ajmeri (a creamy chicken thigh and cashew nut curry), aloo suwa (baby potato & dill), kathal palak (saag like spinach and jackfruit dish) and paneer bhurjee which were amongst our favourites.

Vegetarians, there is a great variety for you and for meat eaters the lamb and chicken options plus the meaty jackfruit kathal palak are on point. The dishes range in their spice levels with some hitting the spicier end of the spectrum – but fear not, there is a raita station at hand with a range of plain or spiced yogurt accompaniments plus chutneys to temper the heat. There is also an impressive pickle selection (mango & ginger were our favourites) plus basmati rice and some beautifully presented watermelon/feta and bean salads.

If you have space (if you don’t, make room!) head to the dessert station for a range of fresh fruit, zingy, moist lemon cake, halwa, melt in the mouth and sugary sweet Indian fave gulab jaman, gulab jaman cheesecake (sadly, we didn’t get to try this as it was very popular!) kulfi (mango & coconut Indian ice cream) and kheer which was perfectly cooked and topped with pretty dried rose petals. There is a great selection and we would advise getting a little of everything as they are handily served in mini sizes.

Tea/coffee is included with the weekend brunch but we additionally ordered a fresh orange juice and a mango lassi which was sweet and yoghurt-y and served in a huge glass (as any good lassi should be!).

Bombay Brasserie restaurant in Kensington is a great spot for weekend brunch: expect an exciting variety of food, crisp white table linens, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful interiors and attentive service (and a live pianist to boot!). At £37pp it is on the pricier side so perhaps better for a...

We opted for the weekend lunch set menu as we were a large family group of 10 people. When booking the table we enquired about the lunch menu which is not actually shown on the website and were told that it was great value as it offered lots of choice for all tastes. We had been before for the same menu but it was a buffet at the time served in the conservatory area and to be fair there was enough choice offered but not one of the best we have had.

Due to the current pandemic, food was served at our table which is actually easier than making several trips to the buffet area but unfortunately the experience this time was not as good for sure. The appetisers and starters were fine and served fairly quickly. However, when asking for more of the starters it took quite a while to get these and we were given tiny portions and kept having to ask for more which was annoying. Furthermore, it felt very rushed as the appetisers were served and then we were served the starters whilst we were still eating the appetisers.

There was a break between the starters and the main course which was welcome but we all found the main course was lacking in Non vegetarian dishes. The only non veg dish with curry was the chicken curry and the rest of the 4 dishes on offer were all vegetarian! There was a lamb biryani which was not very appealing and full of rice and hardly any lamb.

Desserts were average, we did not enjoy the shrikhand or the coffee halwa. Overall, quite disappointing.

This was supposed to be a family lunch celebration but unfortunately we were not impressed with the variety of food and the service was not up to scratch either. I had to ask for water 3 times till we finally got some. When I asked for the main dishes to be served at the other end of our long table the staff member serving us said, "Mam the dishes are supposed to be shared"! Seriously??? They brought tiny portions of the main dishes between 10 people and were making a fuss when I asked for dishes to be kept at both ends of our long group table, in fact 3 people were on a table separated to allow for easy access in and out and even then they were not served everything!

The masala chai at the end was not nice either and not even served warm enough.

We left feeling disappointed and not looked after at all. My husband is a regular customer as he works nearby and often goes for client lunches but we really feel that neither the food nor the service was up to standard. It was not money well spent. The buffet we had previously offered far more variety and was far better value. We will certainly not be returning in the...