Manthan — Restaurant in London

I visited Manthan on the day of their launch having been a fan of chef Rohit Ghai’s sister restaurant establishments namely Kutir in Chelsea and Koolcha in Wembley Box Park. I also happened to invite two of my business associates Matthew and Arieldo from Lancashire who were visiting London and staying at the Radisson Mayfair Hotel close by, one of whom happened to be Italian and had never experienced good Indian or shall I put it as “real Indian food” and had always been reluctant after a bad experience at a Bangladeshi run Indian restaurant decades ago…

When I arrived, I was impressed by the fabulous decor, beautiful seating and cocktail bar area. I was warmly greeted by the Manager and co-founder of Manthan Abhishake Sangwan, (chef Rohit Ghai’s business partner) and ushered to my table. The menus for both drinks and food were promptly served and the waiters were both smiling, polite and attentive. We ordered a lovely bottle of red wine (chianti) to share which was reasonably priced at £50 which was the choice of our Italian friend Arieldo (also a restauranteur from Lytham St Anne’s).

The menu was delightful to see and tastefully curated by chef Rohit Ghai using the theme of sharing plates. There were plenty of choices to choose from catering to all taste buds. What caught my eye was the “Buttermilk Chicken” and the “Ram Ladu” followed by the “Osso Buco” Lamb curry using Sri Lankan “Jaffna spices”… Being half Sri Lankan, I certainly wanted to give this dish a try… We also ordered a delicious chicken curry, Tawa Parathas and Dhal followed by all the 3 desserts on the menu so the three of us could share it being lovers of fine desserts too.

I must say the “Buttermilk Chicken” garnished with curry leaves and a special sauce was by far one of the best starter dishes I have ever tried in a long time!!! The chicken was so succulently tasty and melted in my mouth… I am not just saying this being an ardent foodie and critic. I could have easily had two platefuls of this yummylicious dish as it was so delightful and comforting to eat and the perfect accompaniment along with a few drinks as well. The Osso Buco Lamb curry was yet another curry that all of us could not get enough of and was by far my favourite… 😍😋👌

We were also served complimentary Tandoori Chicken and being a fan of a good Tandoori grilled chicken, this was by far one of the best I’ve tried in London!!!

All the food at Manthan tasted just like “home cooked” food and our Italian friend Arieldo was so impressed as he had never in over 40 years had Indian food taste so good and was all praises even days later which is a testament to both Abhishake Sangwan and chef Rohit Ghai who are now seasoned and accomplished restauranteurs in the modern and progressive Indian food scene today.

The food served here at Manthan is most worthy of a Michelin star for sure and I wish both Abhishake, chef Rohit and team all the very best and highly recommend those who visited Mathan yet to give this a try as you most definitely won’t be disappointed. 👌

Nesan Thirunesan Food Critic Founder & Host NC Supper Clubs & London...

Indulge in Exquisite Indian Cuisine🍽️🌶️🇮🇳

Prepare to be amazed by the sheer opulence! During our recent trip to London, we had the pleasure of dining at Manthan and immersing ourselves in their extraordinary Indian cuisine. The restaurant exudes an air of grandeur, resembling a magnificent palace with its splendid decor and upscale ambiance. 🏰✨

We opted for two sets of the Express Thali Menu, one featuring seafood and the other catering to non-vegetarian preferences. To our delight, these sets were surprisingly affordable, priced at around £20 each, and included appetizers, main courses, and desserts. What a steal! 💰

The seafood set commenced with the tantalizing Cafrael Macchi, which showcased the flavors of Goan-spiced sea bass🐟 The dish was a delightful fusion of freshness and aromatic spices, leaving our taste buds craving for more😋

For the main course, we were treated to the Fish Curry, prepared with succulent Stone Bass 🐟 It was accompanied by fragrant rice, Saag Paneer (creamy Indian spinach with cheese), Tadka Dal (tempered lentils), Raita (Indian yogurt salad), and Tawa Paratha (pan-fried bread). This lavish spread boasted a myriad of distinct flavors, captivating us entirely with the allure of Indian cuisine.

As for the other set, we embarked on our culinary journey with the Chicken Chop, complemented by a refreshing cucumber salad and a mint sauce that tantalized our palates with its grilled chicken goodness🙌🏻 highly recommended!

The main course featured the ever-popular Chicken Tikka Masala, bathed in a rich and flavorful sauce that had us yearning for more. It was a dish that lingered on our taste buds, leaving us with a profound sense of satisfaction. The accompaniments mirrored those of the seafood set, with rice, Saag Paneer, Tadka Dal, Raita, and Tawa Paratha completing this sumptuous ensemble😽

Saving the best for last, both sets concluded with the Classical Trio for dessert. This delectable trio offered a symphony of textures and tastes. The top layer featured a tangy yet sweet yogurt, while the middle layer showcased the indulgent Gulab Jamun (Indian sweet dumplings). The bottom layer featured a Tahini tart base that struck the perfect balance of flavors, never overpoweringly sweet but undeniably delicious👍🏻

Let it be known that Manthan has truly become synonymous with luxury Indian cuisine! The impeccable value for money, coupled with its upscale ambiance and authentic flavors, makes the set menus an irresistible proposition. Indulging in the culinary delights of Manthan is an experience that surpasses all expectations and delivers exceptional value🌟🍽️

Manthan @manthanmayfair 📍 49 Maddox St, London W1S 2PQ

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This Experience Felt Like Stealing, Dishonest, Unprofessional & No Accountability

I had lunch at Manthan Mayfair on January 3, 2025, and accidentally left behind my Christian Dior sunglasses and Uniqlo gloves. I contacted the restaurant shortly afterward, and they replied via email confirming the items had been found and were safe for collection. At that point, I appreciated their response and fully trusted that my belongings would be handled properly.

Since I had already returned to my home country, I arranged for my auntie in London to collect them. But when she visited the restaurant in March, the staff said the items were no longer there and claimed they only hold lost items for three weeks. This was the first time I had ever heard of such a policy. It was never mentioned in any email or communication. They failed to inform me of any deadline, storage limit, or update regarding the status of my items.

After weeks of silence and multiple follow-ups, they finally replied, not with a solution, but with a photo of items that were clearly not mine. I had already sent them clear photos of my actual sunglasses and gloves, along with a screenshot of their original email confirming they had found my items. Despite all the evidence, they simply ignored the facts and insisted the wrong items were mine.

Let’s be honest, what are the chances that another person lost both sunglasses and gloves on the same exact day? That’s incredibly unlikely. It now seems like they either carelessly gave my items away, or even worse, intentionally replaced them and are pretending they were never mine. Whether it’s from negligence or dishonesty, the result is the same: my items were mishandled and lost under their watch.

At this point, it honestly feels like stealing. They admitted they had my belongings, then failed to communicate properly, and now act like the matter is closed without responsibility, explanation, or effort to make it right.

I know after I post this review, they’ll likely reply with a generic “We’re sorry” like they do for every complaint. But let me be very clear: “Sorry” means nothing when you do absolutely nothing to solve the problem. “Sorry” doesn’t fix what was lost because of your own failure.

This isn’t just about the monetary value it’s about trust, integrity, and accountability. For a restaurant in Mayfair, their handling of this situation is completely unacceptable and unprofessional.

I will never return to Manthan, and I strongly advise others to think twice before dining here. A nice location and good food mean nothing if the management behind it...