Tamarind — Restaurant in London

A Michelin Star Experience at Tamarind Mayfair

I had the pleasure of dining at Tamarind Mayfair with my wife, and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

Located in one of London's most stylish neighborhoods, Tamarind offers a stunning setting, especially if you can snag a table on the terrace. The atmosphere is relaxed yet refined, and with summer in full swing, it was the perfect spot to enjoy a Michelin-starred meal in the open air.

From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Mansi and Christopher were fantastic, guiding us through the menu with expertise and ensuring that every aspect of the meal was tailored to perfection. The level of service truly enhanced the overall experience.

We opted for the Gourmet Menu, which was a great way to experience the range of flavors Tamarind has to offer.

Here’s a breakdown of our meal: We started with Malai Chicken Tikka, a light, creamy chicken dish infused with mace and cardamom. The chicken was tender and juicy, with the cream perfectly balancing the warmth of the spices. It was an elegant and flavorful beginning to the meal.

Next, we had the Lamb Kofta with Spiced Yogurt. The koftas were melt-in-your-mouth tender, subtly spiced, and paired beautifully with the cooling yogurt. The balance of warmth and creaminess was absolutely perfect.

We then tried the Rajasthani Churi Chaat, an Indian street food that was a fun twist to the menu. The dish featured a mix of sweet and tangy chutneys, creating a lively balance of flavors. The crunchy and saucy elements provided an exciting bite, and it was a refreshing change from the other dishes.

For the mains, we were served the Alleppey Prawn Curry. The prawns were cooked perfectly in a tangy gravy made with black tamarind, raw mango, red chili, and coconut. The bold flavors of the dish were beautifully balanced, making each bite delightful.

The Mewari Dal Tadka was another standout. The trio of lentils was tempered with cumin and chili, giving the dish a comforting, hearty feel. The cumin added a lovely depth of flavor, while the chili provided just the right amount of heat. It was rich and satisfying.

We also had Naan and Jeera Pulao as sides. The naan was soft and warm, perfect for soaking up the curries, while the jeera pulao was aromatic and light, complementing the mains beautifully.

The mocktails were refreshing and a great way to balance the richness of the dishes.

For dessert, we had Blackberry Kulfi, a creamy frozen treat packed with fresh blackberry flavour. It was paired with an Almond & Rose Brittle, which added a delightful crunch and sweetness to the dish.

We also tried the Mango Alphonso & Saffron Mille Feuille. The mango was rich and sweet, and the saffron added a luxurious touch. The mille-feuille provided the perfect texture contrast, making this dessert a real highlight.

Tamarind Mayfair is an ideal spot for a romantic date night. With exceptional service, exquisite food, and a lovely terrace setting, it’s no wonder this place holds a Michelin star. I highly recommend booking a table here, especially if you're looking to enjoy the beautiful summer vibes of London.

Pro Tip: Be sure to ask Mansi and Christopher for their recommendations – their expertise made the evening even...

I honestly cannot express how absurdly disappointing my experience at this restaurant was. I came with high expectations—especially given the price point, the so-called Michelin status, and the automatic 15% service charge—but what unfolded was nothing short of ridiculous. The food itself was decent, but the service? A complete and utter shambles that ruined the entire evening.

From the moment we ordered, it was already off to a rocky start. We were told that the food might come out at different times—which, as someone familiar with Indian dining, I could understand to a degree. But nothing could have prepared me for just how chaotic and senseless the experience would be.

My guests and I (a group of four) very clearly told the waitress that we wanted our food to come out together—or at the very least, as closely together as possible. She agreed with compromise. And yet, what followed was frankly laughable. My lobster and kebabs arrived a full ten minutes before anything else—so I sat there watching my food get cold while waiting for the rest to arrive, hoping in vain for a unified dining experience.

Then came the curry, sea bass, and chops—but without a single grain of rice or even a piece of roti. Just dishes, sitting awkwardly on the table, getting colder by the minute, while we waited for the basics that would actually allow us to eat the food. When the rice finally arrived, it was one tiny portion—barely enough for one hungry person, let alone four starving adults. It felt like we were being rationed during a crisis. We were so hungry, we started eating without the roti or extra rice, which, considering the naturally spicy nature of Indian cuisine, was just painful.

Eventually, after holding on to the last of the curry, my roti showed up—along with the daal—long past the point of enjoyment. And still, we were missing a rice. When we complained, the waitress assured us it was coming. Another seven minutes went by before it finally appeared. By then, we were just exhausted and fed up. The food was no longer hot, the mood was ruined, and the moment to enjoy it all together, as one does in Indian dining, was long gone.

To make matters worse, I looked around and saw other tables served properly—full plates with curry, rice, roti, grilled meats, all presented cohesively. It made no sense why our table was treated so differently, and frankly, it was embarrassing. I had invited three guests, carefully chosen the restaurant, and hoped to offer them a memorable evening—but instead I spent the night apologising.

Oh, and the drinks we ordered midway through the meal? They took 15 to 20 minutes to arrive. By the time they came, the burning from the food had passed, rendering them completely pointless.

All in all, I walked away deeply disappointed, confused, and honestly, a little insulted. For a restaurant that claims to be Michelin-starred and has the audacity to charge a mandatory 15% service fee, this level of disorganisation and disregard is shocking. I came expecting a culinary experience. What I got was an...

The worst restaurant experience we've had in a long time. The room was ok, half-empty, somewhat cold and unwelcoming. The service is perfunctory and the waiter lacked any real knowledge of the menu. Drinks were slow to arrive. The three of us opted for the 'gourmet tasting menu' - all pretty average and ludicrously overpriced. London is awash with amazing Indian restaurants and Tamarind is clearly trading on it's Mayfair location and wealthy tourist traffic. Noone seemed happy to be there. Over 350 pounds for three, with one glass of wine and 2 bottles of water. Anyway, disappointing meal aside, the real issue is that Tamarind poisoned us and then refused to take any responsibility for it. A prawn dish we had was absolutely disgusting and, as it turns out, dangerous. In the moment, it just tasted 'bad', extremely over-salted and the prawns had an odd texture. The lamb-chops were also way undercooked. The waiter took them back to the kitchen and sent the chefs apologies, explaining that he was 'embarrassed'. Back at our hotel, two out of three of us developed severe food poisoning - vomiting and everything else you'd imagine from eating rotten prawns in an Indian restaurant. My wife was OK as she's a vegetarian and avoided the bad stuff. We were forced to cancel return flights to NYC the next day. Sometimes this stuff happens. But it's the restaurant's response that was so disappointing. I called to complain the next morning and was told someone would get back to me. I phoned several times over the next few days, emailed (as instructed) but at no point did the restaurant call to apologize. Outraged, my wife visited the restaurant in person and, after much delay, finally met with the world's most elusive restaurant manager, Arvind, a rude, self-important man who refused to take any accountability or even apologize. He does the Tamarind brand a huge disservice. Please, please avoid this place - there are so many better options and you won't end up spending half your London vacation locked in a hotel bathroom hoping Arvind might call you back with an apology. ...