The India - Fleet Street — Restaurant in London

My friend and I had booked a table at The India on Fleet Street—a place we hadn’t heard of and honestly weren’t expecting much from (because let’s be real… good Indian food in London is shockingly rare). As actual Indians with very high standards, Dishoom doesn’t even come close... so please stop telling me about it.

But this place? Fully blew us away.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by everyone—the host, the server, the guy at the door. And the service didn’t stop there.

We started with the chaat, which wasn’t your typical papdi chaat—it came wrapped in a puri, and it was crunchy, tangy, refreshing, and just so different in the best way.

Then came the paneer and sheesh kebab. They asked exactly how spicy we wanted the paneer, how saucy we wanted it, and how we preferred it cooked. It felt so personal, like they actually cared that we’d enjoy every bite. The paneer was rich, full of flavour, and perfectly balanced in spice. But the shish? Spectacular. That chicken had clearly been marinated in all the right spices and yoghurt, charred just enough, yet still juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. You could tell it was made with proper care—like something straight from a mum’s kitchen.

We mopped it all up with naan and roti, added a bit of yoghurt, and were ready for dessert... only to find out they were out of gulab jamun (devastating, truly). But they sent over a complimentary glass of Baileys, which definitely softened the blow.

This was some of the best Indian food I’ve had in London. Spectacular flavours, exceptional service, and so much heart. I’m already planning to go back—and I’m counting on the gulab jamun to hit just as hard.

Trust me on this one: Ritu sent you.

See more restaurant reviews on Insta...

To begin with something positive: the garlic naan was genuinely well made and the only item that came close to authentic Indian flavours. Credit where it's due.

That said, the rest of the experience was quite disappointing. I discovered this restaurant through Tastecard, which advertised a 50% discount available Monday to Sunday. As a frequent user of Tastecard, I'm very familiar with how the platform works and always make sure to follow the terms including reading the "Important Info" thoroughly.

Despite this, I was told on at the time of bill that the discount wouldn't apply because my reservation was made through a partner link that showed up on their Google listing - not directly through the restaurant. This condition was never mentioned anywhere on Tastecard, nor does the platform require reservations in all cases (I've attached a screenshot for reference). It felt like an excuse to avoid honouring the offer.

This is the first time I've come across a business using this kind of tactic, and it was disappointing. It gives the impression that the offer is used just to draw people in, with the intention of finding technicalities to avoid providing the discount.

To the management and staff: I strongly encourage you to be transparent and fair with your customers. You depend on them for your livelihood, and people are more than willing to pay for good food and service. But when the food lacks authenticity and the service feels dishonest, it leaves a lasting negative impression.

Focus on improving the food and being upfront with your policies - that's the surest path to building trust and...

We were a large group. Was surprised that there were no Mocktail or juices range (seems only certain Carton based was available). Very constrained facility with extremely poor ventilation- we had to asks them to switch on A/C but were told,it was leaking/dripping. If that was the case, it should have been repaired if the customer is expected to pay top dollar in the Fleet Street area. Also quantity of dishes in the starter platters and side dishes, vis-a-vis the price was disproportionately skewed on the lower side. Also surprised there no dessert options;only coffee and tea - this not the case in a typical upmarket Indian restaurent. Also the dishes were not truly of Indian taste and this was a consistent reflection across all of us. Most of us have travelled across the UK and globally; hence the rating vs the experience was disappointing to say the least. Pricing was suspicious - we were double charged for single dishes which was smartly camouflaged in the way it was crafted in the menu. To potential visitors, please be advised this is an experience you would NOT want to have in terms of quality, pricing, decor, space. A big let down for us. Google reviews...