Indian restaurants have been a staple of London for centuries, with the UK's first one opening near Portman Square way back in 1810. And ever since then, chefs have been bringing their recipes and techniques to the British public, creating a fusion of cultures that has resulted in some seriously brilliant food. One such chef is Rohit Ghai, who opened his first restaurant Kutir in 2018, before venturing into Mayfair with Manthan.
Ghai spent his formative years in the bustling markets of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, and has worked in kitchens all over the world, resulting in a diverse flavour profile that tells a real story. Alongside his business partner, Abhishake Sangwan, he has even earned a Michelin star, and it's safe to say that I was eager to try his cooking. As a result, the swanky London restaurant made for my most recent dinner destination.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Manthan London
This is the second restaurant from acclaimed chef Rohit Ghai.
Need To Know:
- Address: 49 Maddox Street, W1S 2PQ
- Area: Mayfair
- Cuisine: Indian
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: a short hop from Oxford Circus, you might think that this place would be overrun with tourists. But Manthan is positioned on quite a quiet, secluded street, and the intimate venue provides a tranquil retreat from Central London - though it still had a buzz about it. The interiors were opulent but not over-the-top, featuring lots of dark colours and gold touches, contrasted by the bold pink and blue chairs.
- Perfect For: a high-end Indian meal that won't hurt your bank account too much.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For
Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £55 per person for the tasting menu, plus £30 for two cocktails
Ram Laddoo (left) and the chocolate passion fruit dessert (right).
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Though a la carte is available too, we opted for their tasting menu, which showcased the restaurant's signature dishes. Ours was the vegetarian menu (£55 per person), but there was also a meat option for £60. The a la carte price of each dish has been included below, as all dishes are available on the main menu as well.
- Ram laddoo (£10) - a popular street food snack that originates from Delhi, these crispy bites were deep-fried and filled with a lentil moong dal. They came in a vibrant green onion coriander chutney, topped with tamarind and thinly sliced strips of radish.
- Artichoke tikki (£10) - we devoured a Jerusalem artichoke cake that was beautifully crisp on the outside, but the centre melted in the mouth. It was drizzled in an innovative strawberry chutney that was both sweet and spicy, served with pickles.
- Soya chops (£12) - this was the most intriguing plate of the evening, and I was a big fan. They had created an almost chicken-like dish, though the texture was a lot softer and smoother, coated in spice and sat on a bed of gooseberry, yoghurt and green cardamom sauce.
- Paneer butter masala (£18) - a classic for a reason, this rich, buttery curry was delicious. The creamy tomato sauce coated each tender piece of cheese perfectly, and it wad incredibly moreish. The mains were presented alongside basmati rice (£5), paratha (£5) and a flavourful kaali dal (£9).
- Chocolate passion fruit (£12) - a sugary finish to the meal, this dessert was incredibly rich and indulgent. The block of semi-solid chocolate was surrounded by passion fruit seeds and a sweet puree, as well as salted caramel 'soil' that finished thigs off nicely.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Menaka (£15) - a unique combination of sweet and smoky, this cocktail was made with hibiscus-infused mezcal, tequila Blanco, Madagascan vanilla and a white peach and jasmine soda, finished with an egg white foam. The initial agave taste was strong, but it gave way to a more mellow, fruity flavour that matched its bright red appearance.
- Gulabi bellini (£15) - in a twist on the classic, this prosecco-based concoction featured gin, lychee and rose, creating a pleasantly floral tipple.
Our Overall Experience At Manthan
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chef Ghai has really pulled it out of the bag with this one - the Mayfair restaurant has nailed premium Indian dining without being stuffy or overpriced. The Manthan menu features a mix of traditional and modern dishes, and the soya chops were particularly inventive. If you're planning multiple courses, I'd highly recommend trying one of the tasting menus, as they work out great value and give you a chance to sample some of their best dishes.
