Restaurant Review: Kahani- Indian fine dining in Chelsea

When it comes to Indian cuisine, London has no shortage of dining options, from the cheap and cheerful curry houses in Tooting, to more upscale restaurants like Bibi in Soho (once cited as one of Grace Dent’s favourite restaurants).

Kahani in Sloane Square belongs to the fine dining category, serving sharing plates of flavour-packed, British-friendly Indian food.

Tucked away behind the Cadogan Hall, in a classic red brick townhouse, the interior is elegant with high ceilings, dim lights and minimalist décor.

It’s run by Peter Joseph, who was previously head chef of Tamarind, the first Indian restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star.

Opening in 2018, Kahani showcases both Joseph’s Indian heritage and the influences he’s gleaned from his travels and offers guests a tapas style experience with small plates packed full of flavour.

For our meal, my friend and I were treated to a four course dinner, which included starters, a tandoori course, curry course and dessert.

To start we had the Berry papdi chaat and the grilled scallops, which came in the most beautiful shell.

The Berry papdi chaat was outrageously moreish and bathed in delicious sweetened yoghurt and dressed with tamarind chutney. The perfect combination of sweet and savoury.

The grilled scallops were dressed with a red pepper and sesame blend and coconut & curry leaves sauce.

Next up was our tandoori feast of broccoli, smoked Malabar prawns and Tandoor lamb chops.

The tandoori broccoli was dressed in honey, nigella seeds, crushed wheat crisps and tempered yoghurt. When I say I never thought broccoli could taste so good, I mean it!

The smoked Malabar prawns were marinated with a delicious sauce of fresh turmeric, coconut and curry leaves. This is one of Kerala’s staple dishes and is a speciality of the South Indian coast.

The melt in the mouth Tandoor lamb chops were served with Kashmiri-chillies and Nagercoil clove.

When we thought we couldn’t eat anymore we were presented with a curry course of Chicken Makhani and Venison Keema served with naan and pulao rice.

To finish our meal we shared a medley of kulfi, which were rose malai, pistachio, and saffron flavoured. The perfect Indian dessert.

The service was quick and friendly and the staff were committed to ensure guests had a good time.

Kahani sits amongst a myriad of fine dining Indian restaurants in London and offers guests exceptional cuisine and service in a beautiful townhouse setting.

It’s not the cheapest of spots, but if you’re after an evening of high class dining and luxury it’s well worth the expense!

We drank

Cocktails: The Meadow (£15) and the Tandoori Ananas (£16)

Wine: Gouguenheim (£8 per glass)

We ate

Small plates: Berry papdi chaat (£12) and grilled scallops (£15)

Tandoori course: Tandoori broccoli (£17), Smoked Malabar prawns (£36) and Tandoor lamb chops (£36)

Curry course: Chicken Makhani (£26), Venison Keema (£24), Naan (£4) and Pulao rice (£5)

Dessert: Medley of Kulfi (£10)

Total for two: £232