Reviews of BENARES RESTAURANT | MAYFAIR. (Restaurant) in London (London).

BENARES RESTAURANT | MAYFAIR

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Restaurant

Indian restaurant

12a Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BS, United Kingdom

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Information of BENARES RESTAURANT | MAYFAIR, Restaurant in London (London)

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Reviews of BENARES RESTAURANT | MAYFAIR

Y. M.

Exquisite food and excellent service. The wine list is an extensive selection if white, rose, red and sparkling, ranging from £38-£999. All the food was explained which would probably beneficial to someone not well versed in Indian and Indian fusion food. They also gave me some recommendations when I was stuck between two wines. The notes for the wine are not listed so if you are unsure it's best to ask them. My favourite dish was definitely the salmon which was both delicate and flavourful. They also bought a dessert out for the birthday we were celebrating. The only thing downside (and it was one my parents had rather than me) was it felt a bit busy/cramped with the amount of tables. However it was peak lunchtime so I believe this to be unavoidable. This isn't a cheap meal out but the price is actually worth it unlike some other Michelin star restaurants.

M. V.

Great service and food. A bit pricy but worth trying. Only scored 4* as one of the desserts we ordered was not the one we ordered. Other than that, all was tasty and the hosts were very polite, knowledge and explained what food they are serving

T.

Is this really a Michelin starred restaurant? I’ve waited to visit Benares for some time and had never gotten round to booking as it’s rare I fancy Indian food when in London but yesterday was pre planned and I was excited for the experience. I was left disappointed. Ultimately the food was tasty but not worth the price point. As another reviewer mentioned, it’s potentially a victim of its own success. Our meal started with waiter (small male who was more formally dressed than the others) coming up to the table asking ‘are you ready to order?’ Then followed with ‘well what do you want then?’ One of many red flags to come. Limited interaction; no asking if we’d like another drink. Not checking how the food is - the basic etiquette of food hospitality. My starter of samosas was very tasty and the lamb main was devine. Everything else was average. Other members of staff were warm and welcoming but the whole experience did not scream Michelin standard. There are better Indian restaurants in London; I wouldn’t go back.

f. b.

Hit and miss. Good attentive amicable service. Well cooked and well presented ingredients, however, some dishes were a miss. The scallop with strawberry is a huge miss, an overpowering taste of out of season strawberries! The foie gras with Langoustine and raw curry didn't blend well. The tandoori lamb chop was scrumptious and wish if I had a whole rack of it. The dessert was light and fluffy and pink in all the right places. Will definitely try again when it is not a valentine's menu. Recommended.

A. M.

The food was delicious and the lunch set menu was well thought out and good value. Would recommend ordering sides which are an extra cost as the main meal is not really complete otherwise. The service could be improved. After waiting a very long time for our mains to arrive, I enquired as to their arrival. There was no previous apology or acknowledgement that it was taking a long time (over 45 minutes). The server commented that they were on their way and went to the kitchen. We were offered a drink on the house and an apology, which seemed very reactive. Finally, after more waiting, our mains arrived. We were kindly offered a side and naan bread once we finished our meal, which was a bit odd but appreciated as it was delicious. I appreciate things can happen in the kitchen but the restaurant was not busy and so it was a bit disappointing that it wasn't better managed. I felt as if they forgot about us and wonder what would have happened if I didn't mention it. Would highly recommend for the food and hope they take this as a learning experience to providing service to match their food.

S. F.

Had a great lunch at Benares, started with some great cocktails, mine was a lychee martini and my partner had the mango margarita which was really delicious with a sweet chilli and salt rim, need to learn how to make it, and the bar staff were so nice in sharing with me the ingredients. Service was great with advice and recommendations for the menu, and help with dietary requirements. We had the Momo with mushroom sauce and truffle and the Squid keema to start both were outstanding and full of flavour. For mains we had the lamb black pepper stir fry which was served in a Yorkshire pudding and the hake with green curry spices both delicious and the hake was cooked to perfection. The restaurant had a really nice atmosphere with diners as well as staff so friendly, we bonded with the table next to us through food envy of each other's dishes. Overall, great food, service, drinks and atmosphere.

A. R.

I loved every bit of Benares! Beautiful entrance, great bar with little pool, nice people working there Good atmosphere and balanced noise wise, good to talk As a vegan I got obsessed with Samosa even more after this visit, it was amazing flavour Potatoes been lovely, flavour just incredible I cannot even describe and little pot with Daal, very beautiful little silver pots My friend ordered meat dish and I could see how happy he was, that was special We been so full after that we couldn’t fit dessert, hope next time ❣️ But we received lovely complimentary cake, that was such nice gesture 🌹 Thank you Benares team, I look forward to come back soon!

F. F.

Obviously great food, the lobster biryani is fantastic, butter chicken on point, super tender and prefect spice! lamb chops great in quality but so spiced that the lamb does not come through. Very friendly service, quick and attentive I'd really like the light to be dimmer, I think it would do wonders for the atmosphere

F. A.

A Michelin starred Indian restaurant right on the same strip as Sexy Fish and Amazonico. Customer service was A1. Very attentive staff. Decor is just okay, not too fancy. Same goes for the ambiance. The bar area though looked really nice however, at almost £20 per cocktail hmmm not so sure about that lol. Maybe a bottle of champagne. For Starter, we had the Samosa and the Truffled bronze Turkey Momo. Didn't expect the turkey to be in a broth but this actually tasted nice. The unusual looking samosa was accompanied with a mint, tamarind and ginger sauce which was good. The actual samosa was just okay. For main, we ordered Lamb Yorkshire Pudding and Vegetables Masala with a bread roll. The Vegetable Masala wss nicely spiced. We chose pilau rice as the side of choice of which the texture was very good. Not too soft or hard. The Lamb Yorkshire pudding however was just average for me. The chosen dessert was Sticky Toffee pudding served with a salted caramel sauce. This was my highlight of the dinner. You can smell the aroma of the salted caramel from the get go. Only complaint was that the pudding was too sticky, you really needed to press on your fork to cut a piece lol. Besides that, everything on the dessert plate was decent. The Indian smoothie-like drink called Lassi typically mango flavoured was good, just a tad too thick In summary, the food is good but no wow factor.

M. P.

Customer service and food was exceptional. One of the diners left her purse behind and it was returned without any issues. Thank you for the honesty. Definitely worth a visit. 4 went were fed well and bill worked out £70/head

A. S.

We had a wonderful dinner at Benares. The service was okay excellent especially Razu. He made some good recommendations which didn’t let us down. Definitely a place for special occasions and every effort has been made to be COVID-19 safe. All the dishes apart from the lamb curry were delicious with lots of flavour. We will be returning again next time the menu changes.

H. A.

Came here for a birthday lunch , Decor of restaurant is great , Service was very friendly. Went for the lunch set menu which is great value for money. 38 pounds 3 courses and a cocktail. I requested for the spice level to be amped up and this was done without compromising the flavours. The only small negative is that the main course / naan could have been slightly larger in portion. Gave me a slice of cake for my birthday and finished with aromatic masala chai. P.S The wild berry chutney served with the papar was probably the best I have ever tasted.

N. H.

Well worthy of its star. Fantastic staff, sublime food. The tasting menu is brilliant.

a. b.

We went on the first day of the new tasting menu. Food was amazing and each course was very well presented. We certainly felt we were suitably fed after the multiple courses but all were brilliant. Had a very nice bottle of wine. All aspects of dinner were taken Care of. Only small piece was that we arrived at the start of service and a few of the staff I don’t think were ready for us. But that’s a minor thing and didn’t impact the dinner at all.

S. K.

Great fine dining experience. The food was cooked to well, came out hot and tasted fresh. Service was brilliant staff were very efficient and extremely astute. The restaurant is very clean and well maintained and had social distance measures in place as well as all staff adhered to social distancing regulations as best as they could. I made the restaurant aware that it was for my husbands birthday, they brought over a complimentary slice of chocolate cake as well as complimentary mango macaroons.

S. M.

Took my friend here because I lost our annual football bet. Felt like a winner after eating at Benares though. Food on set menu was top notch; wine list is fantastic; service friendly and relaxed; ambience classy. Almost 5 stars but felt a bit pricey; paying for location - Berkley Square, and 1 Michelin Star. RECOMMENDED for that special occasion.

A. L.

Fantastic taster menu, plenty of staff. The food was amazingly good. Every course interesting and tasty. Well run restaurant, not busy at lunch at the moment.

h. w.

Delicious food, although the portions are small, it is very good value for the set menu. The staff are very pleasant and attentive.

D. A. H.

Food was excellent with great wine pairings. The biryani was easily the best I've had. Excellent social distancing of tables with dividers between tables. Service good and attentive. Maybe decor and interior need updating as looking a little tired.

F. M.

Very nice food but GREAT GREAT SERVICE! Love it. Will be back to for more

K. d. B. (. R. F.

We choose this place because of the ratings but I guess our miami favorite it has different concept and we like it more The place has glass separations between tables and that’s good during this pandemic The food is ok and not wow rather mediocre compared to other Indian restaurants we had the experience eating almost the same dishes Biryani, chicken tekka and masala and the typically Indian specialty and we like spicy and the food here wasn’t spicy at all and I guess they cook according to the locals who may not like spicy food, the bar was crowded after dinner and that’s a good thing to hangout after dinner We choose to have drinks away from where we ate and that’s to have little tome to digest Overall all it is an average food and restaurant

A. K.

One of the best Indian restaurants in London. Amazingly friendly staff and even better food. The flavours and balance of the dishes was impeccable the food presentation thoughtful. Great, great restaurant. Tandoori Chaapein was amazing. Great decor. Overall very good experience.

C. P.

This is the best Indian restaurant I have ever eaten in. Not cheap but every morsel is a delight. Good wine list. Attentive but not overbearing service.

L. S.

Best place for innovative Indian food lovers. Chef sameer is great chef at London. Very passionate about their profession.

A. B.

Truly wonderful staff. Supportive, helpful and considerate whilst retaining a sense of humour. The set menu was beautifully prepared and presented. Flavours and textures were well balanced. An excellent experience.

H. A.

The food was brilliant, better than many restaurants in the area. I highly recommend.

D. M.

This is a high end restaurant. Don't go expecting your usual run of the mill after pub curry,your not getting that here. What your getting is probably, i say probably, cos i don't know,but i imagine a taste of India and not Bangladesh. No disrespect to Bengali food, i love it. Anyway, it's a lovely restaurant, we had lunch and probably the only criticism i would have is ,it was a little lacking in atmosphere. Very quiet, but perhaps it's more lively in the evening. We had a nice cupple of hours nonetheless. But I'd recommend, like i said it's not your Friday night Indian, but the food was still good.

K. H.

We have been to Benares to dine in and really enjoyed it, so given current Covid situation we recently ordered a delivery. The food was excellent, lovely flavours, fresh ingredients, most definitely a cut above. It’s really well packaged for delivery and portions are (for us) a very reasonable size. You can choose a time for delivery which can be very helpful. Great dining experience at home.

A. G.

STOP what you’re doing right now and book a table here!!! Upon our arrival, I was given a lovely scarf (in celebration of Diwali I think) . The ambience, decor, service and food was AMAZING. They even gave us a power pack to charge our phones and altered the menu re likes/dislikes and allergies. Possibly the best restaurant I’ve been to. We had a set menu. Will be returning to try other things. Divine experience. Wish I knew the name of our waitress- loveliest girl ever but all that served- did so impeccably!! Private function rooms available too as well as a chef’s table type of thing. Check out my photos - the food tasted even better than it looks and it looks fabulous!!!! 😍 DEFINITELY going back. Deserves multiple Michelin stars!!!!

Q. A.

Loved the experience, it was a girly hen party, in August, the food was lovely. A great fusion of flavours, complimentary tiny snacks arrived with our starters. The mains and the dessert were extraordinary, with great company, would certainly dine here again.

P. T.

The restaurant has a great vibe and staff couldn't be better. That's the only upside for us ! The food though, while looking good on the plate, was very indifferent from the set menu - 'scallop' a bit parsimonious and acrid on the pallette, chicken in mushroom tbh had little zest, and more like a basic chicken soup. The mains... my wife's fish was ok if a little over salted and my Welsh Lamb was bland and uninspired and like a pub hotpot with little pizzaz. Deserts were better but nothing to excite. We eat at many * and ** Michelin restaurants and tbh this was the most disappointing by far.

S. J. B.

First time visiting with my mom and we were taken aback with the friendliness and knowledgable waiters. Really enjoyed the food too. The lobster biryani is a must. Would come back again just for that. Prices were reasonable and the ambience was a fusion between modern and Indian. The decor was definitely appropriate. 5 stars a must.

D. I.

Benares really tries to deliver. I enjoyed their duck a lot and the short menu is something I particularly like in a restaurant. However, it all didn't quite come together for me from start to finish, especially with the wine selection. It was a little disappointing to see they failed to use the Coravin technology they boasted in their menu and could not provide us the wine we want. They were quite courteous about it and did their best to serve at least some wine from a pre-opened bottle.

M. S.

The atmosphere, service and food is great. It is the best of the best when it comes to Indian cuisine. Perfect for a casual upscale dinner or a special occassion. No matter what you can enjoy it here. Drink menu is perfect and food is great. We tried several dishes and not one of them disappointed. I would totally recommend it. If you want Indian food, don't overthink and choose this place. I would definitely go back.

N. S.

We attended a 50th Birthday celebration for my sister. Excellent food cooked to perfect authentic taste. The team from welcome to serving ensure of the best experience. Thank you so much to all for making it a very special evening.

P. S.

Absolutely amazing food and drinks and excellent service. Highly recommend to those who enjoy high quality Indian food!

M.

With any Michelin Star restaurant you expect perfection and to be wowed. Unfortunately for me it fell a little short. Our starters were the stand out dishes and i felt our mains were lacking a little. Lovely setting, great service and perhaps if we had ordered something else, we might have been more impressed.

T. L.

We ordered a food delivery from Benares and were thrilled with the food. We choose from the vegetarian dishes. Everything was beautifully presented and tasty. I wrote an article for my blog so took a few pictures.

M. F.

Enjoyed my brothers party here yesterday. We had the large private room booked (seats36) and the set menu (£55 per head + drinks). It was incredible a fabulous twist on traditional Indian cuisine. The starters and dessert course were both presented in spectacular fashion. And the taste didn't disappoint. Each bite was tantalising and full of wild excitement. Overall a great experience, with fantastic service in an excellent location and one I highly recommend.

D. H.

Been waiting years to eat here. Celebrated a wedding anniversary and were treated to an additional desert by the venue. We had the vegetarian tasting menu which was superbly presented but lacked the wow factor on the taste buds. Bring your appetite as its a lot of food and felt like we were eating against the clock as its a 2 hour turn around on the tables but didn't feel any pressure from the attentive staff. Loses a star for having small bathroom facilities for a large capacity venue and the food.

P. M.

Our whole table enjoyed the 7 course vegetarian tasting menu combined with the cool ambience and very good service. All of the courses were very well cooked and flavoured beautifully. Don't expect an onslaught on the taste buds, but a more delicate and precise delivery of flavours that work really well together.

K. J.

Has all the ingredients of a fine dining restaurant - nice ambience, courteous staff, good collection of dishes. We were celebrating a birthday and the staff did all they could to make it memorable. Kudos to them! Insider tip: don't order too much in one go as we found the dishes to be more filling than they looked. Reserving to give 5* as somehow the flavours didn't stand up to my expectations. Maybe someone who dines Indian less often would really like the change. Worth a visit.

K. F.

Great food, great service, value for money was actually really okay, which I wouldn’t have expected. We chose only vegetarian options, which were all great. Quality of food was outstanding, as was the really nice service. Loved the location and the interior. Recommended.

M. L.

My first Michelin star restaurant experience! This was a lovely surprise, my friends came to visit from Canada and we came here for lunch. Booked a reservation in advance for noon and it was surprisingly not very busy. Picked up at around 1:30/2pm for a business lunch rush. Service was friendly and came around often. The price for lunch was affordable too for a 3 course! The tiger shrimp was to die for and their cocktails are really good as well! Would love to come back again!

D. B.

Went Saturday night at 915. Service and food was amazing. Explanation and recommendations from our Waitress were perfect. We will definitely return when we are back in London.

E. C.

Although I like Indian cuisine I have never had it in a fine dining setting, so when I found this restaurant with a Michelin star, I was excited and got very curious! London is the perfect place to try Indian cuisine in luxurious setting after all. I was not disappointed and it was very very good! Excellent tasty food and presentation. The service is impeccable. Very relax and classy ambience. I enjoyed this culinary experience throughout to the end, and left very satisfied.

C. K.

Had the opportunity to visit Benares again, this time at the Chefs table, which is a private dining experience where you can enjoy the theatre of this Michelin star restaurant, by dining and watching these chefs perform wonders with food. We went this time for the taster menu. Simply wonderful. Thank you.

A. M.

While the food itself was tasty (the smoked trout was perfection!), the tasting menu (at £100 per head plus any additional drinks) probably isn’t worth that cost. We found that much of the time we were just waiting for the servers to notice that we were done and at some points, standing up to get their attention (it took a good 25 minutes to get the bill and pay it). Granted, it was a busy night, but for min. £200 spend, you have a higher expectation of service. Notably, the servers were all lovely, just stretched (too many tables on different schedules).

A. M.

Stunning location, delicious food and truly professional staff. Basically this place it's hospitality at its best. We went there with my partner few days ago and we choose from the a la carte and we were not disappointed not even once. The Tandoori Murg Momo were probably the best dumplings I had in years, so rich and packed in flavours! Also the scallop was gorgeous and beautifully presented. From the mains you cannot miss the Chooza Tikka Masala, that baby chicken its the most tender you could think of, still dreaming of it. I just love their cooking and the Michelin star is very well deserved. Keep it up Benares, you rock!!!!

M. D.

Superb experience. We went for dinner. Service was attentive, discrete and quite efficient . The ambience was elegant and unobtrusive. Pappadums and dips were served whilst we waited for our drinks. We odered lychee and honey lassi which was fantastic, mango lassi which went far beyond the normal mango lassi served at other Indian restaurants and a mango mocktail. For started we had momos followed by mains- stone bass, smoked aubergune , methi malai matter and a cabbage and coconut dish with nan and rice, all exquisitely cooked. The dessert was the star of the night- misti dohi with pistachio barfi and cranberries. It is a must try. This is a Michelin starred restaurant and expensive. Worth a visit on special occasions.

S. F.

Really good food, atmosphere and service. As usual with these more expensive establishments however, portion size was microscopic.

P. S.

Incredible tasting menu at chef's table! Amazingly friendly staff and lovely setting for an unforgettable menu of food.

R. D.

This restaurant is top quality. The chefs are incredibly skilled. This is Indian food that has been elevated to another level. The spices and the combinations were absolutely perfect. We will be going back again.

H.

Brilliant service, very welcoming and friendly staff, an amazing dining experience. Made our 1st anniversary extra special and a night to remember. Favourite dishes were the chops and lobster biriyani. Well worth the price. One of my favourite Indian restaurants.

C. A.

My partner and I love dining out and have had the Atul Kochhar establishments on our radar for a while. I found a reasonable offer via Virgin Experiences and booked easily. I was a little sceptical of the three course menu on first inspection, but was slowly won over at first by the genuine friendliness of the staff but then by the food itself. Every dish, even the amuse bouche, was a treasure. I loved the plating and attention to detail. Gourmet dining is sometimes too focused on what is pleasing to the eye- Benares captured our taste buds. The sommelier was competent and accommodating and we had not just one but several members of staff and management who made constant rounds to attend to our every need. By the end of it all we realised that we were quite stuffed and couldn't have managed another bite. I was even treated to a signed cookbook along with a delicious take on petit fours after the dessert and wine we'd already savoured. The worst thing about the evening was definitely having to leave, but more importantly figuring out the next gap in our schedules so that we can go back.

J. M.

What a great dining experience! Dropped in here without a reservation on a Saturday night and the team did a great job in accommodating us. I wish I had of take more pictures here as the atmosphere was wonderful and relaxing. The team were not able to deliver our first dessert, but made that up with them cooking two just in case the next time. But also a complimentary glass of bubbles, as well as their signature dessert! We simply rolled out of this place with no more space left in our stomachs. Would love to return again in the future.

N. P.

Indian fine dining at its best. Great food and attentive service. Food has a good balance of spice and flavour. The desserts are always the best I've eaten. Always leave the restaurant totally stuffed.

A. G.

A friend and I ventured into Benares without a reservation hoping to get a table for two. Was not surprised when we were told that no table but they could give us a table at the lounge. We accepted and the rest was a wonderful experience of tasting some exquisite Indian dishes. Executive Chef Sameer agreed to put together a tasting menu. Everything was fantastic..the street food starters, to the mushroom soup and the main course of chicken tikka masala with rice/ porata/ dhal makhani follow by very delicate rasmalai. Thank you, Sameer and your team.

M. P.

Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar at his best. Delicious Indian food with a touch of class. Friendly Service from every staff member. It's a must visit restaurant if you are visiting London. The food so good that we finished all the plates. Kids enjoyed the experience. Beautiful ambiance.

F. C.

Amazing. I think the food and drink was outstanding but, quite honestly, what really made it was the service. Really friendly and genuine staff who were very personable. 5 stars everyone!

R. G.

Celebrated my wife's birthday at Benares tonight. First time experience and have to say it was not a bad experience. We had a 17:30 table so it was fairly quiet so staff were able to attend on you for requests. Starters were amazing but altho portions may appear small, my shirt button was pulling apart at the end. It was a non alcoholic night so did not experience any cocktails but the mango mocktail was decent. Starters were very good and the chicken tikka was nice and juicy. Mains was a mushroom dish with a coconut type curry which was pukka but felt disappointed with the yellow daal. Did not feel it had a kick I was expecting. We did not order any desserts but being my wife's birthday they brought out a small cake and small tasty desserts. Nice touch there. I'd go back but might try other places too.

S. N.

Great modern Indian food. I was interested in this restaurant as there weren't many restaurants that offered Indian cuisine as fine dining. I went here last month for an evening meal. I decided to go alcohol-free for the night and ordered a glass of guava juice and a glass of passionfruit juice. Both were delicious and refreshing. The guava juice had a rich, creamy flavour to it and the passionfruit juice was slightly salty and sour which combined with the dominant sweet flavour, created the perfectly balanced flavour. The poppadums with a selection of dips at the start were a nice way to begin the meal. For my starter, I ordered the Tandoori Ratan, which was sea bass, chicken tikka, king prawn and a lamb kebab chargrilled. It was delicious and everything was perfectly seasoned and juicy. It had quite a strong kick but I liked it. The green sauce it came with accompanied it well. For my main, I had the Meen Dakshini, which was Wild Halibut with Portsmouth Clam Moilee. It was very nice. The Halibut was well-seasoned and the clams were tasty and I could tell that they had released a lot of flavour into the dish. I also had a side order of Pulao (Spiced rice), which was well-seasoned and very aromatic and it went very well with the halibut. Lastly for my dessert, I ordered the Bhapa Doi, which was an Indian yoghurt dessert. The fruit with it was refreshing and pleasant - looking. The actual Bhapa Doi had a rich, creamy flavour to it and the sweetness was mild and just right for me. It was a nice end to the meal. In total, I paid just over £106, which was very reasonable for the meal. Generally, it was a very good experience, except the service could have been a little quicker and I did think the dessert was slightly overpriced for what it contained. Will be returning to try the tasting menu as it looked very nice.

Y. C.

Giving four stars because of the drinks, best passionfruit martini EVER, the spice of the chilli was just perfect and you can really taste the passion fruit, the berry smoothie was a banging drink too. As for the food, it was slightly disappointing to say it’s a Michelin, I expected a bigger and bolder flavours, favourite was the fish dish which was cooked to perfection and flakes apart. Overall a nice dinner experience with great service.

S. N.

We had the pleasure of dining at Benares Restaurant last week and had the most pleasurable evening. Not only was the cuisine delicious, the service was impeccable and the surroundings were wonderful. I cannot recommend highly enough. Thank you Team Benares!

F. D.

Benares is an Indian restaurant with a modern twist. 😁I am not a big fan of the standard curry. Luckily, the food here is definitely nothing like those you will get from a curry house! 😆😆😆 The best dishes of the night are the fish main courses. The cod is served with cumin quinoa, kokum curry and grilled pak choi. The chargrilled salmon is served with a creamy coconut curry sauce, spiced vermicelli and a crab croquette. For dessert, I would recommend the Bebinca (coconut layered cake) with pepper jelly, coconut and lime sorbet and passion fruit foam. The Rose Bhapa Doi (steamed yogurt pudding) isn't that interesting.. it's just a super expensive yogurt😫 I took one star off because my table was super hot! I feel a bit dizzy when I was having my dessert ( and no, I did not have alcohol). And the table next to me keep taking flashed photo and it was in my eyes! I wish someone stopped her😝😖

A. M.

Benares completely exceeded expectations on all fronts. What I was expecting from China Tang I got at Benares. The service here is impeccable. Unbelievably friendly service, everything on the menu is carefully explained and the folks will go out of their way to give you that bit extra. The thing that took me by most surprise was the portion sizes. I confess, I’m no food connoisseur and my slight hesitation with these up market type places is you end up literally eating a pea but Benares seems to be operating at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to portion sizes! I would definitely recommend the paneer for starters - you get it made in three different ways, and the veg pilau. The veg pilau was made with such rich spices - like how a proper Indian pilau should be. Of course the food is pricey but you’re paying a premium for the experience and the individually made dishes. And when you put all that together every now and then oh can justify pushing the boat out. Well done Benares!

J. L.

The lunch set menu is excellent value and extremely delicious. The chicken kadai was so tender and grilled to perfection and the spicing was perfectly subtle.

R. B.

Nicest Indian food in London. Been going to this restaurant for a few years and the quality has been consistent. Definitely adjusted to suit the British palette.

S. W.

Really enjoyed our meal here. Great food & a very friendly/helpful staff. Too expensive (so many curry houses that are just as good in London at better value), but that's really the only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars. Everything else is fantastic.

Y. S.

Very polite staff, authentic food, and definitely worth the price. Deserves the Michelin Star, if not two!

i. m.

Amazing service and the chicken and prawn dishes were great! However, was highly disappointed by the flavour and innovation given to the vegetarian main course.

S. D.

There are some great dishes in their latest set menu - specially loved their chicken and duck croquettes. The champagne cocktail and the fish dish was a let down.

K. C.

Very nice and elegant vibe. Very kind and helpful staff but the taste of food just met the expectation. I think I was too much expected because this is the michelin star restaurant.

R. Y.

Sublime Indian fine dining experience. The food was fantastic, and very accessible to the Indian cuisine novice while remaining true to its roots. Appetisers are around £18, mains £30 and there’s a bargain menu of set dinners with three courses for £35. This is a great place for a special occasion or just to learn more about Indian cuisine.

K. P.

The vegetarian food was good. I might even come back! This is a much better restaurant than Amaya for a vegetarian. At 75 including drinks and service it was not cheap but I think it was worth it! The black daal or Dal Makhni was good; not as good as Mumbai but almost there. The toilets, if you are interested, seem like the Japanese type. It had electronics in it and I think it had a seat warmer and water jet but I was too scared to test! I would come back again.

I. B.

We had the tasting menu, with some amazing wine, 1st class food and service.

T. G.

Probably one of the best India restaurant I've visited in a while. Apart from great cocktails and service the food is absolutely delicious 😋 definitely coming back for more.

S.

Have been visiting this restaurant for many years, it never gets tiring, the chef is always subtley tweaking the dishes just enough to surprise and delight the regulars. Last night we had the tasting menu (£98) it was a journey of aroma and taste, beautifully presented and attentively served. Our waitress Lucy was outstanding. See you soon Benares, thank you for a wonderful evening.

C. 1.

Outstanding customer service. Meat and fish can be prepared in anyway even if it’s not strictly stated in the menu. Chicken curry was great! They also have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Not 5 stars because the acoustics of the place are terrible. The atmosphere is alright but the volume levels get too loud.

A. F.

Excellent food, very good service and a calm ambience. Highly recommended.

P. L.

Delicious. Had the tasting menu. The staff were very friendly and helpful, thoroughly enjoyable evening. Meal cost quite a bit though! 🙄

V. P.

Upscale Indian restaurant and bar. Cocktails start from £14+, starters £12+, main courses typically £35. Tasting menu £98 per person for 6 course. Ala carte minimum spend is £40 p/person. Service is top drawer, and staff are friendly.

J. D.

Great lunch, delicious food/drink (food quite spicy so be aware). Nice surroundings. Happily go again sometime :)

I. A. E. B. D.

I've dined here before again and again. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere is perfect and the staff are beyond on point they really are polite, friendly and helpful. The food no matter what your pallet desires is just outstanding, absolutely mouthwatering. The cocktails here are out of this world. I would recommend that anyone who loves good food and fine dining to visit Benares. Your tastebuds will forever thank you

D. C.

Great Indian restaurant with fantastic food. The restaurant serves typical Indian street food and has a restaurant area as well as a bar area. Service is really great and food is delicious. Prices are reasonable for a star-restaurant.

S. S.

Good food and excellent presentation. Just the service, was not up to the mark. We asked for the leftover food to be packed as we avoid wastage. To our shock, when we opened the box at home, there were 2 boxes of non-vegetarian food. We being vegetarians did not quite like this lack in the service. Hope the restaurant is more careful next time...

P. A. P. D.

A wonderful experience in indian cuisine. The tasting menu combines very different flavours and all remarkable. Highly recommended.

H. Y.

Fabulous and innovative cuisine. The oyster ceviche was sublime. The mobile was extraordinary, too. Not to be missed.

A. V.

Very good appetizers and excellent desserts. Dessert chef should leave and create his/her own restaurant. Ambience is really nice and super classy.

M. A.

The food was OK. Not as I remembered it from ages ago. The passion fruit chilli martini is still there 'signature dish' for me from them.

L. G.

I took my partner here for a birthday lunch. We ordered from the set menu with wine pairing. Everything was fantastic but the standouts were his tandoori guinea fowl with smoked aubergine purée starter (meat as tender as butter) and my sea bream with a coconut sauce. The service was the right balance of attentive and friendly without being intrusive.

A. B.

Absolutely stunning experience dining at benares , flavours just stunning very highly recommended if your in Mayfair anytime soon

B. P.

Had an excellent experience here! This is exactly what this place is, an experience.... The food, atmosphere and staff are incredible. I would highly recommend this place for special occasions. The menu options are fantastic and the cocktails are great. Recommended for vegetarians.

A. P.

Nice Indian fusion but as an Indian did not feel the authentic feel in the tasting menu. At £90 per cover, the wines were not ideally suited for the food and much too sweet. Overall good ambience and hospitable staff!

L. H.

It had been nearly 10 years since I’d been to Benares last and had been raving to my fiancé about it and we finally went. The cocktail bar was not as I remember. Next to a cool pond but felt a bit like a lobby space. Fantastic cocktails, but I miss the curry leaf one I recall having. We opted for the tasting menu and I think this was a mistake. Extremely overpriced having reached at the end of the meal and both agreeing that it had been delicious, some stand out dishes, but not as impressive as other Michelin stars in London. I wonder if they have lost their edge since the departure of Atul. Underwhelmed.

M. K.

We visited Benares for lunch during February. When we arrived and I was worried about the steep stairs as I have a weak knee. In fact we were escorted through a very modern vestibule a little way along the road, went up in the and found ourselves in the restaurant. The food was excellent and served very professionally by well trained staff. We were treated with respect and deference.

N.

Good food especially the black lentils. The portion sizes are very small and it is very overpriced when considering the value you get at somewhere like tayyabs in shadwell.

S. G.

I really enjoyed the meal here. Everything from starter to main dish and sides was amazing & full of flavour!

v. k.

I was a bit confused reviewing this restaurant. Should I have been considering food or ambience and service. Let’s go one by one. The ambience is very great, a kind of 5 star restaurant. This is a perfect restaurant for dinner date or dinner for any special occasion. Service is also very good with all the staff very helpful. They will come and explain about every dish that they serve you. If it’s your birthday or anniversary, you may get surprises with small cakes with candle. Coming to food, I would say It’s a Indian food served in European style. I think it might be just to attract English customers.It’s more of a presentation. All the dishes are very unique and you will love it. They also have a tasting menu. If you are looking for a traditional curry restaurant , you might get disappointed here. And lastly, it’s a bit expensive.

S. L.

I really enjoyed my visit to Benares! The greeting was warm and welcoming, the cocktails were delicious and served promptly, which is always appreciated at a busy restaurant or bar. The tasting menu was fantastic! Unlike many Mitchelin starred spots the portions were of a decent size, and all the dishes followed on from each other really well. The ceviche was incredibly fresh and light, the dumplings were to die for!!! Thank you so much!

D. G.

Nice food, something different to what we're normally used to. Service is very prompt. The restaurant is upstairs so may be a challenge for disabled access, it's also quite dark inside. Overall a pleasant experience.

a. w.

Couldn't fault the service and knowledge of the staff very accommodating and willing to answer any question. We had the 5 course street menu's which is shared between two. I did enjoy the food apart from the lamb which was a little dry to my taste. Other than than very delicious food. Oh and the sea bass is to die for!

M. F.

If you ever wondered how Indian food tastes beyond your regular take out - check this European / Indian fusion place out. Great dishes with complex flavours and interesting cocktails to pair with.

C. J. M. R.

For my birthday wonderful experience

K. K.

I would highly recommend a visit as the food is just awesome. The chef Sameer Taneja has a unique style of making simple ingredients into mind blowingly delicious food and yet so humble. I will definitely be going back again #sameertaneja

H. D.

Had a superb evening tonight at Benares celebrating my wife’s birthday. We were greeted by Mr Richard Calina, the Restaurant Supervisor, who advised us to stick to the tasting menu we selected when I made the booking after we saw the a la carte menu and thought it would be better as we can select dishes which were familiar to us. He told us the tasting menu is an experience and worth a try. We even thought we’d order a couple of other dishes on top of the tasting menu, but again, he advised us that the food would be enough. He was absolutely right; the food was absolutely amazing. Great flavours, presentations and quantities. Each and every dish was magical and unique. I am really glad that we followed Richards advice. Regarding staff, Richard as well as all the other staff, were really courteous and helpful. They explained every dish thoroughly and made us feel very welcomed. The atmosphere was great; a great setting, music volume at a perfect level to be enjoyable and not too high that it would make it difficult to hear each other and good COVID measures to keep us as well as staff safe. In summary, a great experience and a night to remember. I highly recommend Benares for a memorable gastronomic experience and for special occasions.

J. O.

Frankly this restaurant is way out of our price range. However we were very kindly gifted a vegetarian tasting menu from some friends as a thank you. We took the opportunity for a Monday night date night, put some extra money into it to get the wine pairing option and got ready to enjoy. Every dish was amazing, from the poppadom selection (rice, potato, lentil) to the desserts. You expect a tasting menu in a restaurant like this to be good, and it is better than that, but you also expect it to be small, we joked on the way there about probably needing to pick up something extra on the way home. This is not the case, we could barely finish, we had to take a deep intake of breath and steel ourselves for desert. Philip, our wine waiter was amazing, a great knowledge of wine, We're by no means connoisseurs, but we do enjoy wine, and know a little, and enough to have some engaged discussion about the wines he chose for our menu. Philip would arrive before each course to present the wine and explain a bit about it and why he had selected it. This also gave us time to slow the meal down to a very relaxed pace, we had no other plans and were there to enjoy the experience. Another expectation being on a gift experience is that you could be treated a little second class, or rushed out of the restaurant. Again, not the case, we seated at about 6.15pm a little earlier than our booking, and left at around 11pm. The service from all the staff was amazing, professional and friendly. We had, what we considered the best table in the house, in a corner, both on soft bench seats both looking out into the restaurant, we love watching people, so this was perfect for us. My fiancé and I agreed that we would sacrifice our fortnightly takeaways and have a couple of meals here per year instead, the experience was that good. We would definitely recommend Benares. Every review needs a little balance. So here goes. My only criticism would be (like most businesses these days) Maintenance. The mirror table in the corner where we were seated could have done with being dusted, the seats could generally do with being re-covered, the table had a wobble (quickly fixed without any request) . This was not bad, or unclean or anything like, but I used to work in top restaurants when I was younger, and cleaning was a multi time per day activity, attention to detail is really important at this level and that does not only apply to the service and food.

B. K. J.

Very good and aromatic Indian food. Love every dish! Too bad.... too hungry and did not take pics of all the dishes!

E. S. N.

One of the most amazing Indian restaurants we have been to. Staff were very attentive and the food was exceptional!

A. M.

Excellent, attentive staff, knowledgeable and helpful. Food was the best Indian food I've had, delicious.

R. B.

I booked the chefs table room to celebrate my fiancé’s 30th birthday in May and I can't have chosen a better place. From start to finish the experience was impeccable. The room was so cool - looking straight into the busy kitchen was memorable to say the least, let alone having Razu looking after us all night. He and his manager were just so nice and attentive - we were made to feel really special. And of course the food! 5 star and exceptional! We did the tasting menu with wine paring and every element was perfect. If you book this restaurant, you won't regret it!

F. K.

Great place for a special occasion, well worthy of a Michelin star. Service is very attentive and decor is good but not spectacular.

R. S.

Came here for a EOTHO date night a while ago and have a lovely evening! Cocktail recommendations were spot on and food was lovely - especially enjoyed the sea bass!

X. O.

Great Indian food and amazing service. Highly recommended.

H. R.

Loved the Lobster Biriyani, think the other foods could do with a bit more spice, overall decent food

R. H.

Absolutely brilliant good, the staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and personable, they were a great laugh and and an absolute credit to the restaurant. We will definitely be returning again! They also do home delivery FYI

M. N.

Wonderful friendly and attentive service, with delightful food. Highly recommended.

J. E.

We had a wonderful meal here at lunch time. The staff are amazing and very attentive. Food was excellent.

A. K.

My rating is only for the service and not food. No doubt the service was excellent, but we pay for both at such high profile expensive fine dine-in, isn't it? I was impressed the first time with the variety and taste, they met dietary requirements , I would class it as Michelin star, But it failed to meet expectations the 2nd time. Food was below par and disappointed with the taste, options as they were similar to any common restaurant. The only good items were dessert and drinks. However, I do appreciate the kind gesture for marriage anniversary vegan cake. Hence the 4 stars..!

1. N. V. T.

Wonderful ambience, amazing food, top notch service, centrally located , many vegetarian options to choose from, great birthday experience!!

I.

Visited on 4th June for my partner's birthday. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal, service was amazing and speedy. I did cheekily ask beforehand if anything can be done to accommodate birthday celebrations for 2. The restaurant delivered and met my expectations with a small cake slice and a message written. Lovely end to the evening. We chose the momos and samosa chaat for starters absolutely faultless! Mains were butter chicken and paneer makhani, very rich in flavour but also delicious. For desserts we have gulam brulee and it was amazing. Portions are very fair and the experience was lovely. Thank you once again for making the evening special

K. M.

Excellent service and food. We had the 3 course set menu with some bubbly and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Staff we're really nice and accommodating of our little son as well and they also had a kids menu as a bonus. Can't wait to go back some time soon.

H. A.

Good and true Indian flavors with twists to enhance experience can be found here! Had a wonderful birthday dinner 🌸

A. A.

Food Was Awesome I Loved It,The Server Was So Good,I loved the decor it just deserves 5 stars!!

s. r.

depends what you are used to really, this is pretty average indian food in a nicer setting than most, style over substance

A. S.

Benares were so understanding that we had to unexpectedly cancel our booking today. Thank you.

N. M.

Food seems to have gone from fantastic to average...I expected better, especially when paying those prices

J. M.

Not the best Indian restaurant I've been to, food was nice and service was great. Very chilled atmosphere

A. S.

Fantastic restaurant. Food and service was expectional. Highly recommend.

A. U.

Excellent service, hospitality and food. Perfect for a special night

T. C.

My boyfriend and I visited Benares last night using our gifted Virgin Experiance voucher. 3 courses with paired duo of wines. The whole evening was wonderful. We have used these vouchers before at other establishments and giggled to ourselves when they take you over to a clearly "voucher only area". Benares did not do this, we got to feel all fancy pants! The atmosphere, service and food was all incredible. I chose the samosa, venison and kiwi yoghurt... holy moly! Delicious!

A. S.

Fantastic 2nd visit. Very attentive staff. Food and drinks of a very high standard.

S. S.

With the current COVID pandemic, Benares offered the service of home delivery. I placed an order to celebrate my 5 year wedding anniversary and Mukesh was an absolute gem! His service was brilliant, and gave us a few free dishes complimentary. The food delivered was well packed and tasted absolutely amazing!! Will definitely be visiting once lockdown has ended. Would highly recommend BENARES to my friends and family. Thank you for making our evening special

Z. L.

Good service, very well presented Indian food with a very good strong taste.

J. k.

I was expecting it to fabulous with good food …what I received was simply the best Indian food I have ever eaten .. The service was perfect and the staff were very helpful with food choices I would highly highly recommend this restaurant It will be a hard task trying to beat this .. Thank you to all the staff ..had a smashing evening

A. A.

Great Indian cuisine. I loved the food, especially the chicken. Great customer service too!!! I don't take alcoholic drinks and with no non-alcoholic drink on the menu, I was offered a custom-made drink that really came out nice. The waitress was courteous, helpful and delightful. She contributed to the beautiful experience we had at the restaurant.

J. B.

Had the street food tasting menu to celebrate a birthday. Fantastic selection of dishes and just the right amount however some may wish to supplement with one more, but at least you know your favorite by this point. The cocktails were delicious and creative, great use of slightly more unusual ingredients. The service was however the stand out point, very helpful and friendly, could not fault them. Highly recommend for a special occasion.

P. M.

Excellent food and service. Birthday celebration cake sent by the chef was a lovely end to a special evening. Would definitely recommend to family and friends. Thali was exceptional.

S. J.

Lovely experience. Great food and staff.

Q. H.

Positives: Really enjoyed the food, lamb chops were really tender. Portion size was good. Mocktails were great. Negatives: I told them when I booked that it was for my wedding anniversary, but I don't think anyone cared. Zero acknowledgement of this. So noisy that we had to ask to move table. Requested Halal and alcohol free food when booking, minimal acknowledgement of this. If booking for a special occasion, maybe look elsewhere.

S. S.

Pros: ambience, end-to-end service experience (theatrical and fun). They were also nice enough to accommodate children, by taking a la carte orders for the children while the adults had a tasting menu. Cons: food was good but underwhelming compared with peer restaurants at this price point. Service was slow, with a couple of periods of 20-30 minutes with no one to check on us when we needed more water, and were waiting for our next course. We were in a private room so the servers may not have been passing by very often, but it felt as if they may have forgotten about us at times.

N. G.

Food was average for a Michelin star restaurant. However the service was impeccable. We had an issue with the lamb being cooked medium rare when requested well done. The chef apologised over and over ensuring his food isn’t normally like that. Seems like a great person.

L. T.

A Christmas family get-together. Tasty, well presented food. Excellent service. Perfect lighting...soft, but you could see what you were eating. Some background music, but the acoustics good for relaxed conversation.Prices are what to expect in a high-end, West End restaurant.

d. y.

I reserved a table for four from the Bookable app. (Sharing the menu with drink) It was not specified it was at the Bar area. When we came, we were in the bar area. For the food ushered into the lounge area. When the Sharing menu offer was mentioned The restaurant manager rudely told us to leave the lounge area and to be seated in the bar area. The food was good, and the server at the bar area did offer us exceptional service. On the upside, we did order food from the a la carte menu and drinks. In fact, due to the restaurant Manager impolite behaviour and the situation was not managed professionally. Unfortunately it has left my friends and me with a bitter experience. I would not walk in and recommend to friends and family.

M. S.

Food so-so (despite Michelin stars). Service good, but not top notch. The smoky Old Fashioned cocktail is amazing though

K. V.

Ambience and service is spot on. Food favours more towards western tastes but overall quite good. A bit disappointed this high end restaurant had samosa that tasted like a prepackaged frozen brand than homemade and the kulfi dessert was clearly a dressed up store bought kulfi. Surely a restaurant of this standard should make fresh kulfi. Anyway nice overall.

A. R.

Amazing ambience, excellent food. We ordered the set menu with the paired wines. The wine choices were excellent and every single course was delicious with really innovative combinations. Service was top notch as well. Will definitely come back here soon!

z. h.

Halal chicken and lamb. Very small food menu.It's very posh, good food , Very professional staff. Nice atmosphere

M. A.

Went for last Anniversary and was really happy with the food and the service. We started with a few drinks at the bar (the selection of drinks was good). Our host dinner was very helpful with the suggestions for food and drinks and made us feel very welcome . Food lived up to our expectations- starters were really impressive. On my top Indian restaurants list now and will be going there now.

M. M.

Excellent vegetarian menu . Quite affordable for a Michelin star restaurant .

N. S.

Delicious food! Have been before and delivers each time! - set menu but priced at £35 which is great for a Michelin star! offers a 3 course meal (comes with a cocktail/drink - we ordered/paid separately for a mocktail at the bar, which they kindly then included as our 1 drink included in the set menu) staff is very friendly and the environment is very hospitable. The ambience is lovely, makes for a lovely night out.

L. S.

We dined here on the 3rd celebrating our recent engagement, also as part of my fiances Christmas present. Firstly, I want to blame Benares for ruining food for me. I will never have food as delicious, perfect and amazing unless I dine here again...Clever tactic ;-) On a more serious note, Benares is a one off dining experience. It is rare that I want to savour every single bite, each plate served is cooked to perfection and is a work of art. These chefs are incredibly talented and are clearly passionate about food. Flavours are out of this world! Portion sizes are perfect, I can eat a reasonable amount of food and I was stuffed after my three course meal. I honestly cannot fault anything, no matter how critical you may judge. Furthermore the service is first class. Staff members are attentive, prompt, friendly and courteous. They made our night such a special night, one to not forget. It's rare to see wonderful customer service these days, the team here do not disappoint! I'd like to thank them again for going out their way to make our experience even more magical. Thank you Benares, awesome restaurant, amazing food. Will we be coming back again...and we can't wait!

S. L.

Top service from the staff and great food. We'll deserves its reputation.

N. E.

Exceptional Indian food in a true fine dining experience. The cocktails are brilliant and original. Quality of the food was unquestionable. My only knock would be to say that I expected a certain level of culinary technique in the tasting menu given the Michelin star and it did not quite meet the standard that you see at that level.

G. M.

The pleasure of good food and prompt service all combined in one. From the simple Nimbu Paani to the Tandoori Smoked Haddock everything was amazing. We were expecting a very westernized take on the Indian Samosa chaat, when we placed the order It was ofcourse not the desi one, but it pleasantly surprised us. Each flavour prominent, tamarind mint and sweet curd...eachone standing out but still culminating as one on the plate.... Its curated not prepared The service is on point :) Thankyou for the good time

P. M.

The food was very flavoursome and the service from the staff was excellent. Looking at the prices, I wouldn't ever say it's fairly priced, but luckily I had a voucher so I didn't have to take the sting! To be fair, it is in Mayfair so high prices are expected. 100% worth a go if money isn't an issue for you, but if you earn under 25k it'll probably hurt you for the month.

K. D.

Service was spot on until the end when our (finished) dessert sat for 5 minutes before we were offered the bill. Took almost 10 minutes to pay the bill. Food was good, about the same level as decent takeout if you live within the M25. Wasn't too hot (temperature wise) but I attribute that to their kitchen, not the service. Likely won't return for food, but the cocktails were on par for Mayfair and the wine list is very well thought out (+2 stars for their sommelier!!). There's a few interesting New World wines for a good price and just enough highly priced left Banks to keep the Mayfair types interested. Overall, not the best, but not the worst, of London dining.

N. T.

An amazing experience. Very well looked after from the moment we arrived. Sat in the lounge t enjoy poppadoms and chutney with a beer before going in to the restaurant. We had the taster menu with the pairing wines. A great choice, some very tasty food in good portion sizes and the wines were great. The fish was my favourite, a balance of spice with the white flesh flaking apart easily. Great restaurant, definitely recommend.

C. J. T.

I came to Benares as part of a business Christmas lunch on Thursday 14 December. We were in one of the private rooms. We had a set menu with food to share which was absolutely delicious. Prawns, lamb, the rice, everything. Even the large bottles of red wine, very palatable. The staff were very accommodating and polite. We sat in the bar for drinks after. There were around 13 of us. One of the members of staff told one of us to be quiet once but we didn't mind as we completely understand there are other guests we need to be mindful of. I would definitely return, I would like to to bring my mother here for her 60th birthday next year. Indian food is my favourite cuisine (alongside Italian) hence I really enjoyed the food here and was paying close attention to the flavours which were outstanding. Well done Benares. Had always heard about this restaurant on account of its location but I'm so happy I've had the opportunity to attend.

E. M.

Interior was beautiful. Amazing place.Food was great. I liked the [presentation of food. Architecture was beautiful.

R. A.

My second time here - An amazing evening once again, thoroughly enjoyed being led through the varied and beautifully presented dishes on the vegetarian tasting menu. Absolutely delicious. Pricey as you would expect but as a treat - totally worth it

N. B.

Excellent team, fantastic food, great wine. Would definitely recommend.

b. j.

I've been here several times for a birthday treat etc. Never fails to impress. Excellent service. Amazing food and great atmosphere. The Indian caesar salad was superb. This is not like a take away this is fine dining at its best. Can't praise it highly enough. I have a vegetarian friend and she loves it too. Not cheap - you wouldn't expect it to be. Lunch deals make it very affordable for such good food.

k. m.

Great food and great atmosphere. Good service also. Thanks

D. C.

Food was very good, service was excellent. However, the ambience was bitterley disappointing. Visited last Saturday and it's fair to say COVID19 had adversely impacted our overall dining experience with limited diners and poor seating arrangements (stating the obvious I guess).

B. H.

Fine dining Indian food? Yes you can. The place is very posh and the service is of highest level. Food is excellent but not your typical Indian cuisine. Very balanced dishes with nice plating. Prices are high but you get a real experience.

M. &. F.

The experience was just OK. The ambiance is nice, and my husband and I enjoyed the lobby for a drink before moving to the table. We had the simple 3-course menu for £35 as we just wanted to try the restaurant without investing too much. But at the end, the bill came to close to £150. The service was very pricy, nearly £20. The food was nice and different, but not special or elegant for a 1-star restaurant. I wouldn't go back again.

S.

Went here for a birthday dinner for 2, all I can say is I was thoroughly impressed by the experience from the moment i walked in to the moment i walked out. The quality of the food served to us was very high. The service was excellent, all the waiters were great in providing us with any information on the dishes and also they were very attentive to making sure we were satisfied with our meal. The decor was nice too in the dining area as it wasn't too dark but just nice to create a good atmosphere. Overall I would say it is worth the money and would definitely go back again.

S. R.

Great menu, can recommend the lunch Thali (Tandoori Macchi was amazing) and the Rasmalai Mille Fuille for dessert. Friendly and very covid-safe environment was relaxing and made it all about the superb food and service, just as it should be.

J. H.

Amazing ambience, excellent food. The wine choices were excellent and every single course was delicious with really innovative combinations. Service was outstanding as always. I Will definitely be returning soon.

J. S.

Outstanding!! Authentic, fresh and delicious. We have been ordering delivery and it’s really excellent! They have perfect service and you can trust they are following all safety precautions. Please support Benares!

Z. D.

Pumpkin soup was incredible! Samosa had a lot of flavors but didn't like the thick crust. Fish curry was excellent. The spicy coating on the prawns was unnecessary. Had the kulfi to finish.... Yummy!

S. C.

Fantastic food, fantastic staff, thoroughly enjoyed the food and the whole experience.

J. H. U.

Great food, great central location. This is nothing that you would expect from an Indian restaurant. The menu is unusual and the food exquisite. So if you are after chicken tikka, you would be best advised to look elsewhere. This is a really upmarket establishment, and has prices to match. Although £35 for a very nice lunch set menu is not really off the scale. Generally you get what you pay for. Except in this case for the wine - £54 for a bottle that retails on the high street for £17 seems a rather extravagant mark up.

M. K.

Amazing service and the food was stunning. This coming from a person who isn't really big on Indian cuisine. The only thing i could fault in this restaurant was the noise inside, it was really loud and there was no background music to sort of drown it out. Otherwise it was an amazing experience.

A. W.

We came for our Wedding anniversary and from all the hype, I was expected to be blown away by this restaurant. We couldn’t fault the food and the service was excellent, but were seated in the ‘semi private dining area’ which is an extension of the bar which can get noisy. We took the tasting menu to sample the range of cuisine ,all the plates were excellent but we should have gone a la Carte as £98 for the tasting menu is simply too much for what is is compared to other starred restaurants. Finished by sending the coffees back as were really bad,but restaurants , whatever the standard, can’t seem to get that right! I’d recommend the street food menu in the bar or go to his sister restaurant Indian Essence in Kent for 1/3 of the price.

R. M.

Lovely food, good ambience and service! Understated but better than a few of the Indian restaurants in London that have been popular over the past few years. Will definitely visit soon again!

J. K.

Had the chef's table, really nice private room with kitchen views. The service was spot on all night. We came late for dinner and ended up closing the place down. The food was very good, but I wouldn't say as good as other Indian spots with Michelin stars. Had some great port, which was very enjoyable.

A. F.

Best service for some time. Food wasn't bad either.

A. C. P. M.

Indian is my favourite cuisine, and I often I go in London. From the Michelin stars ones Benares was the one missing on my list much to had heard that wasn’t worth to go from my indian friends. I decided to give it a try. Went if some friends. I loved to get an indian scarf as a gift as soon as we enter. The place is beautiful. We were sit at the bar that took more than 10 minutes to someone come to take a drink request when there was plenty of tables empty and a lot of staff walking around us. We almost had to jump over one to get some attention. After drinks taking, more 10 min to bring, not sure how 2 glasses of wine can take so long (maybe they needed to go buy the wine somewhere else). When we were moved to main restaurant. Service got better. But we were already pretty annoyed. We choose all appetisers when already in the bar. The food tastes very nice. We order paratha, some combination of tandoori, samosas. Unfortunately the service required spoiled the experience and not sure if I feel like coming back. I even had booked to celebrate my 5 years anniversary and cancelled because of the pain.

R. S.

Superb Indian food in an excellent location! The menu is really different to most other Indian restaurants. Great service in a beautiful restaurant. Definitely one for special occasions. As you would expect, not the cheapest or the biggest portions but the whole concept is not about that. It's about sharing unusual flavours presented in the most appetising ways.

K. P.

Visited Benares on a family night out and what a great place to dine, the selection for vegetarian dishes was brilliant and the food was delicious. Benares offers a nice relaxed ambience for the perfect night out to celebrate a special occasion. They offer an Indian-British fusion cuisine which works well & tastes amazing.

j. k.

Starters were amazing Main course vegetarian dishes should be avoided at all cost, not worth it. Non_ veg dishes worth the money Mocktails are great too.

F. D.

Benares is one of those exceptional dining experiences that NEVER disappoints. The service and hospitality is second to none. Each course leads your senses and palate on a tantalising jouney continues long after your meal has ended. I have been to Benares on several occasions and each one has been a memorable food adventure.

C. W.

Used the three course set menu with paired wines during Monday lunch. Good variety of choices. The dishes we had were picturesque and were matched by their flavours and quality of cooking. Staff were very friendly, attentive and good at explaining the various dishes and wines that we tried. Modern interior with plenty of space between the tables, good acoustics: surrounding conversations were just background noise. The bar area is a good starting point before visiting the restaurant. They have a good selection of cocktails with an Indian slant. A relaxing venue with great food, an extensive wine list if you want to make your own selections, that I'd happily go back to.

A. H.

Okay, but not transcendental, food. Some dishes well executed, but quality can be variable. Side dishes and breads are weakest offerings, meat can be overdone. Spice profile was generally ho-hum, but ingredients are usually high-quality. Have been several times -- what we thought was an off night for the kitchen may be now par for the course, unfortunately. Excellent service and very knowledgeable wait staff. Good wine list.

A. S.

This is one of the best fine dining restaurant which offers Indian cuisine. Be prepared some innovative and mouth watering recipes.

M. H.

Went here for a celebratory dinner with ~20 coworkers. The dress code is pretty formal, but I managed to get away with a collared shirt, dressy jeans, and flip flops. We were served cocktails in the bar area before moving to a formal private dining room. Instead of ordering personal dishes, we were served a fixed family-style menu. The appetizers included an amazing cheese-covered prawn. Not sure if it was authentic Indian, but it was incredible. In terms of main, the highlights for me were the fish curry and the goat. The goat was super tender and flavorful. The fish was boneless. The dessert wasn't Indian but it was amazing -- key lime tart with ice cream and chocolate crumbs. Delicious. The service is what you would expect at an upscale restaurant like this.

J. P.

Impeccable service and a truly diverse and interesting menu. Ambience is also low key and very pleasant. A long standing favourite, Benares is often my go-to choice for both lunch and dinners with clients.

M. N.

Excellent food but very disappointed with the portion sizes. Appreciate that it's a Michelin star but when you charge £52 for a lobster biryani, would have expected a bit more rice! The biryani was nice though as was the baked scallop starter and the monkfish main (meet dakshini). Pricing is ok given the ambience and the quality of food; the only let down was the portion size as stated earlier.

M. K.

It was a very pleasant evening. The best thing was the service. Pleasant curtious but not overbearing. The food was reasonable. Uptil the food we were quite impressed....the only thing better would have been a lovely view and slightly more intimate lighting. The food was reasonably good but could have done with slightly stronger flavours always seemed to dominate a little, and we never got the feeling that any sauce was so special that it carried the dish. We did take our time and taste everything individually before combining. The deserts were good including the more interesting flavours. Slightly stronger chcolate flavour in the lava cake would have really complimented the cherry and sorbet perfectly. I think overall decent but overpriced... You may not get that satisfied 'hit that spot' feeling that you may get at your local curry house as this is ofc aiming for a more refined ( less stogey) palate but the volumes filled us up much better than expected,and we did have a pleasant evening. Ambience, plating, and staff as you may expect in a upper market establishement.

D. F.

4th visit, so very good. Had the taster menu. Lively environment for a good night out. The food is fabulous. Met the chef , a delightful man after complementing the Dal which was superb. Took me right back to Mumbai where I first came across this gem.

D. W.

Tasting menu is fantastic, perfect for lunch. Spicy, with some great flavours Also had a desert, the chocolate lava cake with cardamom ice cream. Excellent service. Would highly recommend Benares restaurant.

B. B.

Benares has been supporting us, a local NHS GP practice, with lunch deliveries during this challenging time. This is extremely appreciated due the difficulties we have getting lunch with the social distancing in Supermarkets and other local business being close. The food is of an exceptionally high standard - even with the delivery process (we'd all prefer to be at the restaurant!) and we are all extremely grateful. A big thank you from all of us!

A. S.

The first (?) Michelin starred Indian restaurant in London. Nice location in posh neighbourhood of Berkeley square. Nice ambiance inside the restaurant. Has two options for food- street or regular. Portion size is decent and food is nice too. London is full of great Indian food options but you can go here for the experience.

A. C.

This is my favourite restaurant. I've been 3 times and it's was so nice each time. The staff are good and you wouldn't know they were there until you need them. I definitely recommend having a cocktail in the bar before you eat. Food is awesome.

B. E.

One of the most amazing Indian restaurant with excellent tasty food and presentation. The service is impeccable. Very relax and classy ambience. I enjoyed this culinary experience throughout to the end, and left very satisfied.

S. P.

Amazing amazing food ... World class Indian food .. presentation was amazing

P. S.

Forget the surroundings, it was all about first class service and incredible food. Magnificent all round.

W. E.

Simply a series of explosions of amazing flavours and spices. Who knew that Indian food could be so delicate and of Michelin-quality in presentation and taste.

D.

We went for our anniversary and everything from booking to leaving was 5 star. The food was great, cocktails so good and all the staff were amazing. Thank you for such a good experience.

I. A.

Amazing food. Been there a number of times and each time experience a memorable meal with a great wine selection. Last time we went there with our baby and asked for a banana for her, and Mr Atul Kochhar himself turned up with an artistically arranged plate of banana slices . Priceless ; a really cute and appreciated gesture. Our taster menu wasn't too bad either!

L. A.

This was 5 star food that tasted and looked incredible, and yet this restaurant doesn't deserve 5 stars in my opinion. The little touches you expect from a restaurant of this calibre and charging as much as they do are somewhat lacking. From the fake candles on the table, to the poor acoustics in the main restaurant which make conversation a strain and the music playing loudly in the bar area is equally prohibitive. It is hard to put your finger on what this restaurant lacks or misses out on, and yet we left, all agreeing that whilst we had a lovely experience we probably wouldn't return. It is the small elements which, when refined, help make your restaurant experience and it is these elements which are missing, evidenced by forgotten drinks at the end of the meal. Sadly, free scarves given to the women ONLY and petit fours do not do enough to plaster over some visible cracks in their service.

S.

Fantastic Indian food and ambiance. The staff take excellent care of you and the preparations are fantastic! The staff went out of the way to arrange a small celebration of my wife's birthday which was a very nice gesture on their part - deeply appreciated!

B. H.

Lovely Indian food, but I've now been twice for lunch deals and felt a little disappointed. Service is good, but the kitchen can be on the slow side. Some of the meals are much less glamorous than others

J. N.

Benares is a top notch Indian restaurant with innovative menus and excellent service. The menu has innovative dishes and an excellent set menu. Well worth going especially for a special occasion.

N. Y.

This was only excellent and more excellent. Service: pleasant service is standard in central london, but competence is not. The staff at Benares are both confident and competent. They know the menu in and out and can make credible recommendations. The bar staff make excellent drinks. Ambience: No loud music, which is refreshingly atypical of a London restaurant. The decor was delightfully blingy, and the bathrooms were clean and heated. Food: I am not an expert on Indian food, but I will say I (with all my inexperience) found Benares to be excellent. I had the butter chicken and the okra. Both were out of this world. I will definitely be back!

B. P.

Would say it’s a Indian food served in European style. I think it might be just to attract English customers.It’s more of a presentation. All the dishes are very unique and you will love it. They also have a tasting menu. If you are looking for a traditional curry restaurant , you might get disappointed here.

J. W.

From the second we walked through the door to when we left everything was amazing!! The service was excellent and the food was even better than I'd hoped. The waiters were so friendly and informative. This is the best restaurant I've ever been to.

J. D.

Something of an underwhelming experience. A La Carte mains erring towards bland, with some strange parings, measly portions on some dishes and a sense of an operation trading on past glories. Service is to a high standard but rather formulaic and needs more sincerity and genuine ability to seek the customer's true opinion. Overall, requires significant improvement for the prices being charged and its an interesting reflection of how the vast majority of diners seem to review the place based on received opinion - rather than discerning consideration or reflective personal experience of what they actually ate and tasted. Perhaps this was because we chose a la Carte and not a set menu or Tasting Menu.... but if this is the reason, then alarm bells should ring very loud!

P. J.

It’s not often you can call food exciting but Benares surprises and delights. Expensive, well yes. Worth it? Undoubtedly. And a fabulous cocktail bar and perfectly attentive and professional service.

A. C.

We went for the street tasting menu, cocktails were really nice and the food was amazing. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Desserts were pricey when compared with the tasting menu but the chocolate lava cake was sublime.

M. K.

The food was pretty good but the service was almost comically bad. My wife got a warm martini before starters; I got my (bad) drink after. Lots of staff running around but impossible to get someone's attention. Once mains came, FOUR people came up to ask how they were (which is nice but makes eating awkward). We both liked the food but because of the experience of eating there, we won't go back.

S. F.

It may have been stripped of its Michelin star, but the food quality is unquestionable worthy of a star. Food was excellent, as was the service. The £35 lunch menu is exceptional value!

L. M.

Wonderful food and experience. I took my mam for a Mother days treat last week. We are both Vegan and the options were amazing. Can't recommend Benares enough.

R. P.

Am very surprised to hear some of the reviews criticising food and service. This was my second visit for the lunch set menu and my experiences have both been very positive. Food faultless and waiting staff friendly, attentive and on the ball. Had a lovely lunch today, the value of which was more than fair especially with all the little extras and attention we received from all who served us. Look forward to our next visit. I think if you ordered from the A' La Carte menu it would be quite pricey (what do you expect in Mayfair!) but the set lunch is the one to go for.

A. A.

It was so amazing. The waitress was so lovely and we had a lot of attention from our waitress. Starter was okay the subz kebab. The drinks were absolutely amazing. The lychee and date lassi and the berry drink was to die for. As for the main, the chicken was so succulent and tasty and we also had a birthday cake there. Amazing service, amazing food

R. B.

Fantastic food!

K. G.

This was our second visit - our first was 10 years ago for my hubby's 30th. This time a generous friend had purchased a gift voucher for us which meant we could splash out on the 6 course tasting menu with matched wines. It was an amazing experience - memorable for a 40th birthday special treat... the service is amazing, the sommelier, waiter, hostess all worked seemlessly together to create a relaxing but exciting journey and we hope not to leave the gap between visits so long next time!

A. S.

Top class food, excellent service

W. R. (.

Quite disappointed with this restaurant given the other reviews. We had the “street food” menu, which came in “5 courses”, but each dish was there to share. A number of the dishes were quite bland, and all of them should have been served with more sauce, rather than a few blobs. The service was quite mixed as well, clearly the staff lacked knowledge of the menu itself.

A. P.

Definitely one of the best meals I have ever had in a restaurant! Of the 4 in my party, we covered most of the menu and nobody could find fault with any of their dishes. When one of the party had to send something back (she forgot to ask for 'well done' when ordering) they had absolutely no problem. The mains were delicious and the desserts were equally great. If you want a burn-your-mouth-off curry, this isn't the place for you - go to a generic curry-house - Benares is more about food that is full of spicy flavours (not heat) and enjoying the food. The staff were all polite and attentive without interrupting the meal and the whole experience was great!

A. H.

What a fabulous way to celebrate a special occasion! There was a wonderful sense of calm efficiency and the food was just divine. I can't wait for the next visit!

M. H. (.

Wow omg awesome place, equally awesome food and service. Was taken by the sons girlfriends parents, as its one of their favourite places, we can see why, this place is in a League of it's own. It's like nothing you've ever had before.

M. H.

Went here for a celebratory dinner with ~20 coworkers. The dress code is pretty formal, but I managed to get away with a collared …

C. L.

Excellent A beautiful Indian fusion restaurant with attentive staff. Well worth a visit but it is not a cheap night out. It is worth exploring the various dining deals as they make it a great way to fine dine at a reasonable cost

L. M.

Wonderful food and experience. I took my mam for a Mother days treat last week. We are both Vegan and the options were amazing. Can't recommend Benares enough.

K. M.

Good food! Some babies screaming...thanks God we were leaving! The service is so very slow, despite a hundred and one staff fusing for no reason!

J. K.

Had the chef's table, really nice private room with kitchen views. The service was spot on all night. We came late for dinner and ended up closing the place down. The food was very good, but I wouldn't say as good as other Indian spots with Michelin stars. Had some great port, which was very enjoyable.

K. s.

Benares, exceeds the expectations! What a lovely ambience & great staff. Food is amazing!

M. 3.

Excellent service and perfect food. We can't find any faults at all. We thought we were going to arrive late for our booking so we called to make the reception aware and we were accommodated with no problems at all and our booking was moved back slightly. A perfect night.

B. E.

One of the most amazing Indian restaurant with excellent tasty food and presentation. The service is impeccable. Very relax and classy ambience. I enjoyed this culinary experience throughout to the end, and left very satisfied.

B. B.

Went with a group of about 30. They had a very nice separated room where we could all sit together on one long table. Very nice Indian food, very good service, glasses never empty, all in all it was a very nice dinner!

S. J. P.

Visited through recommendation: 16th March 2019 Reservations made well over a month: When arrived -all fine -went to the bar -mentioned 4 of us -waiting for other couple to turn up -minor issues but all fine nothing so balled over by so far. Taken to our table -right in a closed up area in the corner with a so called wooden crafted door -not impressed at all for the price we paid -this was as if we were chucked away in the corner despite having booked well in advance . Then had someone on the table behind us playing loud music on his phone -complained but not enough done to stop him-this put a damper to our evening at the restaurant. Have been to various Michelin star restaurants comparatively not impressed with our first visit to Benares. Food was fine but my judgement could have been influenced by the ambience and the experience we’d had. Visiting again - will try again to give the benefit of our doubt and won’t make ourselves known if and when we do. But won’t be running back to Benares soon.

M. M. P.

Really sad the quality is very average since Atul Kochhar left. Menu is tyring to be innovative but hasn't hit the nail on the head. Came for my birthday and icing on the cake (no pun intended) was the 'birthday dish' which was literally 2 pieces of fruit with a small piece of chocolate. Not what you expect from a fine dining restaurant on Berkeley Sq.

R. R.

The best in town. Yummy food and amazing decor. Just right for a birthday celebration

E. A.

Food was delicious (there is a lot to eat on the tasting menu so good to go hungry) and there was a good wine selection. Staff were friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. Totally recommend.

C. B.

For the price paid the food was average. I have previously visited for the tasting menu which was a lot better. On this occasion we had 3 courses from the Virgin Experience Days menu. The champagne coktail and mocktail were both a good start. The crunchy pappadoms with a selection of chutneys were also good. The Tandoori Poussin starter was good but the Crispy Chipirones were overpowered by their accompanying chutney. The mains were good but I have had better Dal elsewhere. We were also missing a naan bread which we had to request. I don't think that should happen in a Michelin Star restaurant. The desserts were mixed - the Shrikhand much better than the watermelon dish which had a massively overset pannacotta. Overall then not the best.

V. R.

Fantastic tasting menu. First time my tummy is beyond full at Michelin star restaurant having a tasting menu. Great service and waiting staff. Well done team.

S. R.

It was my first time in an Indian Michelin star restaurant, so exceptions were high. The menu was a bit different than usual takeaways and presentation was usual Michelin affair; no surprise there. Once you get past that and put the spoon inside its the familiar taste of great curry!

C. L.

Excellent A beautiful Indian fusion restaurant with attentive staff. Well worth a visit but it is not a cheap night out. It is worth exploring the various dining deals as they make it a great way to fine dine at a reasonable cost

G. U.

Really nice food, lots of staff to cater to your needs. They have a nice bar area you go to before you start the meal. Bathroom is nice but the sinks are too low for someone my height (6ft1).

J. R.

We went here for our company Christmas meal. Food was amazing with perfect surroundings. Staff were really friendly and did their best to answer any queries we had. Would recommend the restaurant for any private dining or family meal. Will be coming back in the new year! Thanks for making the meal a special one!

P. R.

One of my favorite Indian restaurants in London. I recommend you to reserve a table if you plan to go on the weekend! Absolutely worth to try the amazing food there!

G. K.

Awesome Indian food with a modern twist - a great experience and would definitely return. The manager was a fantastic host and the restaurant had one of the nicest ambiences ever experienced. A special evening made even better by the restaurant and hosts.

R. W.

Benares is the real deal and by ‘real’ I don’t mean a Ruby with your mate Deano after 10 pints on the town. Benares comes across as meticulous, considered and precise, everything is exactly as intended. Of course if you’re after a Bhuna and a garlic naan you’ll be confused but the key here is the the quality of the food, which shines through. It’s not somewhere I’d visit regularly but trying new Indian dishes, washed down with fine wine in a salubrious environment, what’s not to like?

R. N.

Great food and warm staff, one of my favourite locations to dine.

R. A.

Often I visit this restaurant to refresh my childhood memories of food which I used to eat as a child in Pakistan ergo I rate this restaurant 10 out of 10. Their chefs cook perfect authentic Pakistan and or Indian food. Unlike cheap Indians/Pakistanis restaurants they don't have same gravy/sauce for every dish. Price is quite reasonable because in return you get tasty well cooked amazing food.

G. L.

The best Indian restaurant in London. Very affordable too for a Michelin starred restaurant. My heat tolerance is very low and they truly understand how to make food mild and tasty. Have been many times. Never disppoint. Their tea selection is very good. Highly recommend a cup of masala chai after your meal. Service is excellent, attentive and caring. Relaxing atmosphere. Not overcrowded. Great for a work day evening meal and leisure weekend meal. Way better than Gymkhana and Dishoom.

N. C.

Exquisite food, excellent, friendly but unobtrusive service. We had a challenge upon arrival although we had reserved -they tried to give us a table in the loud and uncomfortable bar but after much persistence we were offered a proper table in the restaurant.

Y. Z.

I experienced Benares in the Taste of London. What attract me most is that the nice smell even I stand a quite far distance from there. I went there and tasted the lamp chop. It is very nice, very brilliant. The price is reasonable as well. I have kept that business card and I will really visit that restaurant later.

G. Y.

A last minute decision to head for dinner and a last minute booking at Benares, we arrived early and were told our table wasn’t quite ready but we could wait in the bar. Not a problem with that information. Up the stairs and into the fairly swish looking location and we were sitting at a small table and being handed some menus. Beer and whiskey ordered and we passed the time until our table was ready. 3 minutes before actual reservation and we were being seated. The restaurant is mid light, not too dark to see the food but dark enough that you’re concentrated on your table, not those around you. The menu is fairly concentrated, and they have a special vegetarian menu if you’re that way inclined. We ordered dishes for the table, a Tandoori chicken, Vegetable Kofte, aubergine, rice, daal, spinach and naan. An amuse was served to us that got us excited about the meal. The main course arrived and we tucked in. 2 mains, 4 sides, rice and naan was enough for 3 people and we ate until full. Not necessarily hot, it was spiced well, and flavours exploded. This is food meant to taste good, not blow you away with heat, something I think other places do to mask the taste of the ingredients used. This is artfully made Indian food. It can be pricy but the food, service, location and overall experience is well worth it.

A. C.

Delicious food, but the cost soon adds up fast with the wine pairing

H. J.

What a wonderful Christmas treat. Came with my mentor and we were greeted with a surprise gift. After ordering we were served with an appetiser complementary from the chef a delicious combination of paneer camouflaged into nuts and spices and ringed beautifully. The starters and main courses were undeniably appetising; we went for the root vegetable kebab, bhindi and chickpeas to start with and a side of daal with mains of lamb chops and chicken accompanied with garlic naan. Great service all around.

A. H.

Just look at the cover photo of this restaurant's page... that's just enough. Benares is well known for its unusual dishes and cocktails, so if you'd like to try something different, this is the place to go. The restaurant is stylish, always clean and bright. The staff really know how to treat their customers, always going the extra mile to make them feel great. The food is absolutely delicious and cooked with just the right level of spiciness. Try the vegetable stuffed courgette and you won't be disappointed. Five stars for Benares.

T. V.

Indian food taken to a new level. Beautifully presented food, all dishes we ordered were really tasty and had the right balance of spice, unlike other Indian food we've had. I would certainly re visit Banares for a special occasion only as it is pricey, but that is to be expected from a restaurant of this calibre

E. O.

We ordered the 3 course meal and was pleasantly suprise with the extras. Food was fantastic and we left there stuffed. Do not order wine by the glass as the measurements are too small, we returned the glasses and ordered the bottle. Staff are very attentive and informative. A great evening out. Sadly did not bump into Atul Kutchner.

S. R.

Great gourmet Indian food. The tasting menu was divine and so was the service. Excellent choice of wine.

U. S.

Very nice over all and deserve the five star - although in my opinion it was a bit overrated given how difficult it was for us to make a reservation.... the restaurant is great dont get me wrong, but a bit too much hype around

s. k.

I enjoyed the contemporary atmosphere and the service is super. We had lunch menu. The food is innovative and well presented. only a 4 because I prefer a more classic style of cooking.

E. A.

Had a great great food at Benares. Fairly priced menu. Food had lots of flavour, yet not too salty. Brought a baby in a pushchair and had a great experience, as the restaurant is extraordinarily spacious and the staff is well trained

S. B.

Amazing food and amazing ambience! I thought it is a bit expensive, but then again, the location and the services are of a high standard so I guess that is quite expected. Can't go there frequently for these same reasons, but if you want to have a nice time gulping down fantastic food and drinks at a classy restaurant, then Benares is worth a shot!

J.

As a lover of all foods Indian, my wife brought me here for my birthday and it was by far and away the best Indian food I have ever had. Really top-end cooking and great decor and atmosphere in both the bar area and the restaurant proper.

G. C.

Fantastic food, wine and surroundings. Would recommend to everyone who enjoys Indian cuisine to try here. Staff very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. Definitely visit again.

H. S.

Cannot thank Benares enough! I booked a table for a work Christmas meal for 11 people and from the initial booking with Anshu who was unbelievably helpful and responsive through to the actual night where I can only describe the level of service and food as 5* I was extremely impressed. Amazing food, amazing service and a beautiful place. The night couldn't have gone any smoother, I would definitely recommend!

D. N.

Wow!! The best Indian restaurant we have been to. All the staff were very helpful and polite and knowledgeable about all the dishes. The complimentary mouse bouche and sweets were a lovely surprise and the small poppadoms and pickles were so tasty with individual flavours not experienced before. The starters of marinated mackerel (Bhangra Koliwada) and crispy soft shell crab (Karara Kekda) had accompaniments which were superb. Our mains of Chargrilled Scottish Salmon and Old style Classic Tandoori Chicken were also superb with really tasty accompaniments. The portions are surprisingly large and presentation excellent. This is a very popular restaurant and we know why. It is just marvellous and we hope to return on our next visit to London.

R. K.

Excellent food and service. Tresured small portions were immaculate with the Michelin star quality and unique taste for each dish. Highly recommend and will return for more.🍾👍👌

T. F.

Top notch Indian cuisine. Located in Mayfair between the Rolls Royce and Bughatti dealerships. We showed up an hour and a half late for our reservations and they still welcomed us in. The service was incredible. They would bend over backwards for you. They were very accommodating to my needs, in particular my allergy to coconut. I highly recommend Benares it was great and worth the money.

J. C.

A wonderful place for a treat. When we went the menu seemed a bit limited (hence the 2) but everything served was exquisite as was the service and atmosphere. Cocktail prices nearly caused bankruptcy, but the bar is so beautiful you just have to.

M. H. (.

Wow omg awesome place, equally awesome food and service. Was taken by the sons girlfriends parents, as its one of their favourite places, we can see why, this place is in a League of it's own. It's like nothing you've ever had before.

S. S.

Great Restaurant ! - took my husband to Dinner for his Birthday and the food was beyond our expectations. I reviewed this restaurant on trip advisor and top table and due to the mixed reviews I went in hoping i'm not one of those that come out disappointed. Gladly the food was great, we opted for vegan starter plate, baked salmon in Dill and for dessert The Masala chai souffle. Everything had enough spices to please someone who already cooks indian food at home but with a modern twist. The cocktails are a must try ! for coconut lovers the Rendezvous is just yum ! the only downfall is the A la Carte menu is a bit expensive, but definately worth it for special occasions ! Hope to revisit soon and maybe try out their set menus next time.

L. M.

excellent - but with some caveats! The wife and I really enjoyed, the service was great, the food was fantastic, the level of spice was high but not uncomfortable, and the drinks/service at the bar was also great. Which is an achievement because we are both fussy in our own ways. To those looking to go to Benares: 1) If you want value for money dont bother going, its great but expensive, just deal with it. 2) If you want traditional Indian food, dont bother, its modernised Indian with a chefy twists. 3) If you dont like the top level service, where waiters/waitresses give you an explanation of what is in your dish and a wine menu like a telephone directory then dont bother going. 4) If you want your standard type Indian that you'de get from your local Indian restaurant then dont bother going. 5) BUT...... If youre open-minded, really enjoy Indian style food and dont fall into categories 1 to 5 then I'd 100% recommend Benares!!!!

C. A.

Excellent, stylish Indian cuisine. Very covid safe environment

M. 3.

Excellent service and perfect food. We can't find any faults at all. We thought we were going to arrive late for our booking so we called to make the reception aware and we were accommodated with no problems at all and our booking was moved back slightly. A perfect night.

f. S.

The food is ok but definitely not 1 michelin star worth, I am french and have been eating all over the world , our dinner for 2 came out at 450$ and I definitely had better indian food in New Delhi , Cary NC or tooting Bec London for a fraction of the cost. In summary over done and over priced

A. C.

Dropped by for lunch earlier this week with a friend. Excellent food, we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The set lunch portions were more generous than what a lot of similar Michelin starred restaurants offer. My Bengali style fish cakes were quite authentic, the quail supreme and vegetable biriyani very nice and the rasmalai with strawberries an interesting way to finish off the meal. £35 for a set lunch, and expect to pay perhaps twice that for dinner. Would only note that Indian food of similar quality can be had elsewhere for much less, but Benares does add the fine dining element and a certain flair to the food you won't find in your run of the mill restaurant.

S. R.

I came here a while back. This is like the Rolls Royce of restaurants! Great location, prestige look to restaurant and absolutely excellent food! I would recommend them, but be prepared to pay for the service you receive. I was greeted perfectly, looked-aftered while eating and walked out perfectly. Truly an amazing experience!

N. D.

Fabulous! The food was amazing every single course surpassed expectations.

S. H.

Friendly staff. Feels a bit like eating in a bunker. The food was tasty but very greasy. Nothing stood out, which was a shame given the prices. There are many better and more reasonably priced Indian-esq restaurants in London, so I won't return.

P. C.

Waited more than 5 mins for receptionist to appear, the bouncer wasn't very friendly and or helpful, he was talking to a friend of him. Food was ok, nothing special, it lacked the wow factor. Then long wait for the bill. Toilets were not clean. I prefer other Micheline star restaurants

J. R.

One of the best if not the best restaurant that I had the chance to try anywhere. Everything was fantastic. The people, the food and the service. Highly recommanded if you want to taste amazing food and have a great evening.

V. V.

Classy West-end Indian restaurant offering a twist on Indian cuisine. Worked more on the main course, less on the dessert (malai kulfi a dressed up high street version).

M. M. M. A.

This restaurant in London Not bad food Clean and delicious We eat India food

D. K.

This was a valentines meal a few years ago, I still go on about it! especially the Scallops . me and the boyfriend both enjoys and though the portions initially look small, they are so rich that they fill you up immediately! service incredible as was the food, will go again

T. B.

Splendid meal, fabulous service, excellent cocktails; thank you Benares for sharing your talents with us. Would highly recommend for any event/occasion - ours was a special occasion and you made it memorable for which we truly thank you.

O. D. C.

Absolutely delicious! I cannot recommend this place enough. Perfect from the moment we walked in. The food was stunning in flavours and it's very easy to see why they have a Michelin star.

S. F.

Good choices of Indian food from variis part of India

M. B.

Great tasting Indian food presented in a way more suited to Western elite. For example, a chutney was carefully poured on a fritter, whereas a lower end Indian restaurant would serve the chutney in a small bowl, to dip the fritter before eating. It was an entirely new and weird experience. Perhaps this might be normal for those used to very expensive restaurants in India. The price is exorbitant, of the order of 10X. 1X for food, 9X for the weirdness.

M. E.

We went for the curried goat. The portions were much bigger than anticipated. The Indian wine that was recommended went perfectly. A fantastic experience 🤗

N. S.

Benares was a perfect place for lunch. Highly recommended!!

A. S.

This is better than most 1 michelin star places that I have dined at. Things that matter: Visual - Excellent layout of the restaurant, vibrant and noisy bar adjacent to a relatively quiet main dining area Aromas - no curry smell in the entire restaurant. I hate when the restaurant smells of the kitchen or the food. Intelligence - the bartender was an exceptional guy - engaging. The rest of the wait staff kept their distance but anticipated all the needs keenly. Some of the wait staff could improve the discipline while placing of cutlery in between change of courses. Sommelier - some improvement could benefit the overall experience. For example, recommendation for alternative category of wine pairing instead of suggesting alternatives within the category of chosen wine. Food - one word, brilliant. They were able to make substitutions where it made sense, no fuss. We started with Sampling of various meat appetizers and they were great - the sea bass was delicately cooked and lightly spiced that we could taste the freshness. The main course - Lamb with chickpeas was just great. They were smart enough to not serve the small portion of rice biryani that accompanied the lamb main course as we had separately ordered Biryani as one of the mains. Biryani was very well made and the guests were wowed by it. The Fish main course was good but the other dishes distracted us enough. Noise level - moderate in the main dining area. High in the bar. Within my expectation but if you are looking for a quiet place, this may not be quite right.

A. B.

Exquisite cuisine, amazing atmosphere and a great service. The surprise birthday treat just topped our meal. Will be visiting very soon again with friends

I. S.

Normally go there for dinner, which is very good. This time we opted in for a special offer from the bar menu. Service was sporadic, we had to wait for our drinks, however, food was good and stuff have rediemed themselves by being nice and apologetic about the situation.

M. A.

Exquisite indian food... Authentic. Every dish was perfect.

H. D. N.

Fantastic restaurant with outstanding food

B. B.

Such high quality food at such reasonable prices! A fine indian cuisine with an art for perfection and delicacy rolled into one! the serice was friendly and warm with a lovely interior decor to match. it made it a much better dining experinece for us and a joy. we will definatly be back some time soon, many thanks zumberi

M. F.

I cant say anything about Benares, that has not already been trumpeted far and wide! The food at Benares is quite simply sublime.! Excellent service, Benares, im sure you'll thrive, and that in the fullness of time.... Youll be awarded a World heritage status listing, 👀👌thankyou!

K. M.

The best indian food I have ever eaten. I have had the pleasure of eating at lots of indian restaurants ( all good ) and eat home cooked indian food growing up, but really this place has the best indian food in the world! It does come at a price but well worth it. Modern take on indian food, aswell as the classics. Butter chicken 10/10, a coconut and mustard seed prawn dish 10/10 (forgot the name) is well recommended Service is very good.

S. V.

Exceptional food with amazing service. I would highly recommend the tasting menu for first time diners. The unusual cocktails are well worth a try too.

V. S.

Great place with exotic food. Staff is very hospitable. The chilli kofta was a unique dish. The kofta is left with a hint of the taste of the chilli inside. Ofcourse it is really expensive. Expect about GBP100 for two people.

S. P.

Great food though some of the vegetarian side dishes were lacking. Paneer three ways and chicken were delicious. Pleasant atmosphere and a friendly service.

L. M.

Best Restaurant we had the pleasure to experience! Ever! Food - Top! Cocktails - Top! Crew - Top!!! We'll definitely be back any time we are in London! It was an amazing experience and so so so delicious! Big Thanks to the Crew and our very special "Thank YOU" goes to the Manager Mr. Mukesh Pandey! :))

N. J.

High quality authentic Indian food.

M. D. h.

We had a dinner in this restaurant this week. It was amazing! We choose to take some dishes from the menù a la carte. The matching between the ingredients was pleasantly unexpected. Must visit witout any any doubts!

G. C.

The best meal out I've ever had. Had the tasting menu and each dish was better than the last. Recommend unreservedly.

L. W.

Nice atmosphere and delicious food. The service and cocktails can be improved... Nice experience after all

R. A.

I love the chivas cocktail with the smoke induced coal fire smoke pouring through it and perfectly round ice cube. Please order or if you love scotch. It's worth a visit just for that.

J. D.

This place is ok overall. Service was good and they treated us really well but if your looking for Authentic Indian/Punjabi food, this probably isn't the place. Food was nice but bland, expected a lot more for the price we paid.

Z. A.

Really enjoyed the fine dining at this restaurant, to be honest for some reason I expected more but the food was nice but didn't blow me away. Staff were friendly and efficient.

A. M.

Benares is a world away from the hustle and bustle of London outside and although the restaurant was quiet there was still a good atmosphere. We had set lunch offer which was excellent value and delicious, there was a group of 6 of us and everyone found something they really liked for each course, the chocolate mousse dessert was outstanding and added some theatre to end of the meal.

O. S.

Nice for a posh night out, very friendly and professional staff, the female members of staff a little too dolled up and lower the tone of an otherwise classy restaurant. As far as the food goes, it's perfectly acceptable and interesting but compared to a lot of other non michelin star rated indian restaurants it's nothing special. If you must go to a michelin rated indian then this is the place but if you know indian food and want really nice indian food at a much much cheaper price then there are plenty of other indian eateries in London.

R. S.

Celebrated wife’s birthday here and the whole experience was fantastic. Service, drinks, food and atmosphere was very special. Thanks to the staff for making it special.

A. H.

What a fabulous way to celebrate a special occasion! There was a wonderful sense of calm efficiency and the food was just divine. I can't wait for the next visit!

S. G.

Top notch.. absolutely amazing food and service. Atul, thank you for inspiring the core values of Indian ethos, into everyone of your team. And it was a great thing you did by employing ur personnel who has the 'right mind-set'. I am really suprised by those negative reviews given by others. Not fair at all for you guys. But as in all humans, all cant be impressed. But for sure, you impressed us. Out there, public, here is a great example on how tasty indian food can be presented in a wonderful, loving and passionate manner. We will be back - definitely. NB: I treated my wife by taking her to Benares for a surprise treat on her birthday. After dinner, she was given with compliments, including a signed copy of Atul's book.

F. G.

Food is overpriced for the portion size. Also, the servers were nice but the service was so slow. It took us 2 hours to get all of our courses and the restaurant wasn't crowded.

V. H.

Great lunch and tasty food.

납.

I had this in 33pounds and everything was great.

R. B.

Such an amazing restaurant. Food was great and not lile anything i have had before. Sommelier was fantastic. Wine and curry? Only here could they make this work.

M. H.

Amazing service and top chef really really enjoyed it . One of the best restaurant I have ever been,very good food.

L. G. S. T.

Im only giving this restaurant 3 stars because the food was nice, however, the way the restaurant portrayed itself is not what it actually is. Supposedly this restaurant has a dress code, why do restaurant's have a dress code? To portray a certain level of class, correct? Well this is correct if you are white and English, if however you are indian/arab/muslim you can wear what ever you like! I unfortunately had to sit facing 2 arab men wearing baseball caps, trainers, ripped jeans and hoody ( not very classy at all) It ruined my night, am i second class? Do i have to be arab rich to wear trainer's and caps? Or do i need to indian or muslim to wear trainers and caps? Insulted is an understatement. To top this off and make me even more annoyed the restaurant has falied to respond to my complaint after 3 days and the same email sent twice. I feel like I've racially discriminated by Benares

S. K.

consistently superb - this place always manages to make you feel as welcome as your local curry house with michelin quality food. love this place for quite little meals with the missus to work's do's. if you've not been before the biryani is one of the best in london enjoy.

A. B.

Fabulous. Great food, very well prepared. Excellent service. Will definitely return.

A. P.

With amazing food, ambience and excellent service, Benares is an experience to treasure and savour forever. Even the toilets are top class ( men's especially ) :-) .

J. D.

Something of an underwhelming experience. A La Carte mains erring towards bland, with some strange parings, measly portions on some dishes and a sense of an operation trading on past glories. Service is to a high standard but rather …

K. O.

We ordered from the vegetarian menu and the food was delicious.

D. K.

This was a valentines meal a few years ago, I still go on about it! especially the Scallops . me and the boyfriend both enjoys and though the portions initially look small, they are so rich that they fill you up immediately! …

H. S.

Cannot thank Benares enough! I booked a table for a work Christmas meal for 11 people and from the initial booking with Anshu who was unbelievably helpful and responsive through to the actual night where I can only describe the level of …

Y. X.

One of the best Indian European fusion restaurants in town. Similar to Indian Accent. Very good cocktails as well

M. M. T.

Amazing set of menus. Food was great. Thanks!

M. L.

Fantastic set menu...all the dishes were tasty and the staff very attentive. Good selection of drink for both alcoholic and non alcoholic selections!

E. E. D.

Delicious, original and matched with a friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging staff. Making the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable. Don’t miss the lamb.

R. S.

everything was great about this place, everything that is apart from the actual food. Too much oil and salt in some of dishes we had which was dissapointing which let whole experience down. The service was fantastic but the food wasn't up to par

Z. K.

I would say one of the best Indian restaurant in London for fine dining experience, serves halal & very courteous staff. You would prefer to request reservation in advance to avoid wait.

R. C.

Best of the best, amazing food beyond expectations together with great service this place is one of the top restaurants in London no doubt. Good options for drinks and food selection for vegetarians.

N. V. P.

For a Michelin Star restaurant it has much to deliver. Vegetarian food is bland. The atmosphere is dull which is further overshadowed by cold welcome and staff. I usually choose not to go to Banares.

J. T.

Amazing experience and the food was glorious. Ben the waiter was friendly, knowledgable and passionate about his work. A truly 5 star service.

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