Farzi London

Farzi Café is a phenomenon in India, with 10 restaurants across the country and one international outpost in Dubai. It’s known for its molecular gastronomy and tableside theatrics, and with its gold interiors and walls festooned with candle light, the new London Farzi certainly looks the destination-dining part.

One quirk is that cocktails are based on star signs, although our horoscope clearly wasn’t a good one, as a Sagittarius wasn’t on offer. We opted instead for the next closest, the Scorpio, which was served in an impressive bronze chalice that added a coppery taste to the peppery drink.

This, however, was where the expected theatrics stopped, although the restaurant more than made up for that disappointment with some stunning dishes. A ‘nano plate’ (Farzi’s name for nibbles) of Udupi paneer popcorn chicken was polished off with relish. From the small plates proper, a light and fluffy dal chawal arancini was reminiscent of an Indian falafel, while chicken tikka was fantastically smoky.

Belly pork tikka – sweet, sticky and melt-in-the-mouth – was the pick of our larger plates. A Tandoori goat shoulder also made for tender eating, with the sauce itself lending a citrus taste to the dish; it would have been great mopped up with some naan, but we’d already eaten it by the time our side order of bread was the last dish to arrive. For pudding, chocolate forest was an intriguingly vegetal take on Black Forest gateau, involving sweet beetroot and boozy cherries.

But impressive as the cooking is, our enjoyment of the food was hampered by sitting at cramped tables, elbow-to-elbow with our neighbours. Overlook this, however, and you’ll find some top-notch cooking underlined by a terrific atmosphere and professional service.

Farzi London is an Indian restaurant that aims to do things a little bit differently. It was originally brought to London by restaurateur Zorawar Kalra, the founder of restaurant group Massive Restaurants, who owns a range of restaurants across the capital that aim to showcase the evolution of Indian cuisine. Farzi London is best described as a modern Indian bistro, serving innovative, avant-garde dishes that offer a culinary journey across what is known as 'undivided India'.

That's right, the restaurant's fresh, newly-launched concept looks at a breadth of countries from Afghanistan and Bangladesh, to the Maldives and Nepal alongside many more, which were once all recognised as a singular nation. With new menus, the team looks to honour the idea of one India, bringing together flavour references and cooking methods from across all of these cuisines and cultures. 

Enjoy trying the sizzling kebabs usually served in the bustling streets of Lucknow, or indulge in the legendary chaats of Chandni Chowk, a storied market district at the heart of Old Delhi. Oh, and be sure to try the succulent, slow-cooked stew Nalli Nihari from Lahore in the north of Punjab, found along the River Ravi. The team are also proud of how they've given new life to time-honoured cooking techniques and explore the likes of Dum cooking which using a slow, steaming method from Awadhi culture, as well as Sigri which grills meats over a charcoal fire. 

Farzi London also boasts a talented bar team who have worked closely with some of London’s most celebrated mixologists to create its signature serves. Discover a number of experiential and contemporary cocktails, such as one called Mesh featuring pink pepper gin, saffron, coconut water, coconut, kombucha, falernum, rose and pineapple blossom. There is also an extensive selection of Champagnes, English sparklings, wines and spirits to pair with your meal.