Benares (Mayfair)

• One of which was wrong due to a misunderstanding on the waiters behalf
• A complimentary dessert was offered but the evening was slightly ruined by the mix up
• Had been really looking forward to going here and seeing what a Michelin starred Indian restaurant is like compared to the usual ones in the UK
• Then they do make the chicken tikka pie with (as the waiter proudly told us) "
• Course it was ridiculously expensive but most of that was probably going on the rent for a Berkeley Square location
• Coming across a Michelin starred Indian restaurant is not common
• My first visit to Atul Kochhars flag ship London Restaurant Benares was a couple of years ago on a Friday evening
• We went for the tasting menu and were blown away by the glorious food and the subtle wine combinations
• We'd been to the Cinnamon Club and our experience there with Indian Food Wine matching was scary give the customer lots of really strong red wine
• Indeed the meal was close to perfect
• This time I went with friends who were experiencing the restaurant for the first time
• On a weekend where Atul was not in the kitchen
• When it returned (much too quickly) it was still not as ordered
• Consistency and attention to detail are really important when its a Michelin starred venue
• The service we experienced was exceptional
• Their knowledge of the menu is world class
• My choice for starter was the soft shell crab the combination of flavours and textures were quite simply amazing
• The king prawn was beautifully spiced and left you with a lingering smokey flavour my only wish would be for king prawns to be plated up
• S got a Michelin star and is associated with celebrity chef Atul Kochhar
• Whilst there are some Michelin star restaurants which don&rsquo
• This goes to the extent that whenever you mention Benares most people have heard of it and are aware of its high swank ratings
• Whilst the main restaurant is very minimalist making use of cooling white shades
• The center piece is a rather large canoe which is filled with lush exotic flowers bringing a South East Asian feel to the bar area
• Guests are also greeted with a still water pool filled with pink water lilies as they ascend up to the dining area
• In fact this is not the type of food that Benares aims on creating
• Instead there is a distinct English influence leading to a rather Anglo Indian affair which offers a marrying of Indian tastes served up to English standards
• An example of this is the cold saffron soup served in what looks like a shot glass available on the platter menu
• This means that much of the strength of traditional Indian spices is lost but it is instead replaces by very different and quite unique tastes
• As with most swish and swanky restaurants these days there are dining offers available designed to make their restaurant more accessible
• The service and the general feel of the restaurant was spot on and worth of the Michelin star
• To the extent that we stayed well after the restaurant was closed but were not kicked out or even hassled by the staff at all
• The food is very adventurous which is nice at times but in some cases it does feel slightly more experimental than polished
• With no natural light but the place is immaculate
• The food portions are a little petite
• So it wouldn't be correct if the food was not perfectly cooked
• Everything was 10/10 from location to presentation of food to decor
• All of the food was really lovely
• The restaurant decor is stunning and the service exceptional
• The waiter was attentive without being imposing
• It is an extremely formal spot with high prices to match
• A lamb dish served with broccoli and Spanish pepper and I have to say
• It was the best lamb I've ever tasted
• If you're looking for an amazing dining experience with fabulous ambience and great Indian food
• Benares definitely offers this with an excellent choice in Indian food
• It is expensive but you are paying for fine dining
• The service was impeccable
• The ambiance was delightful and the food was excellent
• My wife had the palak paneer and the samosas were delightful as well
• It was fused with deep Tandoori flavours and spice
• The main course was the chicken
• The tikka masala sauce was rich in Flavours and had a strong tomato undercurrent with a sweet after taste
• The service was efficient but not as attentive as It could have been
• Im lost with why everyone is giving Benares (Mayfair) such high reviews I was expecting better from the food
• Recently I visited benaras for dinner with a few friends
• You are greeted by the hostess and are taken to your table
• They serve papodoms with three sweet chutneys and gave us a complimentary khamand dish
• The baingan ka bharta is delicious and so was the cheddar cheese kulcha
• The presentation of the food is decent however the portions are very small
• The food was nice but slightly hyped and the ambience was really nice
• You can't go wrong with Benaras if you are looking for good Indian Food and are willing to spend a little
• He's renowned for combining his heritage with his love for traditional British ingredients in order to create a unique and interesting Indian cuisine
• We were greeted by the doormen who opened the doors into a dimly lit reception area which was more reminiscent of a spa than a restaurant
• Calming still water pond filled with exotic flowers at the top of the stairs
• Whilst the low lit bar area was vibrant and stylish
• The square shaped dining room itself was rather minimalist and lacked personality
• The cocktail menu at Benares is truly tantalising
• We were also presented with a box of crispy poppadoms and a trio of dips
• Atul Kochhar's take on Indian cuisine is a combination of his Indian heritage and British ingredients and at Benares he has created a menu marrying Indian tastes with traditional English fare
• We headed straight to the starters and were impressed with the variety on offer
• We decided to keep starters simple and started with the Aloo Kachaloo Chaat
• Aloo chaat is one our favourite savoury snacks and we were looking forward to seeing Kochhar's take on this traditional dish but unfortunately
• Again we were impressed with the variety on offer which ranged from innovative seafood dishes to traditional tandoori chicken
• The Tandoori Murg was cooked to perfection
• The chicken was succulent and the portion size was good
• The mint chutney and summer salad were the perfect accompaniments to counter the spice
• Spiced vermicelli topped with a coconut and curry leaf sauce
• The salmon was so tender and literally melted in my mouth with every bite
• The coconut and curry leaf sauce was flavourful but not overbearing and didn't detract from the salmon's taste
• Tomato based sauce which was rich and a side of garlic naan
• Given how the cuisine is contemporary Indian
• By the end of mains we were well and truly stuffed with absolutely no intention of ordering dessert
• My eyes were immediately drawn to the Dark Chocolate Mousse with Passion Fruit and Hot Chocolate Sauce and having eyed it up on our neighbour's table
• I coaxed him into ordering the Guanaja Truffle with Eve Strawberry Ice Cream
• Another chocolate based dessert which I was convinced he'd enjoy
• The desserts arrived and I was presented with a plate of chocolate truffles with a Congratulations message and a congratulations from our waitress a really nice touch from the restaurant
• The presentation of the other desserts was immaculate
• The Dark Chocolate Mousse was essentially a chocolate bomb which melted away when our waitress poured the hot chocolate sauce over it to reveal vanilla ice cream inside
• The chocolate was deliciously rich and the strawberries and passion fruit jelly cubes helped to counter the richness
• Indy and I were literally fighting over this dessert and it was most certainly the highlight of our evening
• The Guanaja Truffle with Eve Strawberry Ice Cream was also delicious
• Aromatic chocolate with a subtle coffee taste
• The strawberry ice cream was a great accompaniment and helped to balance the cake's richness
• The cuisine is a blend of traditional Indian flavours
• The strength of the Indian flavours are unfortunately lost
• The a la carte menu itself is quite pricey
• Where guests are surrounded by some of the world's finest wines and champagnes
• Whilst we really enjoyed our food and felt the service from our waitress Roxanne was impeccable
• The atmosphere of the restaurant was really lacking for a Mayfair restaurant on a Friday evening
• An app which lets users book last minute at some of the best restaurants in London
• Benares is a stylish michelin star restaurant in Mayfair which serves modern Indian cuisine with a contemporary British twist
• A wooden box of mini poppadoms were accompanied with three chutneys
• The dark restaurant interior was sophisticated and glamourous
• The only other diners were male and in suits
• The cocktail menu was very impressive boasting classic martinis to alcoholic lassies
• I chose a date lassi which came with a pretty flower on top and my dining partner went for a mango and ginger one
• The lamb cutlet was insanely flavoursome
• Everything was great but I could have eaten double &ndash
• In my opinion it was a tad on the stingy side
• All main courses are served with Lentils and Tandoori bread and rice which is a nice touch
• S tinted with turmeric and lifted with lime juice
• The chicken was so juicy and the addition of tiny berries
• My sister and I chose this renowned Michelin starred restaurant for our parents' ruby anniversary celebrations and were utterly impressed by our dealings with the staff at Benares from the outset
• It was wonderful that we were able to secure this room without needing to hand in a deposit or guaranteee a particular minimum spend
• The party menu was suggested to us and sounded ideal with a great range of dishes
• Varying in quantity with tempting ingredients and a range of smaller finger food to hearty main courses
• We learned that having Halal meat for some of our guests was no issue at all and they were able to cater for the vegetarians in our group with no difficulty either
• They offered to inclue personalised menus with no extra cost either and were flexilbe in asking us whether we wanted to pre order wine in advance or waiting until the day itselff
• They seemed SO helpful in fact that we started to wonder what the catch was before rapidly realising tere wasn't one
• We understood this completely and were quite happy when they told us they would provide a decoration table in the corner
• I was unable to try each dish as I was already so full
• They had small interruptions to deal with from us due to guests moving around
• Speeches being made etc and they dealt with this with grace
• My parents received a little surprise in the form of petit fours on a plate with an iced happy anniversary message
• I can completely understand that this can be the way in large groups and we were all having such a good time that this really did not bother us in the slightest
• I would probably bring takeaway boxes for the slices of cake to give to guests as the staff were able to provide the one or two that we asked for but again
• We were thoroughly impressed with the food at Benares and for 45 / head for the party menu (whihc included either one glass of sparkling wine or one lassi)
• I thought this was absolutely fantastic value for the level of service
• I would now love to return to Benares to experience the a la carte menu and to dine in the main area of the restaurant but for a private party with outstanding
• 1st time trying Indian so was very picky on what I was going to have
• The waiter was very helpful on helping me decide what to get &
• They were so unorganised that despite me confirming them 3 times we are vegetarian ( on phone
• The local street food is more hygienic than this
• I have given 1 star for finally bringing a plate written happy birthday with chocolate and dessert
• With a reputation for blending upscale Indian cuisine with British style
• The food at Benares is Indian with a twist and is simply stunning
• Eating here is definitely an experience that you pay a bit more
• While Benares is in a premium location on Berkeley Square in the heart of Mayfair
• S dark albeit with soft mood lighting
• The first time I was suffering from the remnants of a cold so couldn't truly appreciate the delicious food
• My boyfriend has never been keen on Indian food partially because the only Indian food he's ever known is a greasy chicken korma and a piece of floppy naan
• Can't say I was a fan of the carrot and raisin halwa however
• I wasn't a fan of the pairing of the two ingredients especially with the mandarin ice cream
• Benares is a Michelin Star restaurant in London serving modern Indian food with a British twist
• Right away there was an elegant
• The stairs led to the bar area which was so beautiful it made we wish we had arrived earlier to spend some time here
• I especially loved the water pool with pink floating flowers
• Went their with a client for dinner
• When you think of food that best epitomises London
• The answer is neither of course
• As you will not be surprised to know that it is Indian food
• Chicken Tikka Masala is now a true British national dish
• Not only because it is the most popular
• Because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences
• Atul Kochhar is the first Indian chef to be awarded the prestigious Michelin Star
• S contemporary cooking technique is renowned for combining Indian traditions with culinary advancements
• The front facade of the restaurant is visually alluring
• Sleek restaurant offer a blend of modern furnishings with traditional Indian adornments
• You are greeted with the mesmerising sight of a Mughal style water tank
• The prices are in line with other fine dining establishments
• Our invitation began with mini herbed popadoms and three different types of chutneys
• As the flavour was a combination of sweet gooseberry imbued with Asian spices
• The pineapple chutney was sharp and tangy
• The Mango Wood was impressive
• The palate is caressed seductively by the sweet syrupy taste of the mango and passion fruit
• Refreshing citrusy lemon juice and the final taste to end the odyssey on is the tantalising heat from the ginger
• Sweet berry flavour is boosted by the sacchariferous peach and guava
• Karara Kekda Aur Papeeta is one of the signature dishes of Benares and has been on the menu in one form or another for the past 13 years
• The crispy texture of the crab was light and dainty
• Nonetheless there was no piscine aftertaste
• The sweet papaya salad was a superb accompaniment to the crab
• Was juxtaposed delicately with the sour mango dressing
• We were enamoured with the Sarson Chooza
• The roasted garlic mayonnaise synthesised divinely with the tomato
• With some segments of the tomato softening into a lightly spiced sauce that was simply divine
• The flavours were once again to our palate veritably delicate
• Spring greens with ginger and cumin
• The bright reddish pink beetroot jus on a black ceramic plate was visually captivating
• The salmon was perfection
• The flavours overall were once again light
• The Moilee elixir was simply sensational
• The crab croquette was also a superlative component to the dish
• The sweet spices were prominent in the croquette and every morsel was a step closer to heaven
• The Changezi Chaapein (lamb chops) were visually not as impressive as the salmon dish
• The aroma of the chops were ethereally intoxicating
• As these were possibly one of the best chops we have consumed
• The lamb chops were undeniably moreish and luscious
• Because haute cuisine tends to be light and not too filling for people with avaricious appetites
• As the flavours were weak and the paneer itself was regrettably bland
• That does not mean the dish was not executed well
• A climax to a meal is never complete without dessert
• Rhubarb and Pomegranate Bhapa Doi with Pistachio Burfi&rdquo
• Anise Infused Sour Cherry with Yoghurt Ice Cream&rdquo
• The Rhubarb and Pomegranate Bhapa Doi with Pistachio Burfi was beautifully presented in a glass tumbler
• Was of a smooth and creamy consistency and the steamed yoghurt was a revelation
• Anise Infused Sour Cherry with Yoghurt Ice Cream was a theatrical extravaganza
• Then we watched in fascination as the chocolate sauce was poured over the chocolate ball
• Their success is clearly attributed to their determination to source high quality seasonal ingredients
• Who desire sophisticated dishes that are appetising but not overpowering in flavour
• Our palate is accustomed to bold and prodigious flavours
• Our experience at Benares was exceptional
• Accolades and awards that they have achieved over their long tenure are well deserved
• Wasn't impressed as I went with family to celebrate my dad's birthday and felt it didn't had the right flavours
• Butter chicken was exquisite and so was the lamb jus dish
• We both started of with aloo ki chat which was just wow it took me back to my childhood days when my father used to take me to chawri bazar (Delhi) and I used to gorge on it
• This was followed by Tandoori chicken pie which was too good to be true serve me 100's of these and I will not say no
• Salmon with the most aromatic tasty coconut curry was the next in line I literally drank all of the curry
• Next was crab croquette which was again good my tummy was already starting to fill up but who would resist such awesome food
• Tandoori cutlet with dal makhani and rogan jus ticked all the correct points
• Finally the desserts arrived to my surprise they had given us passion fruit cake on enquiring it with the server and showing the printed menu he apologized and now we had kulfi as well
• My wife also enjoyed all her vegetarian dishes with her best being khumb moilee and paneer do roopiya
• Cocktails delivered to our table whilst we absorbed our surroundings that I can only liken to an old fashioned mixed with totally chic bar
• With many restaurant areas off the bar we were wondering where we would be seated so took a while to look around
• When were lead to our table the waiters were charm personified and the sommelier a true old fashioned gentleman
• Our taste buds exploded with each and every mouthful
• We enjoyed it so much we are planning our return before Christmas simply to eat there
• Book early as its fame is widespread
• The flavours are not toned down and are as they should be
• Way back in 1958 was the Italian entry into the Eurovision song contest
• Named after India's holy city Benares marries traditional with daring modernity
• They have transformed beauty and vibrancy of the city into this restaurant with hand crafted furniture
• Benares (Mayfair) with its unique talent would change the way you think
• The crispy masala squid starters were totally amazing and was complimentary with the wine
• E which was awesome with a great twist to normal gulab jamun
• Creative food in excellent surroundings with great service
• Probably it is the fusion part the got it the star
• I came here for an anniversary and was really looking forward to eating this infamous Chef's food
• The waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu
• Everything we ate was not only stunning to look at but extremely tasty
• Staff is very courteous with personal touch and care by restaurant manager
• One word id advice though advance booking is necessary as its famous place
• Was synonymous with the concept of a curry house
• Les Vignobles Foncalieu was the first wine cooperative in France
• Great service by Lucy (she was very warm/ cheerful)
• Must visit for some of the best Indian food in London
• Service was good and the food was even better
• 86 per head with starter and mains
• We had opted for the set menu and it was definitely worth the money
• Spice levels were not too much for those with a delicate pallet but enough to satisfy a chilli lover like myself
• Very rich sauces are served on the side so you can add according to your taste
• I recommend the Rogan jus lamb cutlets if they are on the menu
• The only drink to enjoy with a ruby imo
• Will serve you food with high amount of RACISM
• I m in love with Benares (Mayfair)
• A fancy restaurant in Mayfair with delicious food and smiley waiters and waitresses
• Benares (Mayfair) is blindly the best choice
• What we got was food that varied from good to outstanding
• T quite as good as I was expecting and a notch below say Ziya in Mumbai
• The food varies from excellent Karajan Kekda(which is soft shell crab in Papaya relish
• The lesser impressive was The Tandoor Ratan ( chargrilled sea bass
• Mains of tandoori Murg which is a classic but in a mint and corriander Chutney
• The standout of the evening of Changezi Chaapein which are Smoked Tandoori Lamb Cutlets in Sauté
• Ed Mangetout with Rohan sauce
• A big test of the cuisine was stock standard dishes of Palak Paneer ( ok) and Dahl ( spicy but we&rsquo
• I went their and the overall experience was very warm and calm
• The servers here are highly knowledgeable and attentive

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