Moti Mahal Restaurant

Two Saturdays ago, Jon and I were craving Indian food and saw that normally-pricey Moti Mahal was offering a £20 dinner menu, so we decided to try it out.

When we arrived, we were happy to find a sleek, warm-colored dining room buzzing with conversation. The upstairs room was not for us, though. Instead, we were led downstairs, which was also an attractive space, but seemingly full of families with kids. I’m not anti-kids at restaurants, but as a sans-kid adult, I wished we could’ve stayed upstairs. (When we asked to switch tables, our server super-politely told us the upstairs tables were already fully booked, and I didn’t have it in me to be bitchy about it – surprise, I know).

So because we’d had to let the restaurant know in advance that we were interested in the £20 menu, our server immediately handed us only that “special” menu. And really, it was comprised entirely of dishes from your local Indian takeaway (i.e., tikka masala, lamb vindaloo). Where were all those creative, modern takes on Indian food that we’d read Moti Mahal specializes in?

So we asked to see the a la carte menu, which seemed to take our server a while to find, and when it arrived, we saw there was no overlap at all between the a la carte and the £20 menu . I’d expected Moti Mahal to showcase some of its tastiest, most creative dishes on the £20 menu in an effort to get diners to return and try the more comprehensive a la carte menu, but instead, it seems Moti Mahal is operating two restaurants in the same physical space.

khargosh ki seekh (rabbit kofte) at Moti Mahal
So, a la carte it was. Jon’s rabbit kofte (khargosh ki seekh) was spicy, moist and flavorful. We liked it, but at the end of the day, it’s minced meat on a stick, so £9 seemed a bit steep.

bhalla papdi chaat at Moti Mahal
I was much more impressed with my bhalla papdi chaat, which included crisp pastry bits, yoghurt, chili, tamarind, pomegranate seeds and assorted fritters. Although I’m pretty sure this is a cheap street dish in India, I enjoyed the variety of textures and flavors – chili heat and cooling yogurt is one of my fave food combos.

allepy konch (roasted prawns in a seafood-coconut broth) at Moti Mahal
Jon’s allepy konch (two enormous grilled prawns in a creamy veg stew) was delicately perfumed with coconut milk. The two large prawns were perfectly cooked (i.e., sweet and on just the right side of firmness). The stew wasn’t visually appealing, but it was tasty. Overall, though, an additional prawn and a smaller portion of the thick stew would’ve been ideal. The dish was, after all, £19.

sorpotel (boar stew) with poached egg at Moti Mahal
Our server recommended the sorpotel, which is a boar and okra stew, and while I loved the poached egg with masala seasoning (spiciness + creaminess = tastiness), half the wild boar pieces were tender and sweet, and the other half were a bit dry and stringy. And then there was some additional puffy/spongy thing that didn’t add flavor or texture. Disappointing for £18.

Overall, Moti Mahal as a mixed bag. The decor, vibe and service were pluses, and the food had its promising moments, so maybe for £20 a person and an expectation for curry takeaway classics, I’d return. But with wine and a couple of extras like rice and dal makhani (which was deliciously rich and creamy), our tab for two was £100, making our dinner a pretty mediocre value.

An's profile     Other reviews by An     An likes    

Absolute gem! I went to this restaurant for the first time this weekend after a recommendation from a friend. The quality and taste of the food was astounding. Staff were more than helpful and always smiling! If you are after a good meal in a pleasant location then I highly recommend this restaurant.

I recently lunched here for the first time for many years, with three friends. The ambiance is clean and agreeable, without piped music, and the staff are pleasant and obliging. I would have graded the food as GOOD, but for one thing. The pilau rice was the worst I can ever remember having in an Indian restaurant. One doesn't expect proper pilau rice, with saffron for the prices charged here, but most similar restaurants, in my experience, produce something that approximates to it. This appeared to be simple boiled rice (leftovers?) that had simply had a bit of gee added to it!l

c.blair's profile     Other reviews by c.blair     c.blair likes    

I have had the honour of tasting the delights of many curry houses throughout England. Moti Mahal is simply the best. I've never seen a place be able to serve so many dishes that all taste so good. Each one being superb in its own right. Hats off to the chef.The service is unbeatable and the location is practical. Just reserve as soon as you can!A true classic.

When I first went there I was expecting a regular Indian restaurant.. But after eating the food I was pleasantly surprised.. It is by far the best Indian I've had. All of my friends agree and we've been back countless times.. staff are excellent as is the food. Now I can go in and ask them to choose any dish for me in confidence. Awesome place.

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