Moti MahalFood heavenWe were met by two very pleasant young ladies who made us feel at ease as were dining at the restaurant for the first time.
There was a very easy and relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant and the staff were very attentive but not intrusive.
Althouth the restaurant was very busy the noise levels were good and I could talk quite happily to my husband.
The food far surpassed anything we had before from that culture and the Tasting Menu was a great idea. The portions were just right and you felt satisfied after the meal. The coffee was also very good, not bitter.
The restaurant was recommended to my husband by colleagues and I am very pleased to say that I also will be telling friends about it.11/05/2013 00:00:00Excellent IndianNot the typical Indian fare, a variety of unique dishes great for sharing.10/05/2013 00:00:00AmazingAmazing meal and presentation. I know my Indian, this is different and needs a whole page in the book to itself!06/05/2013 00:00:00The welcome was friendly andThe welcome was friendly and the advice on the choice of dishes and their sizes (starters and mains are not differentiated on the menu) was useful. All the food was very good, some was outstanding. The best dishes were panneer, scallops, okra (cooked like crisps and beautifully presented) and marinated fish. If you're drinking beer, the Innis and Gunns complements the food perfectly. I tried Cobra first but it was too bland. The Rose was also excellent. The web site mentions a discount card but doesn't tell you how to get it. We emailed the restaurant to inquire about it a few days in advance and it arrived in the Post a few days later. We used it and got a useful 10% off the bill.04/05/2013 00:00:00Best Indian food I've ever tastedClearly aiming for an "upmarket" experience. Waiters and waitresses are impeccably dressed, take your coat, unfold your napkin, refill your glass of water without prompting. Service is polite and swift.
The food is simply exquisite: I've eaten many Indian meals in my life; this is the best I can remember. Particularly fine is the "tasting menu": three starters, two mains, two side dishes, rice, bread, & dessert. Not cheap - £49 a head & £20 more if you want matched wines - but the range of different flavours is worth it. For other menu items, prices are high, but not stupid; maybe £20 for a main course dish, plus several £ for rice, etc.
Downsides: a little too crowded, much too noisy. Not a place for a romantic tête-à-tête.30/04/2013 00:00:00Retirement dinnerI made the booking to thank my top team for all their support, on my retirement but they actually paid! We had a wonderful experience. The waiter explained the menu and we chose a mix of the vegetarian and meat tasting menus. All the food was delicious. We could easily have managed with one less order even though each portion was small. It is expensive and is probably more suited to a group of 6 plus than just two people but well worth finding 5 people to accompany you. I have recommended it to friends.23/04/2013 00:00:00This was the different levelThis was the different level of Indian food. I was not so much fan of Indian food but this experience changed my perspective about Indian food. Fresh spices and fresh ingredients were so good. Service was very good too.20/04/2013 00:00:00Great value menuThe food was really tasty and their starter salad which you make by yourself is wonderful.29/03/2013 00:00:00Moti Mahal is a unique diningMoti Mahal is a unique dining experience and has been my daughter's favourite restaurant in London for the last 3 years!29/03/2013 00:00:00Great Indian Fine DiningMM does a fine job with the food. All preparations we had were interesting, flavourful and crafted with fresh spices. The service can be a little slow if you are going to the theatre so be sure to let them know any time constraints. Also, they add a cover charge per person onto the bill, which is abnoxious when all guests are eating and the prices are not low. The small quirks aside, the food is excellent.25/03/2013 00:00:00Excellent food and somethingExcellent food and something really different. Service friendly and attentive and surroundings excellent.23/03/2013 00:00:00ExcellentOutstanding food, immaculate service, would recommend the taster menu as I could not fault any dish and each glass of wine complimented the food.02/03/2013 00:00:00As Great As AlwaysI have dined here on a number of occasions. Not living in London it is always a special occasion to visit Moti Mahal.
It is not by any means the cheapest food you could eat but the skill the chefs show with spices is amazing and makes a visit well worth while.01/03/2013 00:00:00Excellent food and very helpfulExcellent food and very helpful advice from staff. Once of the best Indian restaurants I have eaten at.19/02/2013 00:00:00Moti MahalMy husband and I had an excellent meal at Moti Mahal. Service was excellent and so was the food. Not a cheap meal. A meal for two with wine cost us £175. Bottles of wine start at approx £30. We were a bit confused with the menu but the waiter explained this to us.
I woould recommend the restaurant if you are a high earner or looking for a restaurant for a very special occasion. It would probably cost too much for most people's budgets16/02/2013 00:00:00Fantastic food - great flavoursWe had been recommended visiting Moti Mahal by family and had a marvellous meal - the flavours were amazing and very different and the staff very helpful explaining the menu and making suggestions to improve our dining experience. having thought we were full we had kulfi to finish, and had five different sticks from blackberry to mango - my husband thought they were the best kulfi he had ever had. The only disappointment was the downstairs room - I'd recommend asking for a table upstairs where there was lots more atmosphere and a truly beautiful room, although the excellent food compensated for the disappointing table16/02/2013 00:00:00Thought the lay-out was great.Thought the lay-out was great. Tables weren't too close to each other so had space and you can see the kitchen if you're on the ground floor. Good choice of non-alcoholic drinks. Location in Covent Garden/Holborn is great as there are so many tourist traps in the area. Food was delicious, my only gripe would be the lamb was not very tender which at £23 for a lamb dish I expect it to be. Service was very professional. It is expensive though at over £180 for 2 people and we didn't even have any wine! There is also a cover charge of £1.50pp which I thought strange. Would highly recommend Murghi Nazakat (3 types of chicken tikka) which we shared as a starter and also Annanas Ka Meetha (rice pudding). These dishes really were divine.15/02/2013 00:00:00Outstanding foodFrom the moment my wife and i stepped through the door we were v impressed... Full restaraunt says it all.. service was excellent.. the non alcoholic cocktails were to die for.... the food was outstanding... this has to b one of the nicest hidden treasures on the London food scene... Amazing...Thank you.02/02/2013 00:00:00Reliably goodThis was our third visit to Moti Mahal, the food is very tasty, whilst not being overly sophisticated the quality is good and there is plenty of choice from a well laid out menu. The food is a delightful journey down the Old Trunk Road and therefore is predominantly north Indian in origin, it's authentic and served in a sharing style. The staff are attentive, welcoming and discret. The ambience is relaxed and comfortable, it's not top end Indian fine dining and that is all to its credit. Would happily return time and again.25/01/2013 16:00:00best Indian in WC1Excellent food, great selection of dishes, brilliant presentation of food and good service.
On the pricey side for Indian but a good experience11/01/2013 16:00:00Great Indian Food at Moti MahalWe went to Moti Mahal for New Years Eve, it was a fixed price 5 course menu. It was fabulous, you actually got 10 different dishes, all of which were excellent (even the dessert). The stand out one though was the Sea Bass served ina vine leaf, it was utterly delicious, as were the tandoori lamb chops and chicken breast.
Some of the best Indian food anywhere (India included)30/12/2012 16:00:00We ate at Moti Mahal for NewWe ate at Moti Mahal for New Year's Eve. We had a great time! The food was excellent and the staff was really friendly and near us to answer questions or to serve us with humor too!
Before leaving the restaurant, since it was New Year's Eve, we've got "New year's hats" and a small bottle of champagne!
We spent a great evening in this restaurant, eating "en tote à tête" with my husband.30/12/2012 16:00:00Moti Mohal Before TheatreA great restaraunt with excellent service. Its a little too good for pre thatre as we would want to take our time next time. The menu is a little confusing so dont be afraid to ask as the waiters are very helpfull. All round great food, lovely surroundings, excellent service, a little pricey.28/12/2012 16:00:00Great Food!First time at Moti Mahal and we thought the service was excellent and Food was amazing.
We will recommend our friends to eat here.14/12/2012 16:00:00A veggie wonderland!I chose Moti Mahal as we were taking a veggie friend out to celebrate a big birthday. The tasting menu was a delight and we chose the matching wine options. She had the vegetarian, we had the meat tasting menu so all were catered to. Ours included a very delicious rabbit main dish as well as a tiger prawn one, and we loved the variety of flavours.
A great success!21/11/2012 00:00:00Up market Indianvery nice surrounding and service. Nice and elaborated Indian cuisine, expensive but worth the extra money as the quality and flavours are really enjoyable.
Good lunch deal with TT.11/10/2012 00:00:00Loved the ingenuity at thisLoved the ingenuity at this lovely Indain gem in Covent Garden. From the chilli martini aperitif and DIY salad to the excellent wine and service, everything was fantastic. Definitely worth a try, and maybe even the tasting menu!11/10/2012 00:00:00A delight!Excellent service and attention to detail throughout the delicious meal. Our table of 4 enjoyed the reasonably priced set menu as a pre-theatre dinner. However we were all so impressed and agreed we must re-visit for a destination dinner and stay for the evening. Delightfully fresh and different tastes and flavours. Would definitely recommend.26/05/2012 00:00:00Food was larger than I expected,Food was larger than I expected, and we over ordered, did our best to eat it all. Good ambiance and great service, would go again.24/03/2012 00:00:00Bit of a walk from the nearestBit of a walk from the nearest tube. The food however was excellent with full marks for presentation, the service was extremely attentive, with the waiting staff patiently explaining how the menu works. The ambience was also lively and relaxing. An excellent location for an evening meal! The toilets deserve a special mention as incredibly clean and luxurious!03/02/2012 16:00:00