Rasoi Vineet Bhatia

What an utter disappointment.
Oh quant, its in a townhouse, until you get inside and you could hear a pin drop and the décor is dated and the food, uninventive and expensive. And the service? Utterly charmless.
The food was seriously underwhelming. My starter, a duo of chicken tikkas and a chicken cigar, was poor. The chicken tikkas were very dry and tasted no different than overcooked chicken tikka you’d find at any other high-​street Indian place. The chicken cigar was good; a roll on the samosa model, but as a small bite did little to negate the dry chicken tikka. My main, a lamb shank with butter rice, was fine; again, akin to something you’d get at a decent high-​street curry house, though the plating tried (unsuccessfully) to make it look fancy.
Usually, if food is passable, I’d give a better review, but for an expensive restaurant which I went to for a special occasion, I expected a lot more. My sister went to Benares a few weeks ago for her anniversary and they showered her with champagne, multiple amouse bouche (s), and a desert. I didn’t expect anything, but a smile from the staff would’ve been nice.
If the place rests solely on its cooking laurels it needs to be a lot better to have such a terrible atmosphere. I would consider this to be the worst restaurant I’ve been to in recent memory. The only other patrons, a family of four, were having to whisper when they spoke, it was all so uncomfortable.

They’re so close to something spectacular here, that it’s frustrating to see them trip on the finish line.
The thoughtfulness behind the dishes was genius. The presentation was unparalleled. The service was attentive without being overbearing. But the execution…
First, the mouse bouche had been sitting – not long, but long enough for the blueberry lasi to come tepid, and for the potato fritter to lose that al dente crack. I’m citing preparation, not service here, because it was an intimate venue.
The tika three ways was gorgeous, but again, was just above warm, and more disappointingly, lacked pronounced flavors. I was surprised to be making this statement about Indian food, but there just was not that smokey flavor that you usually get with tandoor– prepared items. The overarching flavor profile was tomato and chicken, which is somewhat uncommon from a dish that usually leans heavily toward yogurt, garam masala, etc. I understand that the masala sauce usually provides this, but absent that, the chicken has to be able to stand on its own.
The curried lobster was a dish that was incredibly beautiful on paper: curried lobster claws over a bed of lobster asparagus risotto dusted with cocoa to pull back the sweetness. But had you not read the description, you would have a very difficult time picking any one of those flavors out. The lobster was not curried in any real sense. There was none of the yellow coloration that is inherently linked to curried-​anything. It could have been asparagus risotto, but again, hard to say, as the usually pronounced sharpness of asparagus spears was missing.
Trio of naan was overcooked – not blackened tho, which corroborates my theory that they’re not using a tandoor oven.
Four stars for their inventiveness, service, ambiance, and for what they are so close to being, but minus one for only suggesting to me what truly inventive Indian cuisine could be, without fully delivering.

Went here for the second time — after a 4 year hiatus. The first time Rasoi was amazing!
Ended up visiting the sister restaurant in Bombay as well afterwards, hence the repeat visit to Rasoi in London.
First off the bat — they dont have Raan. And after emailing them in advance and asking for it, then still cannot do it. That was the best thing in the Bombay one!
Second, the food is generally NOT as good as the sister restaurant. However, it’s also gone downhill apparently.
Third, while this place is still good, it’s not the best Indian restaurant and at 100 pounds a head, you would expect something special. It ISN’T

London has many options for elevated Indian food and often they are hard to get a reservation. I had never heard of Rasoi before and when I found it, it seemed like they were going out of their way to be discreet. It looked almost like a private club.
I am glad that I did find it!
I was able to get see various the previous day and it wasn’t that busy, though it was a Tuesday so that is not a huge surprised. It’s a pretty small place, very cozy with a bright conservatory. I felt at home right away, partly owing to the very friendly and attentive service.
The food was consistently excellent. I went with 3 other people and everybody loved everything. The dishes were served with a bit of dramatic presentation and the flavours were amazing.
It was cheap but not extortionate either. I would definitely recommend it if you felt like treating yourself.

Entertained two friends here. Wanted to impress them with Michelin standard Indian cuisine. We were not disappointed.
Great location just off Sloane Square in a lovely typical London property with a lovely façade. Ring the door bell and get a lovely welcome!
We ate the Prestiege (taster menu) at £89 per head which interestingly was not required to be served to the whole table. Highlights were the Spice crusted Foie gras, raspberry fennel crumble, saffron cardamom cream & saffron Caviar. We also loved the Smoked junglee lamb chop.
Very friendly and efficient service, a knowledgeable wine server.
We ate in the room to the rear of the property. Nicely air conditioned, but no music — not a problem we enjoyed a serious eating experience and the ability to hear one another. Management could look at cleaning the lovely glass dome that would let in more natural light in had it been clean.

Rasoi was an excellent experience. The food was excellent, as was the service.
We had the Veg Prestige tasting menu, and it was outstanding. The courses provided a great variety of dishes and flavors, and I found each of them to be great in both their presentation and (most importantly!) their taste. One particularly cool course was a smoked dish that was brought out to the table and then the lid of the container was lifted, releasing the smoke. The only slight disappointment was the dessert course, which I thought was pretty average at best.
Regarding the atmosphere, it felt sort of quiet and homey, which can be a plus or a minus compared to your preferences. Overall, despite the high prices, I really enjoyed Rasoi and would highly recommend it.

WOW! This place was fabulous. We stopped in for lunch on a recommendation from a friend. We were the only people in there so we were skeptical, but as we ate our meal, more tables came in. Great deal for lunch, menu is much cheaper than dinner. 2 course meal for 22 pounds, 3 course for 27 pounds. I ordered the samosa to start, my husband has the prawns with curry and rice. They were both amazing. Best samosa I have ever tasted. For main course I ordered lamb in curry sauce, it was to die for. I ate every bite and mopped up all the sauce with the naan bread. We did not order the naan bread, but our waiter suggested it and I’m glad he died! It came with 3 kinds, one had mint, the second sesame, and the third coconut. I dipped them in the mint sauce provided, it was amazing. My husband had the lamb kebab for his second course, was good, but a little too much seasoning in my opinion. Gave him a little heartburn, but it was good. I was just there 4 days ago and am craving their food already! Can’t wait to go back

Simply put, superlative on every level: atmosphere, service, food, experience. Delivers on every single expectation and lives up to the reputation that precedes it.

I’ve always heard that London has amazing Indian food and I was determined to find it. I was super excited about this place since it was also Michelin starred. So made reservations on top table for lunch. Good thing I read reviews on Unilocal first, because it’s in a townhouse-​esque building and you have to ring the doorbell to be let in.
My friend and I decided to share the four course lunch (and we threw off our server since we wanted to share everything) and added the trio of breads (I don’t know why they didn’t just call it trio of naan). They did bring us complimentary Pappadam with mint and mango chutneys and that was lovely. And they also brought us a Spiced Beet Soup amuse bouche and that was delicious. It had just the right amount of unexpected kick.
For our mains, we got:
Prawns poached in a Kaiffir lime-​coconut sauce, steamed rice
*it was ok. The prawns were over cooked, but the sauce was good.
Mustard chicken tikkat, red kidney bean pulao, Aamti lentils
*this dish was ok, too. The chicken was overcooked, but the pulao and the lentils were really good.
Crusted lamb seekh kebab, fennel potatoes, Rogan josh sauce
*again, this dish was just ok, as well. The lamb was overcooked. But the fennel potatoes were delicious.
Of the main courses, I don’t know how they could overcook all the meats. Everything was slightly dry. All the accompaniments were delightful. The trio of naan was delicious. Crisp around the edges and chewy and flavorful.
For dessert we got a chocolate and nut samosa with and Indian spiced ice cream. The samosa was good, the ice cream flavor took some getting used to.
Overall, the service was very good. Mind you for the first half hour we were the only ones there. But they were very attentive and explained each dish to us and were very friendly. The food was good, but could’ve been better. If I’m ever back in London — I might try it again.

Novelle Indian cuisine often looses its roots.
Yes the décor, atmosphere and service were very good.
The lamb shank and duck were good.
So were the starters.
But something was missing in making the dishes and flavors memorable.
I was expecting something more at this price level.

It’s hard to find good Indian food. And when you do it’s hard to find good service to go along with it. This was not the case at Rasoi.
My husband and I visited Rasoi this past New Year’s Eve, on a recommendation from American Express. Here are my thoughts:
* The food was just divine. From the «Street Food» appetizer to the Chilli scallop-​prawns brochette, from the Pomegranate Sea Bass to the Coconut-​Coriander Chutney Chicken… everything was delicious. My only comments are that I wasn’t crazy about the risotto that accompanied both the brochette and the sea bass. And the naan lacked salt. But really, I’m just splitting hairs here.
* Service was fantastic. The ratio of servers to customers was 2:1. No joke. Friendly and knowledgeable, I really couldn’t find fault with the service.
* Location was a bit out there. We were staying near the Embankment area and the restaurant was quite a ways out, in a little unassuming house. Worth the trip though.
We’ll definitely be back and will recommend this place to all.

I am always a bit weary of places that require you to be buzzed in but once we went inside we felt like we were whisked away to someone’s cozy home to enjoy a wonderfully delicious meal. The service was truly top notch and so friendly. We opted for the two course lunch and we were delighted.
Pappadam with Mint and Mango Chutneys in addition to another amuse bouche started the lunch right with the anticipation of what was to come building. I don’t remember what the other amuse bouche item was but it was DELICIOUS.
I have never had a smoke enclosed dish… and not only was it a visual delight but it also tasted awesome! I was probably as nervous as the waiter when he gently set the plate down not letting any of the smoke release until he was ready to release it all! The fish had a beautiful sweet and crispy glaze and the meat was succulent and moist. I loved the kaffir lime-​coconut sauce! It was so flavorful and had just the right amount of spicy kick. I soaked up all that sauce with the flavored naan breads.
Smoke enclosed tandoori salmon, cucumber-​dill salad
Prawns poached in a Kaiffir lime-​coconut sauce, steamed rice
Mustard chicken tikka, Goat’s cheese samosa, Dahi bhalla
Crusted lamb seekh kebab, achari potatoes, Rogan josh sauce
Naan– Coconut filled, mushroom, and coriander

This is an excellent dining experience. First of all this restaurant is in a side street in Chelsea, unassuming. When you go in it feels like you are going into someones house for dinner. This effect follows on inside with a very intimate dining room with a few covers.
Food wise, this is superb Indian food, nothing like I’ve ever had before. I’m no expert on South Asian Language (I’m over selling my language skills!) but the menu is littered with descriptions that need explanations which the staff are happy to give. As the dishes are presented they are each described also a nice touch.
This is the most unusual Indian, if only they did takeaway too !

We were just here for Christmas dinner, and I have to say it was hands down one of the best meals that we’ve ever had! We went with the 7-​course vegetarian menu. The flavors were amazing and familiar but but the application was all new an exciting. I’ve had a lot of Indian food but none quite as unique and delicious as this. I believe the Zagat guide referred to the price as «obscene» and it would be correct, but it’s worth ever penny! The restaurant is in this cute townhouse and is very cozy. If you want an amazing meal for a special occasion, definitely check out Rasoi.

I went here about a year ago and it just popped up on my radar again. What can I say, excellent, top top top Indian food in a cozy Chelsea townhouse. We went there for a group dinner and had a private room — it felt like we were in a personal dining room and catered chef service. It was lovely, and I look forward to going back.

Went here a few years ago…
This place is one of the best and unique Indian restaurants in the world!
The restaurant is in a townhouse in a very swanky neighborhood. Each room of the house is trying to depict a different part of India, which was really cool.
The two dishes which I remember being amazing was a truffle kichadi and for desert a Choclate samosa with chai ice cream!

Wow. Simply … wow.
As a Washington, D.C., resident, I turn to Tom Sietsema, the wonderful food critic for the Washington Post, whenever I travel. His «Postcards from Tom» series, which serves up mini-​reviews on three restaurants (all at different price ranges, low to high) in a given city, always help identify where I should concentrate my search for a good meal. He’s never steered me wrong.
And Rasoi is one of the best recommendations I’ve ever come across. I loved this place, and I was only disappointed that I couldn’t bring everyone I know with me. I’m definitely coming back.
Tucked in a quiet street in Chelsea, Rasoi could easily be missed. It looks, from the outside, like any other tony flat one might pass, except for the small sign and the menu posted outside. Entrance is gained by ringing a door chime, and a friendly and courteous host greets you as if you’re a guest in his home.
And that’s the way the meal progresses. The interior is akin to an intimate home. I sat in the front room, which only has about four or five tables. Only two other couples were eating on this Wednesday night, so it was quiet (except for the one woman who didn’t have the courtesy to put her BlackBerry on silent, so it dinged whenever she got an e-​mail).
Service is absolutely top-​notch — the manager comes out to take your order personally — and is attentive, friendly and formal without being intrusive or stuffy. I pay closer attention to service when I’m a solo diner, as I was last night (I’m in London on business), because I think how an establishment treats solo diners is a barometer on its overall attention to service. Rasoi passes with flying colours.
But the food. Oh, the food. An amuse bouche was delivered that had papadams with two kinds of chutney, a good staple, but also with a bite-​sized piece of battered chicken (perhaps a tempura) that was lovely, and a small sample of mushroom soup that might be the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. It was rich and creamy — but not heavy — and had just the slightest hint of spice. I want more, and I want it in one of those beer helmets with the straws so I can consume it non-​stop.
I did the two-​course option (get a dessert and it’s three courses). For my starter, I got the kebab selection, which I think was the way to go. I got to sample a lot of flavours and a variety of cooking methods: tandoori jumbo prawn, pickle flavoured quail, mustard and curry leaf infused chicken tikka, Gilafi lamb seekh kebab and Amritsar Machali (tilapia). (This option costs an additional £5)
I also ordered a selection of naan (ordered as a side), which the waiter brought with my starter. Three pieces: one that’s garlic and rosemary, one that’s cheese-​filled and a third that’s mushroom. All delicious, and I’m an avid plain-​naan partisan.
For my main, I got the Parda lamb biryani (I’m also a lamb partisan), which comes in with a little flaky crust on top and is served with the most fragrant and delicious basmati rice. It was almost sweet.
When the waiter asked if I wanted dessert, I sadly had to decline. No more room in the inn! I’m not sure how I would have managed to get through the five– or seven-​course gourmand menus that are offered.
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Yes, it’s pricey (and note that a 12 percent service fee is added to your bill automatically), but it’s well worth the splurge. I can’t wait to return.

Interesting restaurant located in a seemingly all residential area.
I came here expecting full on Indian food, but to my surprise, Rasoi was more of seafood fare w/​Indian spices and curries.
The set up of the place is Indian meets classy British style. Table set up is elegant with small touches such as a gold plate and sleek, stylish silverware.
I think I ordered a fish or something (it’s been about a week since I was in London, so I can’t fully remember), but it was delicious.
Service was quick and the waiters were attentive and polite.
Presentation overall was impressive. The restrooms were nicely designed too.
Only con to this place was the lighting… kinda low, dim. Eh, wasn’t really diggin it. The waiters were kind enough too adjust the lighting though, but yeah.
Price wise I don’t remember how much this place runs, but assuming it’s in the Chelsea area, it’s probably a bit pricey. If price isn’t a problem, I definitely recommend this place. Although be warned that it’s not full on Indian food (at least I didn’t think so). The food and service is excellent, though.

A truly special and romantic restaurant — I was in awe the whole evening.
Admittedly, I was put off at first by having to RING THE DOORBELL to be allowed in, but once inside that was replaced by total enchantment. The cozy atmosphere is highlighted by elegant Indian décor, sweet fragrances, and some of the most accommodating and helpful waitstaff you’re ever likely to encounter.
Prices are certainly steep, but you are given a fantastic experience and wonderful food as a result — none of this tiny-​mound-​of-​food-​on-​a-​massive-​plate bullshit.
We both opted for the 2 courses for £45 menu, and ordered a starter and main each, with a side of mustard seed vegetables (crunchhhhhhhy and yum). A half bottle of Sancerre kicked things off nicely.
Upon ordering my meal, I asked the waiter which dishes are dairy-​free, and which dishes I would like to get (the prawns starter and the lamb main). He went to the kitchen quickly, and came back — told me they would make subtle changes to each dish so that I could have them. WOW!!! They used coconut milk in most places, and gave me rice instead of mash on the main. I was never once made to feel as though I was being a pain or an inconvenience, as some restaurants tend to do.
The food was heaven. From the poppadoms with the most delicious mango chutney ever to the GIANT prawns to the succulent lamb shank, it was an amazing meal from start to finish. And that includes the tiny mint-​shaped hand towel that expands when soaked in water. It’s touches like that which made the night special.
Our bill came to about £140 for the two of us; nothing to sniff at, but for a special occasion, totally worth it.

This modern Michelin-​starred Indian must surely be the best in London. Tucked into a Chelsea townhouse (which used to house an old favourite, The English Garden), its atmosphere is set by the incense burning at the table by the door and the courteous and experienced staff who greet you and show you to your table — either in the conservatory-​like room at the back, or the smaller front room dominated by dark banquettes (there is a lovely private room upstairs with a terrace and working fire which I used to book for business dinners).
The menus are fascinating: the full menu gourmand (two courses £45), an a la carte and a vegetarian menu bring together styles and ingredients and French techniques naturally rarely found in native Indian cuisine, but they are superb. The vegetarian menu (£32) had as a centrepiece a wild mushroom khichdi, the smell and flavour of which could have filled the room.
There is a very good wine list — and most unusually for an Indian restaurant — a somellier. Take his advice, however much you may know about wine!