http://www.lotus.london/
Location: 17 Charing Cross, London WC2H 0EP
(nearest station Leicester Square)
Price: £59.75-£109.50
(*based on a five course taster menu for one, without and with accompanying wine )
Summary: Authentic and upmarket fine dining Indian Restaurant with a large menu including options for vegetarians and vegans.
Service: Table service.
Dietary Options: Omnivore, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free.
Favorite Dish: Baghare Baigan Bharta (Roasted Aubergine, Tomato, Spices, Peanut and herbs)
Ambiance/Atmosphere:
5/5
Located in the heart of the West End, Lotus is a serene and tranquil escape from the bustling surroundings of this popular tourist spot in central London. Upon stepping into Lotus you are transported into a haven of calm and luxury; beautiful surroundings, comfortable furnishings, sophisticated decor, low lighting and gentle music.
Customer Service:
5/5:
From the second we stepped through the door we were greeted like old friends by the charming front of house team. Every single member of staff we encountered was a delight to talk to, very helpful, welcoming and friendly. Our waiter for the evening was incredible; we could not wish for better service. Attentive, knowledgeable and able to recommend and advise on dish selection, we were extremely grateful for his fabulous . care & attention to detail. We were able to ask any questions about ingredients or how dishes were cooked and flavoured; his responses were detailed & informative.
Food and Drink
5/5:
Lotus intends to bring fine Indian authentic cuisine to the heart of London. Designed and managed by Bhaskar Banerjee, the variety and quality of dishes available on the menu reflects his vast 20 year culinary career. The menu was mesmerizing in itself and it was both inspiring and enlightening to see the variety of intricately designed dishes available.
There are a variety of meat dishes available but also a great selection of vegetarian options which are clearly marked on the menu. In addition to catering for a range of dietary preferences, Lotus also has several menus to choose from depending upon the occasion including a Lunch, Theatre, Classic, Group, Offer and Tasting Menu.
We opted for the 'Tasting Menu' to allow us to try the largest range of dishes and flavors. The menu already has a vegetarian option for each course however a vegan option can also be arranged upon request. Each course has been paired with a specific wine to compliment the dish if you so choose, however we opted for mocktails both of which were tasty, refreshing and fruity. To begin our meal, Poppadoms and chutney arrived accompanied by a lentil broth in a small espresso cup. A wonderful introduction to the meal-a subtly spiced, flavorful aperitif.
The tasting menu consists of five courses, plus a dessert. There is a pre-starter, starter, kebab, and main course. Throughout each course, the flavors were fresh, sweet and spicy- beautifully combined; presentation was beautiful and dishes were portioned generously for a tasting menu.
The stand out dishes from the tasting menu were the vegetarian pre-start - a warm salad of potato chaat with chickpea sev and yogurt which came with a sweet tamarind sauce. Soft potato and creamy yogurt jeweled with chickpeas and dressed with a sumptuous sweet sauce that cut through the yogurt to make a beautifully textured dish of well balanced sweet, savory and creamy flavors.
The vegan starter of butternut squash samosas was a delight- perfectly crisp on the outside and not at all oily; stuffed with a warm and soft lightly spiced butternut filling with a sweet tamarind, date and red bean chutney.
The vegetarian Kebab course of paneer tika stuffed with chickpea masala and sun-dried tomatoes was richly packed with flavour and cooked to absolute perfection. There was a beautiful selection of main dishes but we were blown away by the Baghare Baigan Bharti. This comprises roasted aubergine coupled with tomato, peanuts and herbs; it was smooth and sumptuous with a beautiful combination of smoky, sweet and creamy flavors. We soaked up our dishes with perfectly cooked rice and a range of bread including a gluten free chickpea flour option.
The desserts were limited in choice for vegans however I enjoyed a beautifully presented fresh fruit salad which was a welcome light and refreshing end to my meal. There is much more choice for vegetarian dessert, we had the the Raspberry and Cranberry Shrikhand which was fruity, sweet and fresh.
An incredible experience that took us on an authentic tour of Indian cuisine in a beautiful relaxing and tranquil environment. Fine dining at its best, a truly unforgettable meal.
Located in the heart of the West End, Lotus is a serene and tranquil escape from the bustling surroundings of this popular tourist spot in central London. Upon stepping into Lotus you are transported into a haven of calm and luxury; beautiful surroundings, comfortable furnishings, sophisticated decor, low lighting and gentle music.
Customer Service:
5/5:
From the second we stepped through the door we were greeted like old friends by the charming front of house team. Every single member of staff we encountered was a delight to talk to, very helpful, welcoming and friendly. Our waiter for the evening was incredible; we could not wish for better service. Attentive, knowledgeable and able to recommend and advise on dish selection, we were extremely grateful for his fabulous . care & attention to detail. We were able to ask any questions about ingredients or how dishes were cooked and flavoured; his responses were detailed & informative.
Food and Drink
5/5:
Lotus intends to bring fine Indian authentic cuisine to the heart of London. Designed and managed by Bhaskar Banerjee, the variety and quality of dishes available on the menu reflects his vast 20 year culinary career. The menu was mesmerizing in itself and it was both inspiring and enlightening to see the variety of intricately designed dishes available.
There are a variety of meat dishes available but also a great selection of vegetarian options which are clearly marked on the menu. In addition to catering for a range of dietary preferences, Lotus also has several menus to choose from depending upon the occasion including a Lunch, Theatre, Classic, Group, Offer and Tasting Menu.
We opted for the 'Tasting Menu' to allow us to try the largest range of dishes and flavors. The menu already has a vegetarian option for each course however a vegan option can also be arranged upon request. Each course has been paired with a specific wine to compliment the dish if you so choose, however we opted for mocktails both of which were tasty, refreshing and fruity. To begin our meal, Poppadoms and chutney arrived accompanied by a lentil broth in a small espresso cup. A wonderful introduction to the meal-a subtly spiced, flavorful aperitif.
The tasting menu consists of five courses, plus a dessert. There is a pre-starter, starter, kebab, and main course. Throughout each course, the flavors were fresh, sweet and spicy- beautifully combined; presentation was beautiful and dishes were portioned generously for a tasting menu.
The stand out dishes from the tasting menu were the vegetarian pre-start - a warm salad of potato chaat with chickpea sev and yogurt which came with a sweet tamarind sauce. Soft potato and creamy yogurt jeweled with chickpeas and dressed with a sumptuous sweet sauce that cut through the yogurt to make a beautifully textured dish of well balanced sweet, savory and creamy flavors.
The vegan starter of butternut squash samosas was a delight- perfectly crisp on the outside and not at all oily; stuffed with a warm and soft lightly spiced butternut filling with a sweet tamarind, date and red bean chutney.
The vegetarian Kebab course of paneer tika stuffed with chickpea masala and sun-dried tomatoes was richly packed with flavour and cooked to absolute perfection. There was a beautiful selection of main dishes but we were blown away by the Baghare Baigan Bharti. This comprises roasted aubergine coupled with tomato, peanuts and herbs; it was smooth and sumptuous with a beautiful combination of smoky, sweet and creamy flavors. We soaked up our dishes with perfectly cooked rice and a range of bread including a gluten free chickpea flour option.
The desserts were limited in choice for vegans however I enjoyed a beautifully presented fresh fruit salad which was a welcome light and refreshing end to my meal. There is much more choice for vegetarian dessert, we had the the Raspberry and Cranberry Shrikhand which was fruity, sweet and fresh.
An incredible experience that took us on an authentic tour of Indian cuisine in a beautiful relaxing and tranquil environment. Fine dining at its best, a truly unforgettable meal.
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