Kahani Indian Restaurant: It was a sunny day, and I could not contain my enthusiasm as we approached the Kahani Restaurant. I myself, just like millions of others in the UK, am a massive Indian food lover, and I already knew I was in for a delicious dinner.

The UK’s love affair with Indian food dates back to 1809 when the first Indian restaurant opened its doors and introduced the deliciousness of curry to everyone in Britain. Around 200 years later and the Indian cuisine has become a national dish for us all.

One of the most highly rated Indian restaurants that continue the legacy is Kahani, which opened in September 2018 and is located right in the heart of Chelsea, opposite the iconic Cadogan Hall. Since then, The Kahani Restaurant has taken Indian cuisine to another level of sophistication and taste, making it a hot spot destination for all Indian food lovers.

We had just arrived, and I was already feeling the taste of India. We made our way through the beautiful entrance and down the steps, where we were greeted with a warm welcome by the concierge, who took us to our table. The interior design was sublime and oozed glamour while the entire restaurant smelt of a variety of spices.

Stunning colourful vases and elephant statues decorated the room and stood by the panache detailed walls, which had an artistic masterpiece of human expressions consisting of detailed hand gestures. The handprints on the walls symbolize the Hindu faith of positivity and health via Mudras hand gestures and India’s colours, decorating every wall in the restaurant. You immediately get the sense of culture that teleports you to the southeast of Asia.

The Indian-inspired gold chandeliers lit up the entire dining room, along with the dozens of tables that came along with light grey suede dining chairs. The restaurant can have 90 dinners and offers an exclusive private dining room for wedding receptions.

The entire place oozed sophistication and makes you feel welcome. There was a glass panel at the back of the dining room where the wine cellar is visible along with the outstanding collection of wine bottles, and you can get a glimpse of the chief, the amazing Peter Joseph, working in the kitchen. On the right side of the restaurant is Kahani Bar, where you can order a refreshing cocktail before you dive into your meal.

The private dining room was on the mezzanine level, which overlooks the stunning ground floor and has a breath-taking satin gold curtain that can be closed to give its guests the comfort and privacy they want. It has a stunning golden décor aesthetic and a royal blue dining table with royal blue velvet dining chairs. The luxurious room is made for royalty and offers a unique and exquisite experience.

We sat down at our table and were greeted by the Head Chef and mastermind behind the Kahani experience, Mr Peter Joseph. He spoke to us about his inspirations behind his dishes and how he became the widely known chief. He was super friendly, a joy to talk to, and one of the most talented chefs in the business.

Peter is truly an inspiration as he grew up in Chennai, India, where his surroundings heavily influenced him. He would watch his mother in the kitchen, take in all of her traditional cooking tips, and then implement them into his cooking. Once he decided to follow his passion for cooking, Peter entered the industry and began gaining experience in professional kitchens. He has vast experience that expands 20 years of being a chief. He started his UK career at Tamarind in 2005 and was appointed head chief by 2011.

His most notable achievement was when he helped his previous restaurant become the first Indian restaurant to win the Michelin star, and with his help, the restaurant maintained that title. After his success, he became encouraged to open his own debut restaurant, Kahani.  His experience is remarkable and is highly visible through his food, and till this day he travels all over the world like Geneva, Italy and more, learning and teaching all about the

I could not wait to start tasting the delicious dishes from the menu. Devraj, who has immense knowledge of flavours and spices, spoke to us about the menu and all the different spices and ingredients that go into each dish.

I started off my diner with a lovely Gulab Martini, which included Vodka, Lychee liquor, Lychee juice, lemon juice, and rose syrup. The Martini came in antique glass and a rose petal in the middle. It was refreshing and served as the perfect combination with my starter.

We started our delightful Indian journey with a 3 plate starter consisting of the Black Chicken, Chetinaad roasted spice, curry leaves, and Spiced chickpeas with sweetened yoghurt, mint, tamarind chutney, papdi, and the Samosa platter, with Punjabi aloo, Kolhapur. All the dishes were decorated and served perfectly, down to the smallest detail, making them look like an art piece. It almost made me regret ruining the aesthetic of the plate until I took my first bite.

A series of sensational spices filled my taste buds and created an explosion of flavours. The chicken literally melted in my mouth, with a combination of sour and sweetness mix is the epitome of the Indian cuisine, and it was euphoric.

We chose the ‘Tandoori broccoli honey, nigella seeds, crushed wheat crisps, tempered yoghurt for our mains.’ The combination of flavours blew me away.

We also had the ‘Smoked Malabar prawns marinated with fresh turmeric, coconut and curry leaves, which tasted divine. Lastly, we enjoyed the ‘Trio of chicken tikka tandoor grilled chicken supreme with cream cheese, mint and pickling spices.’ The tandoori chicken was very tender, and the cream cheese complimented the entire dish. Both vegetarian dishes were delightful and rightfully well known throughout the UK as the best vegetarian dishes in the country. They created another new outstanding spin on vegetarian dishes. We accompanied the spectacular flavoured dishes with some classic red wine.

After a marvellous meal, we ended our diner with a fantastic variety of desserts to choose from. I went with the classic cheesecake, which, as to my surprise, had a unique twist to it. The ‘Raspberry and cardamom cheesecake’ had the unique touch of having a deliciously cream topping and a fruit sensation in the middle of the cheesecake. Along with the cheesecake came a variety of different flavoured sorbets to enjoy with your cheesecake. It is such a different and interesting take on the traditional cheesecake, and it tasted like pure heaven.

We relaxed after our wonderful meal and were escorted outside by the amazingly talented chief, Peter. The staff were so friendly and helpful, and their knowledge in the field of flavours and spices was astonishing.  

The Kahani restaurant is definitely the best Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a beautiful escape to the realms of India; you can find no better than Kahani. The flavours, decor, and smells, will teleport you to the culturally diverse country of India.  Kahani will allow you to feel that you exited the realms of London to experience India’s finest. It is the perfect place for a unique wedding reception that will offer an outstanding menu and an extraordinary experience, not only through the aromas and tastes but also the ambience and hospitality that have for so long defined the Indian culture.

1 Wilbraham Pl, London SW1X 9AE, United Kingdom

+44 20 7730 7634

Kahanilondon.com

For Weddings, visit Kahani Events

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