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Benares

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12A Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS Full details & map

Restaurant: Modern Indian

Time Out says 1 Users say 1/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Oct 20 2011

The Berkeley Square location, between a luxury car showroom and a bank, tells you much you need to know about Atul Kochhar's Benares. Even the most out-of-touch super-rich customer wouldn't mistake it for a curry house, such is the effort put into making this a fine dining experience, but somewhere here they seem to have forgotten the importance of hospitality.

A swarm of uniformed waiters working to a pretentious hierarchy was irritating and inefficient; the host at a neighbouring table ticked one off for being rude. We felt pressured to order more drinks than we wanted, and an unrequested bottle of water was opened and placed at the centre of our table.

The cooking, at least, was very good, with the superb quality of ingredients shining through, despite tidgy portion sizes. We have fond memories of the elegant rogan josh, though most of the menus (there are five or so) offer more contemporary creations, such as steamed chutney sole with 'textures of coconut', and tandoori pigeon with vanilla beetroot and beet purée.

We'd gladly return to the lively cocktail bar, which hummed with happy customers, for delicious concoctions such as the Mumbai martini flavoured with ginger and curry leaves.

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Tags: Asian, Indian, Modern Indian, Celebrated chefs, Cocktails, Wow factor, Central, Mayfair, Luxury, Restaurant

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Special offers

3 course £25

...from a set menu. Includes VAT, excludes service.
Offer available Monday to Friday 12:00-14:30 and 17:30-18:30, Saturday 17:30-18:30
Offer covers Min 1, Max 8 people
Offer valid until Mar 2 2012

Please book this offer through the booking panel below.

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Benares details

Address

Benares

12A Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square W1J 6BS

Transport Green Park tube

Telephone

020 7629 8886

Benares website

Lunch served noon-2.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-3pm Sun. Dinner served 5.30-10.30pm Mon-Sat; 6-10pm Sun

Main courses £24-£54. Set meal (lunch, 5.30-6.30pm) £20 2 courses, £25 3 courses

Credit cards AmEx, DC, MC, V

Facilities

Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking advisable, Separate rooms for parties ( seating 14, 22 and 30 ), Available for hire, Disabled ( toilet ), Dress ( smart casual ), Takeaway service

Benares map

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Comments & ratings 1/5 (Average of 1 rating)

By RD - Jan 29 2012

1/5

Heard alot about this restaurant so decided to book a table.

On arriving, we were told by the lady at the receiption that our table had been cancelled "by someone in our party" - which was totally not the case. After sorting this out she asked us to follow her, and led us up stairs. She then left and walked off and didn't ask if we wanted to wait in the bar area - so we patiently stood at the top of the stairs...for 15mins! Awful service.

Eventually we were taken to our table. The setting was ok but nothing special. We ordered the food and was completely disappointed. I've eaten at many indian restaurants and this has got to be the worst (this is no exaggeration!). There was simply no taste or flavour to the food - far from being called "indian". How this restaurant has a Michelin star is a real mystery. This may have been a good restaurant in the past, but certainly not now. Avoid this place if you want good indian food.