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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 3 Users say 3/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: May 21 2012

A magnet for expense-account suits, Benares is fronted by renowned chef Atul Kochhar. After this year's visit, however, we reckon Kochhar needs to keep a closer eye on kitchen affairs.

The discreet entrance leads to a stylish first-floor bar: a spacious set-up where opulent artefacts and floating flowers compensate for a lack of natural light. In contrast, the adjacent dining area is more corporate in looks, with a neutral colour scheme. The menu offers Indo-European fusions, with varying results. Goan-style seared mackerel fillet - lightly steeped in a vinegary chilli-ginger paste before being sealed on a griddle - worked well with the astringency of a ginger and pounded sesame chutney and the fruity bite of pickled pears.

But a first course of khasta murgh was hugely disappointing, little more than chopped chicken tikka mashed with potatoes and encased in dry, claggy pastry. At £16 a throw, we felt robbed.

Lacklustre braised lamb shank dampened spirits further; it was reminiscent of a school-dinner stew with little trace of spices. Woes continued with an overcooked tandoori chicken breast partnered by soupy tomato and ginger sauce.

Service, although well intentioned, was hardly slick either. We've had much better meals here in the past.

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

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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-2.45pm Sun. Dinner served 5.30-10.30pm Mon-Sat; 6-10pm Sun

Main courses £24-£54. Set meal (lunch, 5.30-6.30pm) £32 3 courses

Credit cards AmEx, DC, MC, V

Facilities

Babies and children welcome ( high chairs; nappy-changing facilities ), Booking advisable, Separate rooms for parties ( seating 6, 10, 16 and 34 ), Available for hire, Disabled ( toilet ), Dress ( smart casual; no sportswear ), Takeaway service, Vegetarian menu

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 3 ratings)

By Mac - Mar 27 2012

2/5

Our experience of the Benares left us very disappointed. The food was bland, the service ok and the atmosphere stiff. And those toilets still need attention. I was also rather irked to find a charity donation had been put on the bill attracting 12.5% service charge and 20% VAT.

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By Sue G - Feb 21 2012

5/5

Warmly welcomed when we arrived and we went up to the bar for cocktails, friendly staff took us to our table and we had a fantastic meal, with paired wines chosen by a very pleasant and helpful sommelier. Lovely setting, in the restaurant. The food is not typical indian food, but there are so many reviews of this fantastic place that anyone booking MUST be aware that they are not booking a bog standard meal. The food is subtely flavoured , if you want heat, go to a local take away!!!!!

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By KC 17 February 2012 - Feb 20 2012

My husband and I booked a table at this restaurant on Friday and had looked forward to it as this would be the fourth time in as many years we have dined there. Travelling from Manchester means it usually is for a special occasion. So disappointed! What has happened to this place? The service dreadful, the food nothing like as good as it had been on our previous visits. It really isn't a michelin star standard restaurant anymore. We have eaten in some very good restaurants and Benares had been a favourite. Not any more. Even the ambience lacked the usual vibrancy, the toilet area also needed some attention, which is enough to put any diner off. We won't be going back there any time soon.

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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.