Anything in the West End of London can be a show if you want it to be. Hailing a cab is your spotlight moment. Being caught in the rain in Soho before a quick dash across Piccadilly Circus, and suddenly you’re the lead in your own musical.
When you’re ready for a true scene-stealer, there’s nowhere quite like Farzi, tucked away on Haymarket, a beautiful Indian restaurant that’s so much more than your average curry house.
I was lucky enough to be invited, along with a friend, to sample their new summer menu. Dashing into town, I was excited to look through all the options, each dish sounding more delicious than the last. Farzi wants to break the myth that Indian food is best saved for winter, and on one of those gorgeous summer evenings we’ve been enjoying recently, I couldn’t wait to see if they’d pulled it off.
Stepping through the door, you’re greeted by a modern yet warm space that looks like it could be a set from The Great Gatsby. Glass, wood, gold and teal accents, and beautiful lighting set the stage for a stunning dining experience. It’s glamorous without being gaudy, perfect for a date night, with the ambient lighting making sure you look your best.
SHOW STOPPING COCKTAILS
The cocktail menu promises to “impress and delight,” and I can assure you it does both. While I waited for my friend to arrive, I enjoyed a Smoked Old Fashioned, served under a glass dome and smoked with cinnamon. Not only does this enhance the flavour, it gives the whole drink a wonderfully theatrical flair with the smoke billowing around the glass. The bar is clearly a focal point of the restaurant and the perfect spot to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE MENU
To start, we tried Gupta Ji’s Dahi Bhalla Tokri Chaat, which was delicious. Fried savoury lentil balls, soaked in sweet yoghurt and served inside a crispy tortilla basket. Every bite was as good as the first.
The wonderfully knowledgeable staff told us all about the dishes we were ordering and shared Farzi’s philosophy: to use fresh British ingredients combined with modern Indian techniques. The summer menu was inspired by a research trip to Northern India by Head Chef Nikhil Mahale, and the results speak for themselves. The Chicken Lollipop was another standout, served with sriracha and honey mayo, as well as burnt lime and sweet chilli dips. I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
For mains, I can’t recommend the Lamb Burra Chop Sizzler enough. As the name suggests, it arrives on a sizzling hot plate which is as dramatic as it sounds and looks. The tender Welsh lamb chops were so good, I could have given them a standing ovation.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN
We weren’t heading to the theatre that night, but my friend and I both agreed Farzi would be the perfect pre-show meal. Being right in the middle of the West End, they even offer an express menu with a selection of five starters, five mains and two desserts, ideal if you need to make it to curtain up on time.
With hundreds of restaurants in the capital offering fusion menus with a bit of flair and flash, there are few doing it with the confidence and creativity of Farzi. Like the best shows, it is theatrical and innovative without being alienating. The staff are lovely and genuinely passionate about what they’re doing, and that shows with every interaction and every bite.
I always leave my favourite shows thinking, “I need to tell people about this.” That’s exactly how I felt walking out of Farzi. Book yourself a table as soon as you can.
Review and Images by Chris Golds @chrisgolds
Feature image courtesy of unsplash.com
