Manthan Mayfair- Indian Cuisine.

London is one of the best cities in the world for dining out. The restaurant choices are endless, whether you want fine dining or fast food. There are countless restaurants serving Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Moroccan, Lebanese, and Indian cuisine. These are just a few, there are many more world-famous cuisines to enjoy. 

It was a pleasure to visit Manthan, an Indian restaurant recently. A short walk from Bond Street and Oxford Circus Stations, Manthan is situated on Maddox Street Mayfair. A Michelin-starred Indian Chef, Rohit Ghai and his business partner Abhishake Sangwan own the restaurant.

The Decor

The restaurant owners have used the space well, creating a stylish and uncluttered dining area with a focus on the central statement bar. The restaurant has an elegant contemporary theme with many décors inspired by the ocean, fish, and blue and green colours.

The Menu

Manthan offers an A la carte menu, tasting menus with food and wine pairings and brunch-sharing menus. The restaurant has an impressive drinks menu with a fantastic selection of wines and spirits to complement the food and enhance your dining experience. This includes a wide selection of cocktails and mocktails inspired by exotic fruits, botanicals, and infusions from the seven oceans of the world.

There are many dishes on the menu that are inspired by Indian street food. You can enjoy bar snacks and sharing plates as well as mouth-watering grills, curries, and a selection of the chef's signature dishes and family recipes.

We booked a table in the evening and chose the A la carte menu. A courteous and friendly waiter seated us at our table and we ordered mocktails. While I chose Sindhu, which was pomegranate, mint, lime, jaggery and sparkling apple. My partner chose Sapta, which was lemongrass, ginger with guava. The mocktails were both delicious and refreshing.

There were many dishes on the menu with a fusion touch, and it was difficult to decide what to have. A wide variety of vegetarian dishes are available. The manager was very helpful in suggesting what to sample and asked about allergies before taking our order.

Appetisers

For our appetisers we tried the Pyaaz Kachori, a deep-fried pastry garnished with Roscoff onions, sprouts, mint and green chutney, tamarind chutney and pomegranate seeds. There was an explosion of flavours in every mouthful.

We also ordered the Jackfruit Uthappam, a lentil rice pancake served in the shape of a taco filled with spicy cooked jackfruit filling. It was served with delicious coconut chutney and we really enjoyed it.

Both dishes were very unique in taste and flavour with just the right balance of spices. The presentation was top-notch in both dishes.

Main course

It was the manager's suggestion to order the Aubergine Moilee. The baby aubergines are cooked whole and served over coconut gravy. I am a huge Aubergine fan so I was excited to try this dish. 

We also ordered the slow-cooked Kali dal which was creamy and rich together with the Saag makai, a puree of spinach cooked with tender sweetcorn. 

The main course was completed with flaky tawa paratha and steamed rice to help mop up the delicious gravy and flavour the fluffy rice.

All three curries were very different, each cooked in its own blend of spices and presented beautifully. We loved the Saag Makai and Kali Dal as well as the Aubergine Moilee. I would have preferred some sort of spice-stuffing in the aubergine moilee instead of plain aubergines as they were a little bland on their own although the gravy was delicious.

Desserts

The meal would not be complete without dessert. I am sure you will agree there is always room for dessert. I chose the delectable classic Trio. It was presented in the style of a cheesecake with a layer of besan barfi layered with mini spongy gulab jamuns and a creamy srikhand topping. A beautiful garnish of chopped nuts and rose petals completed the look. 

As a big chocolate fan, my partner chose Narangi Chocolate. The mousse was rich and creamy and the addition of the tartness of the kumquats and tangy orange coulis really balanced the dark chocolate. The chocolate truffles added another dimension to the dessert and paired well to enhance the flavours and textures.

As a huge foodie, I was mesmerized by the beautiful presentation and the combination of flavours and textures. We loved both desserts, but the Narangi chocolate was the winner.

Ambience and Service

The ambience and service were wonderful, and despite the restaurant being busy, we found the waiters very attentive.

Value for money or not?

Even though the restaurant is a little on the pricey side, it is definitely worth a visit for its location, delicious food, ambience, and service. We will definitely visit again to sample the brunch menu.

Our reservation for Manthan was made through Open Table.

Manthan, 49 Maddox Street, London. W1S 2PQ. 020 7408 2258

**Collaborative Post