Following success in New Delhi and New York, ‘India’s Best Restaurant’ Indian Accent landed in Mayfair at the end of 2017, quickly winning acclaim for its refined and inventive dishes. With Corporate Chef Manish Mehrotra leading the pass, Indian Accent showcases vibrant and interesting flavour combinations, continually redefining high-end Indian cuisine, while keeping faithful to traditionally grounded recipes.
Set across two floors, the elegant restaurant reflects materials and textures familiar in Indian architecture. A combination of brass, marble and combed pearl-lustred walls complement the rich emerald green velvet upholstery, with a striking spiral staircase leading to the stylish downstairs dining area and private room.
Indian Accent is the ideal venue for private hire, suitable for small gatherings through to large events. The downstairs restaurant and bar are available for private hire for up to 30 guests seated or 40 standing for drinks and canapés. The restaurant is also available for full exclusive hire with an additional 40 covers available in the main restaurant. Offering a range of menus, from canapés to sharing platters through to sit down dinners, the team at Indian Accent can create a bespoke event sure to impress every guest.
Indian Accent’s extensive drinks list boasts a range of over 100 rare whiskies, as well as an expansive list of wine, champagnes and cocktails. Whiskies can be ordered as flights, with choices ranging from ‘elegant & refined’, to ‘smoky and spicy’, whilst the wine list – curated by General Manager and Sommelier Patrick Frawley – is all-encompassing, with a vintage to suit any taste. For a truly memorable experience, choose the paired wine flight to accompany your eight-course tasting menu, with every pour perfectly paired to complement each dish.
For cocktail lovers, Indian Accent has an inspired selection of serves that match the calibre of the dishes. Creative concoctions include The Proper Copper, with Kaffir lime leaf infused vodka, honey and rose blossom water; Albermarle St. Swizzle, with chilli and pineapple infused rum, amaretto, orange and kewra; and a Green Chili Sour with hari mirch infused tequila, lemon oleo saccharum and mezcal. If you’re feeling spontaneous, opt for the ‘Bartender’s Choice’ and let the talented team create something perfectly suited to your tastes.
Corporate Chef Manish Mehrotra’s creative menus offer fine-dining at its best, from à la carte choices to the eight-course Chef’s Tasting Menu, complete with elegantly paired wines and available for both lunch and dinner. His contemporary dishes pair seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients with authentic Indian spices and diverse ingredients from across the world, always with an accent of India. Manish has received a number of accolades in recent years including ‘Best Chef of the Year’ by American Express and he has been commended for shining the World’s spotlight on Indian cuisine.
Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for at the Mayfair restaurant with a number of exciting dishes, as well as a dedicated vegan tasting menu, featuring choices such as tofu masala with asparagus and shishito pepper; and green peas kofta with sweet potato and coconut curry.
To start our meal, we were offered an amuse bouche which can often be hit and miss, but this pumpkin and coconut delight with a blue cheese naan was the perfect way to whet one’s appetite.
The meetha achaar pork ribs with sundried mango & onion seeds were an interesting option to see on an Indian menu. One of the least spicy dishes we ordered, packed full of flavour with a crispy mango outer crunch but juicy pork meat that fell off the bone.
The tandoori scottish salmon with lemon & black garlic cream had a beautiful presentation and a succulent creamy texture.
The cocktails at Indian Accent are considered and full of flavour with a hint of spice. We tried the Mughal Fortification – double barreled bourbon with toasted coriander honey and saffron and the Albemarle St. Swizzle – chilli and pineapple infused rum with amaretto, orange & kewra.
This was the most surprising dish on the menu. Brought as chefs compliments we were of the opinion that it was lamb keema with quail egg garnish. We were nearly right except the dish was actually soy keema, quail egg, lime leaf butter pao – this soy twist is a vegetarian’s dream.
A main dish that speaks for itself is seared scallops with chilli prawns & malvani dried shrimp rice. Although served with a tamarind sauce they held there own on a bed of rice. A light dish which wishes you could order it again.
The ghee roast lamb with roomali roti pancakes and chutneys was a another hit. Take some lamb which is infused with beautiful spice and add it to the roti with some cucumber and one of four well placed chutneys to give that extra kick.
The breads and side dishes have something for everyone. A more anglicised palate may enjoy the applewood smoked bacon kulcha and those who prefer spices will love the butter chicken kulcha. We didn’t try the wild mushroom kulcha with truffle oil drizzle but it does come highly recommended.
The black dairy dal had a creamy nutty texture and truly complemented the spices in the other dishes, making for a great side.
For dessert, we highly recommend the doda barfi treacle tart with vanilla bean ice cream but have been told the makhan malai with saffron milk, rose petal jaggery brittle & almonds is a most popular dish. This looks like a big dish but it is light and flavourful. Each mouthful keeps you excited as the dish has so many flavours that melt away in your mouth with the crunch of almond and glittery gold leaf adding new dimensions to this dessert.
Since opening, Indian Accent has been placed in the top 50 at the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 and was one of just four nominees for best newcomer in the 2018 Harden’s London Restaurant Awards in addition to most recently being awarded Newcomer of the Year at the 2018 London Restaurant Festival Awards.
Indian Accent has recently launched a new Express Lunch menu, priced at £24 per person including a starter, main course and five accompaniments, with the choice to add dessert for £5. This quick yet elevated Indian feast is available every day from 12pm – 2.30pm, with a guaranteed 45-minute turnaround to easily fit within your lunch hour. Expect seasonal flavours and vibrant dishes by Chef Manish Mehrotra with choices including raw mango prawns, Jersey Royal potatoes; Kerala seafood stew, pink pepper tadka; and roast beet, goat’s cheese raita, pistachio chikki.
For fine dining Indian style that’s conveniently located in the heart of fashionable Mayfair, we highly recommend a visit to Indian Accent.
Indian Accent
16 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4HW
+44 (0)207 629 9802
www.indianaccent.com/london
@indian_accent