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Darjeeling Express London Tripadvisor Reviews
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27 Reviews
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The best Indian food I have ever had
I'm sure like many people, I first heard about Darjeeling Express and Asma Khan from the Netflix series Chef's Table. Asma's journey and the restaurant sounded so interesting, I decided that when I found myself in London, I would go. Luckily, they begin serving early, so I was able to go before an opera that started at 7:30. Dinner is a prix fixe thali of 65 pounds. (They do have an a la carte menu at lunch.) This is much more than I ever spend on a meal, but it was worth every cent. You got a choice of a starter and main, filled out with various sides. As an opening snack, there were home-made potato chips with chutney. Except for the pickled carrots (I just don't like them), every item was beautiful, full of flavor and superb. The wait staff was polite and helpful. And I had to fan-boy out for about a minute when Asma came over to chat with me for a bit. I would go back in a second!!! One word of advice: it is a strange place to find. You have to go in to a kind of alley-doorway to a large open three-story food court. Darjeeling Express is on the top floor, so not so easy to see!!
Be the first to ReplyAmazing food, lovely staff
We had the best time here, the food was phenomenal and the staff were lovely. Asma came over at the end of the meal and chatted, a really great and welcoming experience.
Be the first to ReplyGreat afternoon
Thank you so much to all the team at Darjeeling Express for providing us with delicious food and wonderful service during our afternoon at your restaurant. This is a great place for a truly authentic Indian food experience.
Be the first to ReplyFantastic new location
A great new location for Darjeeling Express. Food and service was excellent. Love the ethos behind it. Asma took the time to come and talk to us which was lovely.
Be the first to ReplyUltimately disappointed.
Dinner with long standing friends, shown to our table at 7.45pm. All started off so well, drinks ordered, then to the food order. I fancied the beef, advised no beef! It’s a set tasting menu why wouldn’t you have all of the produce? No matter, I went for the goat, which was lovely as was the service, all of the staff were very attentive. After our pudding course we all fancied coffee. The machines been turned off we were informed (it’s 9.50pm, plenty of diners still at their tables) we were astonished. Why hadn’t we been asked if we intended ordering coffee before they’d turned it off? Then all of a sudden the bill turns up, which we hadn’t asked for! I expressed my astonishment again. We’d got the message. Paid the £400 bill and left. If your going to charge a premium, deliver on it. Will I return or recommend? er no!
Be the first to ReplyLovely meal at Darjeeling express
Went to Darjeeling Express yesterday and had a lovely time. New restaurant looks fab and is much roomier. We had a real feast. Lots of food and everything tasted amazing. We particularly loved the chickpea and chicken starters. Our waitress was lovely - very attentive and Asma took the time to talk to us.
Be the first to ReplyUnderwhelming and overpriced anniversary experience
I had heard such great things about the Darjeeling Express and so had decided to book dinner for my wife and I to celebrate our wedding anniversary there. We only choose to eat in a restaurant with such high prices as the Darjeeling Express on two or three occasions a year, when it is one of our Birthdays or our anniversary, and therefore when we do go to such an establishment we expect there to be some kind of wow factor that makes it stand out above lesser restaurants. Unfortunately with the Darjeeling this was not the case from start to finish. When making the reservation, I was impressed by the fact that I was asked if the dinner was to be for a special occasion, to which I responded yes it would be for an anniversary. On the evening however, there was no recognition made throughout the evening by anybody at the restaurant that it was our anniversary and furthermore we were given a not particularly nice table in the middle of the restaurant floor within very close proximity of the tables on either side of us, and not one of the nice booth tables which would have been more befitting for such an occasion. Shortly after arriving, I needed to go to the toilet and noticed that there was only one male cubicle for the entire restaurant. This was not an issue, however I consequently noticed that the lock was not working on the door of the toilet. I decided to still use the toilet, trying to keep one arm on the door to stop anybody else from potentially coming in. As soon as I walked back into the main area of the restaurant, I informed a female member of staff about the issue, thinking that it would be in in their interests to know and to rectify at the earliest opportunity, to prevent any inconvenience for other customers and to avoid any possible complaints. It was not a major issue and probably just needed a spanner to tighten the necessary fixing. Later in the evening before leaving the restaurant, I decided more out of curiosity to go to the toilet again to see if anything had been done about it. I was shocked to see it was indeed still not functioning! I was flabbergasted to see that in a restaurant that charges such high prices, there was only one male toilet in the whole restaurant and that this one toilet had been allowed to be left without a functioning lock the entire evening! Really poor from such a supposedly high class establishment. The food was good and we enjoyed it all, however it did not have any kind of wow factor, which I was hoping for and expecting when paying about four times the price of what a thali would normally cost in other restaurants! There was nothing unique about it, nothing that made it stand out from other restaurants of the same cuisine. Even the rice and puri breads (of which you only receive two mini sized portions- you would probably have to pay another £10 pounds if you were to request another piece (!), something that is all the more ironic given that these are things you receive in abundance when you eat out in restaurants in India or Pakistan and which are often automatically replenished free of charge when the serving staff notice that you have finished the ones on the table) were very plain and ordinary- absolutely nothing that made them special or different from any other restaurant. When we finished our main courses, the restaurant was almost empty and about to close. We had however had to wait over an hour for our main thali dishes to arrive and it was therefore through no fault of our own that we were still there at that time. As soon as the staff removed our plates, they slapped our desserts down on the table and it became clear that we would need to eat up quickly and leave. Again, in such a supposedly high class restaurant I would have expected to have been given at least fifteen or twenty minutes to comfortably eat our deserts and to perhaps even order a cup of tea to have with it, even if the official closing time had already passed. It was clear we were not going to be there much longer, so why were we made to rush so much when it was not even our fault we were still there at that time?! And then, to top it all off as we were about to leave a young man came to our table, who I believe was perhaps the son of the owner and proceeded to ask how our meal was without even the courtesy of looking in our eyes as he said this. It was as if he wanted to say, thank you for spending £200 in our restaurant and for wasting your money and now goodbye! I know that this is perhaps something small for some people, however I really do not like it when a person talks to me without looking me in the eye, especially when we have just laden his pockets full with money! Sadly, all in all this was a very underwhelming experience. My wife had had such a wonderful and memorable experience attending the biryani supper club back in 2017 and had told me about it on several occasions making me very excited to attend myself and to also make the booking to surprise her on our anniversary, however this seemed like a complete let down compared to her first experience sadly. I can assure you that I am somebody that very rarely writes negative reviews about an establishment, having myself worked in hospitality for many years, however on this occasion I felt it was warranted and hope that the restaurant can perhaps learn things from my review to make experiences, especially those that are to mark special occasions, better for future diners. A tip for other potential customers however- if you are fans of this cuisine but would like somewhere that does have more of a wow factor and an experience that is reflected in the prices that are charged, then the Cinammon Club in Westminster is a much better option- and they will remember that it is your Birthday/Anniversary however busy they might be!
Be the first to ReplyExceptional and authentic Indian cuisine
The reopening of Darjeeling Express in its new Kingly Court location is a cause for celebration. A beautiful room (with a great view into its spacious kitchen), delightful and knowledgeable service, and, above all, truly outstanding, delicious food combine to offer an exceptional experience. In the evenings, the £65 set grand thali offers excellent value for money: an array of superbly prepared and presented dishes, two chosen by each diner (in my case wonderful chicken and goat dishes) with many outstanding accompanying dishes and three equally delicious deserts. The new Darjeeling Express deserves to be an outstanding success. Don’t hesitate. Just go.
Be the first to ReplyExcellent
Went on Monday night (06/02/23), what a delight!! The food was amazing, incredible flavours, excellent service. And to top it all ASMA was there and signed her book for us. Cannot wait to go back!!
Be the first to ReplyFood Review
Amazing service. First bite full of flavour. As you carry on eating the food begins to taste really sweet and begins to feel like your having a dessert. If the sugar level or whatever is used to make it sweet reduced the food would be amazing
Be the first to ReplyHandled Badly
Having had a great meal at the DX off Regent Street, this was one of the first bookings we made for our recent London visit. Arriving in London, however, we saw DX was relocating again and in the meantime, they were offering only a pre-set thali. This didn’t suit us and we planned to cancel our booking. Then, things went sideways. I had a bad fall on the tube (there are TFL and police reports). This caused some disruption and - in the event - we forgot to cancel the DX booking. Someone called us from the restaurant and we explained our oversight and apologized. We were nonetheless dunned $100 on our Credit card. Should we have called? Yes. Still, this was harsh and disappointing. There are too many excellent Indian restaurants in London (e.g. Gunpowder and Lahore Kebab House) and we will take our custom elsewhere.
Be the first to Replyso disappointing compared to before lockdowns
I reviewed elsewhere and the restaurant argued that it wasn't up to standard because they were packing at the same time as they were doing their last service. Well, not the best idea... AMENDMENT AFTER THE RESTAURANT'S RESPONSE I'm sorry but you moving is not really an excuse. Maybe you should've only started packing after your last service. We booked our table 6 months ago and were really looking forward to it. You've made our evening memorable for the wrong reasons. ORIGINAL REVIEW So disappointed! We went before covid and had an amazing experience. Ordered delivered chicken Biryani during lockdown and also found the food incredible. Tonight we went to celebrate my partner's birthday and what a let down. Last time we had an amazing Indian red wine, no Indian wine on the menu anymore. This is supposed to be a tasting menu but everything is brought at the same time without telling us what to mix and not. I'm sorry but for more than £50 a head, I expect to get the chef's vision and I was left with small dishes that were OK in terms of taste but no better than a good Brick Lane restaurant. Prior to covid, there was a real care to explain the food was from a region that's not usually a cuisine you find in the UK. This time round, no surprise in taste whatsoever. Before, all staff were women and there was a particular caring style to the service. This time, they were nice but too busy to chat or explain anything. Before it was an incredible experience that we couldn't recommend enough. Now it's become a middle of the road overpriced post Netflix show restaurant. What a waste! PS it looks good on the picture and doesn't tarte awful of course but just not to the standard they had set before.
Be the first to ReplyEvery bit I had heard of and perhaps even better!!!
Reminded me of a home cooked meal and pleasantly surprised by the quality of the (Indian) food at London!!! Bravo Asma & team and I’m looking forward to coming back…
Be the first to ReplyAuthentic dinner in Covent Garden
We were recommended to go here by a friend who lives in London. The reviews looked great and we like Indian food, so we reserved a table far in advance. Great communication with restaurant. Beautiful setting. Lively and great location. Perhaps the true authenticity of the food was lost on us, as everything was very spicy, even items that were not indicated as spicy on the menu. This is not a complaint, but just a heads up for others diners. It's obvious the staff puts a lot of love and effort into the cooking. $55 pre fix was only option for dinner. We would have liked another option for a la carte.
Be the first to ReplyAmazing and authentic Indian food
We visited Darjeeling express for the second time and we reassured that the food and service has not changed. The staff were attentive and helpful and a credit to the restaurant, we also appreciated the complimentary chai offered! The thali concept has changed slightly since our last visit and now you only get the choice of one protein (previous years we were able to sample two). This change however has not impacted the overall experience. The food portions are huge and we were struggling to finish. Each dish is flavourful, perfectly spiced and authentic. We recommend Darjeeling Express to all our friends and family.
Be the first to ReplyAmazing
Had a great night with my friends. We loved the place. Food and service was amazing. First time there but definitely not the last.
Be the first to ReplyAbsolutely exquisite!
Difficult to describe how incredible the food was. The set menu (choose your main) works so well. Staff very friendly and helpful! 9/10
Be the first to ReplyWonderful service and food we'll never forget
Our entire experience start to finish, from booking all the way through service was of exceptional. I'd like to single Jumana out in particular who provided the highest, most considerate and thoughtful customer/booking service I've ever experienced - she really helped make our dinner, and the birthday surprise a very special evening for us all. The food itself was incredible, we've never had such a variety of delicious food as was served as part of the Thali dinner and are looking forward to the next opportunity to eat with you. Thank you so much, once again.
Be the first to ReplyBest Indian restaurant in London
I love Indian food and this is by far my favourite one in London. The chef and staff are amazing, and the food is simply the best.
Be the first to ReplyMumbai Munchers Rd.2 - Darjeeling Express: Honey I Shrunk The Poppadoms - MUNCH INDEX 64.2%
The results are in. The average scores out of ten were:
Spice: 8.3
Flavour: 7.4
Value for Money: 5.3
A&S: 5.9
X factor: 5.3
Leading to an overall Munch Index of 64.2 (out of a possible 100)
Despite using the repeated critique of "where?” in his post curry review, the geographically challenged Murray Matheson & Co made their way to Covent Garden, and post pit stop at both local and non-local Lamb & Flag establishments, entered a world of contradiction, controversy & cocktails.
The first point of contest arrived when the potentially flair, flair option of a private room echoed the sort of chat no self respecting human would enjoy. Whilst this enabled conversation to flow, and garnered the affectionate gazes of several female clientele, the door to our den was promptly, and understandably closed. Not before Mendoza had opted to sample the cocktail menu to the tune of a half dozen egg based sours, nor before numerous guests used us as a cloak room.
Whilst there were inconsistencies - was the sweet starter X factor or not, was Doza “taking liberties” really the restaurant’s fault, was it the location or chat that was “marginally sterile”, is there ever a time or place for mini poppadoms - there was unanimous praise for the level of spice present in a marvelous lamb based main course. Whilst the grinch-like Matheson and chicken-consuming Bamford were outliers on flavour rating, the other 8 attendees scored the cuisine an impressive 8+ on average, even amidst split emotions regarding the starters. As Stoppers put it, we were treated to “a world of flavour” - apricots have never tasted so good.
Speaking of outliers, Doza managing to spend £5 on two plates, poppadoms, a main, sides, dessert and a chai and still rating value for money a measly 6 brings his contribution to future ratings under severe scrutiny. Chai Joe’s “mystery guest” presence and appreciation of the female waiting staff brought some added spice to the night, but the real X factor was Jean Luc Pickard’s twilight escape from a woollen Starship Enterprise. Unlike the Mumbai Munchers, Merino wool farmers worldwide were left with a sour taste in their mouth.
Darjeeling Express ticked off. Well done everyone.
Darjeeling Express: 64.2
Additional Notes: Discrepancies across the ratings board including a 7 point spread on A&S. Apricot desert was beautiful simplicity at its best. Murray Matheson’s scorecard established that he simply does not like curry after back to back sub-4 ratings. On the plus side Doza now has funds to treat the group to a hog roast this summer.
Go elsewhere
Unfortunately did not live up to expectations. £114 for the smallest plate of poppadums I’ve ever seen, and very dry chicken, and overly sweet chaat. The early evening menu at Gymkhana or Trisha is fair better value and better food
Be the first to ReplyUnbelievably good
By-pass neighboring Dishoom Indian restaurant, which gets more buzz and has a block long line outside and come here [much better] Best indian food I've ever had. By a long shot. It's a lot of food--three starters, including a wonderful charred chile shrimp--plus a platter of dishes. These include two main dishes [I had the shrimp in a cream sauce and a lamb dish] and various other dishes, including a raita with grated beets that was a delight. Then, two small desserts, including apricots in heavy cream. The Thali meal that includes all this is 55 euros, but it's a lot of food and the flavors are amazing. If you can, go. It's hard to believe some other reviewers on tripadvisor feel otherwise!
Be the first to ReplySumptuous Indian Fare
Brilliant chef Asma Kahn and staff serve up amazing Indian dishes that are beautifully spiced and sauced. The restaurant itself is a respite from the frenetic street traffic in the Covent Garden area. Book ahead as it is a popular spot, with good reason!
Be the first to ReplyNot as good as it once was…a travesty in fact
This was our first time at the new address with the new menu. Absolutely loved the old place and menu but we left this time feeling we had been somewhat taken for a ride. The pricing is way too expensive and the food seems to have lost its soul and raison d’être, and the room is nothing special compared to the old restaurant and it’s windows.
The service is lovely as always, but at these prices if €100 for 2 with only water to drink and no dessert- we would have expected some appetizers or amuse-bouches. The Poppadoms were frankly shameful. Ready made cheddar biscuit-sized with a couple of smears in pétri dishes. The bread was nice. My partner’s starter of 5 prawns on a small saucer came unadorned and with a £3 supplement. A chutney, dip, salad or actually anything at all would have been nice. My starter was delicious aloo chat but would have made a better “free” appetizer. My main of aubergine in cashew cream was lovely but felt like a side dish, and my partner looked so short changed with his chicken and rice that I gave him half of my rice with a few frozen peas on the top.
There was no dessert as we had swapped them for sides, so we went and bought an ice cream from Amarino opposite.
Seldom have I felt so disappointed upon leaving a restaurant. We were so invested in its earlier iteration and told everyone we know about it and so looked forward to this visit, coming all the way from the middle of France. On the way in, we said hi to Asma Khan who we had met before and she seemed downcast and unenthusiastic compared to the times I had encountered her previously. She said that the restaurant may move back to the old site due to financial pressures. I can only encourage that as this address and menu are not working, from what I read here on TripAdvisor. A terrible, terrible shame, but not one we intend to repeat unless they return to a similar menu structure as they had in the past and retrieve the passion they have lost along the way. Otherwise I suggest people eat at Dishoom or Rasa.
Long long journey to have a simple dinner
Was very difficult to find a table. I have been trying to find a table for over 2 weeks. The restaurant confirmed our attendance 3 times today ( i gave my credit card number already). Reservation time was at 20:00. Been seated at 20:30 and served at 21:30….and the drinks did not come… Do i need to add anything else? :)
If you are hungry… then its a torture…