Bombay Brasserie, a fine Indian restaurant, looks to the cultural diversity of Bombay, or rather Mumbai, for its menu inspirations. As well as being India’s financial and entertainment capital, the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai draws on the diverse cooking styles of Goa, Bengal, Gujarat and Rajasthan, as well as bringing in Portuguese influences.

Bombay Brasserie is located in the Millenium Hotel on Gloucester Road, with the main entrance to the restaurant being through The Bombay Bar, a stylish Raj-inspired bar that champions the exoticism of old Bombay. It’s a gorgeous place to unwind, particularly before lunch or dinner with plush sofas and photos of India from a bygone era defines the mood.

The restaurant is also a delight. Owned by the luxury hotel chain, The Taj Group, no expense was spared when it came to the décor at Bombay Brasserie. Heading through the double doors which separates the restaurant from the bar, one’s immediate reaction is one of awe. It sings of opulence, with grandiose chandeliers, stucco walls with inbuilt flickering lanterns and a spacious space laid out with comfortable banquette seating.

As for the food, this was a delight. We began our meal with the seafood platter (£24), a wonderful plate consisting of tasty soft shell crab, a perfectly cooked grilled scallop, pleasant monkfish, and a grilled prawn that gave way to a slightly smoky flavour.

Bombay Brassiere – Seafood platter

Chicken tikka makhani (£17), chargrilled chicken thighs in a creamy butter sauce was dreamily good with lots of lovely richness in the decadent sauce. A ‘venison roast’ (£24) with strips of venison fillet cooked with onions, tomato, ginger, coconut and various spices proved to be excellent also. As well as being tender, there was a wealth and depth of flavour coming through from the use of the various spices and other ingredients.

Bombay Brassiere – Chicken tikka makhani

Prawn hara pyaz ka (£24), black tiger prawns cooked with spring onions, scallions, and tomatoes was pleasant. Also enjoyable were the Adraki lamb (£26) chops with ginger from the clay oven. These were tender and satisfying if a touch salty.

Bombay Brassiere – Prawn hara pyaz ka

Bombay Brassiere – Lamb chops

We also had the Wadi bhutta palak (£10) for a side, a delectable and creamy spinach concoction consisting of lentil buttons, corn kernels, and golden garlic. This was one of the highlights of the evening – delectably creamy, wonderfully flavoursome and incredibly well made.

Bombay Brassiere – Creamy spinach

For dessert we tried the trio of chocolate (£11) which consisted of raspberry chocolate, a chocolate samosa and a chocolate brownie. The raspberry chocolate, akin to a ganache, was delicious. However we found the samosa a little oily and the brownie rather dry.

A carrot cake (£8), gulab jamun kulf, was our preferred dessert. Delightfully spongy and soft, it had been drizzled with syrup. It was delicious and fragrant, if a touch too sweet.

We thoroughly enjoyed the opulent experience that was Bombay Brasserie, with its delicious food and opulent setting. The décor was a dream and provided the perfect backdrop for a refined dining experience. The service was well-mannered but churned over quite slowly unfortunately. We found the wait times for our food a little slow. And the biggest drawback – the rather high prices. Refinement comes at a cost.

SUMMARY INFORMATION:
Likes:
1) All the food was delicious, but the highlight was the wadi bhutta palak.
2) The decor is glorious.
3) Bombay Brasserie provides a very refined experience.

Dislikes:
1) The service was a little slow.
2) The menu is a little pricey.

Food rating: 4/5
Service rating: 3.5/5

Average Price: £37 to £54 a head for three courses and a side to share. Excludes drinks and service.

Website: http://www.bombay-brasserie.co.uk/