Kanishka is an opulent Indian restaurant in Mayfair focused on North East Indian cuisine. Indian cuisine is our favourite and we’ve enjoyed some of the very best Indian restaurants in London, so after reading about Kanishka we were keen to check it out and we where it stacks up on our list.
To begin with, Kanishka is utterly beautiful. Stylish modern décor with vibrant colours and lush exotic greenery. The service was also special – it was really genuine, helpful and professional; she really cared if we enjoyed our dinner. Now, the food…
There are so many intriguing dishes on the menu, particularly the mains, which made it hard for us to order, but with the waitress’s help we eventually did.
Starters
This was a creative triumph, and in hindsight I wonder why it hasn’t been tried before. The puff pastry was flaky and delicious and the chicken tikka was rich and spicy. Perfect combination.
I loved these. The scallops were meaty and perfectly cooked, the parsnip purée was creamy, and it was well spicy.
We weren’t fans of the momos. The filling was fairly bland, which of odd for an Indian restaurant.
The mixed grill was good but could’ve been better. Firstly, the chicken was delicious and succulent, especially for chicken breast piece. The prawns were meaty and spicy. But the lamb chops weren’t as seasoned as you’d expect at an Indian restaurant; and fish was just okay.
Mains
I wasn’t a fan of my lamb rump. It was cooked very well but lacked seasoning, not what you’d expect at an Indian restaurant. It was more reminiscent of English cuisine. The keema parcel was lovely though and the sweet potato so fluffy.
Sagolir Manxo 
Cumin Basmati Rice 
Bread Basket
Now Shiima’s goat curry was as expected. The curry was incredibly rich and spicy, and the pieces of goat were perfectly soft and infused with the delicious curry.
Dessert?
We were keen, but nothing on the menu intrigued us.
Verdict
Kanishka is a very fine Indian restaurant. It’s really beautiful, the service was awesome, and the food is creative and mostly delicious. We recommend for romantic dates and special occasions. Kanishka is expensive, so do bear that in mind.
Cuisine: Indian
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Shiima’s Star Dish: Atul’s Chicken Tikka Pie
Amen’s Star Dish: Naga Scallops
Price: Over £50pp
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Kanishka
17 – 19 Maddox Street, Mayfair
London, W1S 2QH
Reserve at OpenTable,
Or call 020 3978 0978
