Baluchi Restaurant Review: Indian Fine Dining Inside the Lalit London Hotel

Nestled away on the back streets of London, just a stones throw away from Tower Bridge is one of London’s most fabulous restaurants inside The Lalit London Hotel – which has just become top of my list to sleep over in. As you walk through the doors of this hotel, a familiar scent is pumped around the building, the staff are courteous and the building has been lovingly restored from a former grammar school.

With so much to explore in this hotel when it comes to food and drink, we started in the bar, of which there are two of – the Teacher’s Room and the Headmaster’s Room. Both rather lovely and the cocktails – well they were pure perfection. The Bloody Madhavi, an Indian take on the classic was dare I say it – the best Bloody Mary example I’ve had all year. This one was given a little more spice, good quality tomato juice and a nice depth. Equally as delicious was the Princess of the Tower. Essentially a long version of a Pisco Sour, but with a generous helping of ginger, sage and sweet pineapple juice.

If I was ever asked to put a list together of London’s most beautiful restaurants, I think Baluchi would be at the top of it. It’s jaw-droppingly beautiful – drenched in royal blues, gold accents and autumnal leaves decorating the room. Colonial style chairs were very comfortable, tables were of good size and the balcony upstairs I’m told is the perfect setting for afternoon tea (which looked great from a distance).

If entering from the cocktail bar, there’s a large bar at the end of the dining room which is home to something called The Naanery which creates variations of naans, paired with exquisite wines. Whilst the outdoor terrace serves the Baluchi and afternoon tea menus. No matter where you look in this restaurant, it’s all beautiful.

We started our journey here after being greeted by the very lovely head chef Santosh Shah, previously of Cinnamon Kitchen. He explained the menus, the restaurants ethos and brought us our first dishes – though not before we practically inhaled a portion of poppadoms with all their home-made chutneys. A single hand dived Orkney scallop with oyster leaf Pakoda, buckthorn puree, gin foam, kale powder and pickled grapes was a taste sensation and served under a glass dome of smoke for extra flavour.

The tandoori monkfish fillet marinated in mustard, fennel, fenugreek and onion seeds, served with a mint and coriander chutney was arguably the best dish I ate here. Whilst the Iberico pork fillet with feta cheese, curried yoghurt, spiced apple, coriander chutney and house salad was a dream to eat. Though the latter looked rather small so either a bigger portion, or a smaller plate is needed.

Head chef also brought us out a samosa chaat which I adored and something I couldn’t see on the menu but it certainly should be. As well as a plate filled with different types of celeriac which had been cooked in the tandoori oven and served with mint chutney, burnt apple gel, masala seeds, gun powder and coconut foam. Another lovely and very interesting dish.

For our main courses, everything was excellent but if I had to pick one dish in particularly to come back for – it would be for these gigantic tandoori king prawns. They were cooked to such perfection and the body was practically melting away from the head. I couldn’t actually finish this dish as the prawns were so big, so word of advice – skip breakfast. They came served with samphire, sautéed spinach and a moilee sauce which added yet another depth to it all.

A Kashmiri delicacy of slow-cooked lamb shank, fennel, cashew and saffron was another must order, especially as you rarely see lamb shank on menus these days. They’re so satisfying and this version was no exception. Falling on the bone and served with some masala mash to soak up all the rich sauce.

What to do with all that delicious curry sauce from the lamb shanks? That’s where the sides of garlic and truffle naans come in, the latter worth ordering alone just for the smell. We also tried the carrot & coriander roti (a gluten-free option) but in all honesty, I wouldn’t bother. The side of palak paneer (spinach and paneer) on the other hand may well be one of the best versions you’ll ever eat.

We didn’t quite have room to explore the full dessert menu but what we choose, I think we choose wisely. Saffron infused tandoori pineapple, which had been cooked on skewers, then skinned and rolled into perfect mouthfuls and infused with saffron I believe. It’s then topped with a scoop of cardamom ice cream (my favourite flavour) and a pink peppercorn tuille.

We left full, a little tipsy from those generous cocktails and with a feeling that we’d definitely love to return. The service was excellent, dining room is spectacular and the food is accomplished. This is most certainly one of the finest Indian dining experiences I’ve had this year in London. It’s not the cheapest restaurant in town, but for everything you get to experience when dining here – Baluchi is worth every penny.