Celina Brar discovers a tale of tastes when she tries Kahani, the fine dining restaurant in Belgravia
Tonight I’m trying Kahani, a fine dining Indian restaurant in Chelsea. Run by chef Peter Joseph, Kahani is the Hindi word for ‘story’.
Peter Joseph was former head chef at Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Tamarind and worked there for 10 years – so expectations for Kahani are high when I arrive with my guest.
The Venue
Kahani is tucked away right behind Cadogan Hall. The décor feels a little Soho House inspired – cosy and warm but still very elegant.
The restaurant has the feel of Indian luxury hygge with silky velvet chairs and beautiful hanging light fixtures. After being seated adjacent to the roaring fireplace, we settle in and couldn’t feel more welcome.
The Food & Drink
I start with a cocktail, a Khatta Gin (khatta meaning ‘sour’ in Hindi), and my guest tries the ‘Chaotic’, a smoky take on the classic negroni. We’re both impressed from the outset.
Like most Indian restaurants, the menu is designed for sharing. This is great if, like me, you want to use that as an excuse to over order so you get to try more dishes.
Upon first impressions of the menu, I notice that there’s only one single curry on offer. It’s clear that this is a new and innovative take on Indian cuisine, moving away from traditional fare.
That said, we start with a classic samosa platter and three options arrive; potato, chicken and venison. A staple to any Indian meals, these samosas didn’t disappoint.
We then moved on to something different – one of their signature dishes which our waiter highly recommended to us – the tandoori broccoli.
For me, this was an absolute highlight of the entire evening and is one of the tastiest dishes I’ve had in a long time. Perfectly tender and seasoned with honey, nigella seeds, crushed wheat crisps and yoghurt, this dish alone is reason enough to come to Kahani.
Another highlight was the lamb biryani, a personal favourite of mine. I also enjoyed the lobster tail with shallots, and garlic crushed peppercorn. A special mention must also go to the gruyere naan!
Despite being Indian and visiting plenty of Indian restaurants in my time, this was my first encounter with gruyere naan. It was delicious and not too overpowering, which made it the perfect accompaniment to the biryani.
Despite trying a variety of dishes we still had room for dessert, which is a credit to the potion sizes.
If you can resist the temptation to order extra tandoori broccoli and grueyere naan, then you should because dessert at Kahani is a must.
I went for the decadent chocolate bomb, which can sometimes feel like it’s made more for Instagram than for eating.
The chilli and gulab jamun added exceptional Indian flavours to the chocolate bomb and as a certified chocaholic, I can confirm it has my seal of approval.
The Wordrobe Verdict
So what’s the conclusion to this Kahani ‘story’? Although the restaurant isn’t cheap (unsurprisingly given its Sloane Square location) the innovative menu makes it worth a trip.
The service is as warm and inviting as the décor, and the food will leave you already trying to plan your return. Put simply, this is cosy fine dining done right.
Make it happen
Where: 1 Wilbraham Pl, Belgravia, London SW1X 9AE.
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square.
How: Please visit kahanidining.com to find out more and make a booking.
Review by Celina Brar
