Trishna

Casual Indian goodness

wild mushrooms, morel, pink peppercorn raita

Trishna is a smart relaxing Indian restaurant on Bandford Street, just a few streets away from the ever busy Bond Street. It gained a Michelin star in the 2013 Michelin Guide. It is operated by the Sethi family, which now has a large collection of restaurants with different price points and a variety of concepts. From the high end Indian Gymkhana in Mayfair to the trendy but humble Taiwanese Bao joint in Soho. This is my second visits to Trishna, having dined there 3 years ago when it was newly awarded a Michelin star, when it was generally a really pleasant meal.

salmon tika

fry pepper quail

I took the special deal from London Restaurant Festival provided by Book a Table which cost me under £30 for a 3 course meal, it was a good bargain especially for dinner time. But of course, as expected with offers, the quality of the cooking wouldn't be as good as the normal a la carte or tasting menu. The salmon tikka had a great sweet and spicy aroma with a soft creamy texture which was lovely, while the fry pepper quail was all about the intense and powerful flavours from the black pepper and keralan spices, it flavours really stood out to give a long lasting spicy finish.

king prawns, coconut, curry leaves

chicken drumsticks, Mangalorean spices, coconut

Coconut curry prawn as expected had a mild and sweet sensation aroma and the flavours of the tamarind shallots added a touch of sharpness which was very pleasant. What I enjoyed less was the chicken drumsticks with mangalorean spices, as the flavour of the chicken was completely dominated by the bold spices and became tasteless. The side dish of saag aloo was a real winner for me, perfect seasoning with the spinach and garlic flavours, it worked amazingly together along the rice. Cardamom kheer was a rice pudding with fig and pistachio, this was perhaps too much for a dessert dish. It had great flavours but the thick texture as well its massive portion just didn't work well for me, especially after such a rich main course.

baked yoghurt, mango & star anise chutney

cardamom kheer

I like Trishna, the price is very reasonable even without the offer and both the service and the cooking is a massive step up to your local Indian curry joint. The real question for me is... does it live up to a Michelin star, that I am not too sure as it is hard to compare Asian to European cuisine. One thing that is sure for me is Trishna has less refinement in its plating and less creative in its cooking, as most dishes are typical classics with some small modern twist, to make it more palatable for Londoners. Having said that, I do think Trishna is a great Indian restaurant, one that can be enjoyed in any kind of occasion, with its relaxing yet smart setting plus very capable cooking. 

Food 3.5/5

Head chef: 
Rohit Ghai

What I paid: 
£33 per head

Average cost without drinks and services:
£35 lunch tasting menu
£55 dinner tasting menu

15-17 Blandford St, London W1U 3DG

http://www.trishnalondon.com/