Jay Rayner's review of Amaya (The Observer)
Amaya reviews
I went there with my husband and we had a really disappointing meal. The portions were tiny, the prices were overstated and the quality was poor.
I thought my aubergine dish was a poor excuse for a portion - about 1/4 of a normal aubergine for an extraordinary price. The grilled tikka paneer had too much turmeric. The grilled broccoli dipped in yoghurt was about as tasty as having your chips with soup. My husband's venison was not that great either.
What a farce. We felt robbed when we paid the bill!
I went with two friends. We had the gourmand meal and it was wonderful. Each course was delicious and only a bite or two per person. The service was excellent and I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
by Alani, 07 Sep 2007It's nothing special. The decor is great, the drinks are OK, and the food is not Indian. Other restaurants, such as Veeraswamy, beat Amaya for food, value and decor.
by lufcpaul1 (3 reviews), 06 Jan 2007The tastiest modern Indian cuisine I have tried in London. I invite most of my visitors to Amaya and all of them have been very impressed.
by Anonymous, 22 Nov 2006It was one of the best meals I've had in recent times. The food tasted good and was cooked to perfection. The decor and the service were equally good. I think the restaurant deseves full marks for its efforts, I'm sure it's a complete team effort of the people behind this place. Congratulations!
by r william, 14 Nov 2006I have to agree, the chef ruined the whole experience for me too. While trying to have a conversation over dinner it was almost impossible with the chef screaming at the staff. They may want to scrap the whole open kitchen idea.
On the positive side, the staff were lovely and the food was tasty. The portions are too small, even taking into account it is a tapas-style restaurant, but they're presented well.
Overall, I would still take friends to Amaya for dinner to experience that style of Indian as it is a great idea. I would, however, recommend they increase the portion size to broaden their clientele range.
I stumbled into this place by chance. I have to say that the decor presented a powerful contemporary ambiance for a curry house, which is extremely pleasing. The service was excellent and the staff extremely helpful. The concept of serving your food to you when the chef has cooked it is a good idea as it leaves you guessing which dish is going to next arrive on your table.
However, that's all for the niceties. The food, to be blunt, was very average. I ordered two of the chef signature dishes - these being the Dori Kebab and the Nazmi Chicken - and they both tasted like curried pâté. I was really disappointed, as the wow factor and the staff ticked all the boxes.
If they change the chef and work to the same concept then they're on to a winner.
Was 'steered' in the direction of a very expensive tasting plate - nothing remarkable. One of the party had 'king prawns', or should I say single prawn. Service and decor excellent though.
by Anonymous, 09 Oct 2006Excellent evening spent in the private dining room downstairs. The food was mouth watering - just the right amount - served at just the right time.
Waiting staff were excellent and very discreet. Would thoroughly recommend Amaya for parties and special occasions. Food was reasonably priced too, but watch the drinks bill!
Very good food, but slightly cavernous room and large tables for two which make it a non-intimate dining experience. Good for lunch or dinner with friends but not with that special someone.
by Lexi (11 reviews), 09 Apr 2006In a nutshell: fantastic food, cocktails and service. Highly recommended for a night out.
by Anonymous, 14 Feb 2006Superb food, the 'gourmand' menu was fab, though possibly a bit too much food! Bar area is nice to meet up before dinner to admire the beautiful surroundings. Staff were very attentive.
by DG, 06 Feb 2006Excellent food. Attentive staff. Nice decor and pleasant ambiance. One of the best Indian restaurants in town, albeit not the cheapest.
by Vera (2 reviews), 24 Oct 2005A beautiful restaurant with excellent food, some dishes were really great difficult to describe. The whole eating experience was great - lot of passion was seen in the cooking. Service bit sloppy, could have been better. Over all great experience and food scores on all accounts.
by Anonymous, 10 Oct 2005This was the first Indian restaurant we ever visited and it has spoiled us forever. The food was extraordinary, the service helpful and impeccable, and the decor wonderful.
by Anonymous, 01 Oct 2005A wondrous restaurant with fantastic food and staff. I expected a lot when arriving but enjoyed it more than I could have imagined. The people and atmosphere made it a great night!
by Anonymous, 25 Sep 2005Being on a diet all my life but I still decided to go there for two nights in a row.
by Anonymous, 16 Aug 2005Have we missed a great restaurant in London? Let us know.
Photograph © Amaya







