Colonel Saab Holborn Hall

Afternoon tea, Halal, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian·
££££
·

SquareMeal Review of Colonel Saab Holborn Hall

Holborn Town Hall is a vast and, some might say, tricky space to fill, a challenge that the team behind Colonel Saab have accepted with aplomb. The modern Indian restaurant is hospitality guru Roop Partap Choudhary’s UK debut, which he’s named after his father (Colonel Saab) who was a soldier in the Indian army. 

It’s impossible not to take stock of the striking décor as you enter the restaurant. Based on the living room Choudhary grew up in and designed in collaboration with his mother (the whole venture is very much a family-affair), we were welcomed by a swathe of burnt red walls which are only accentuated by high ceilings and extravagant crystal chandeliers. Choudhary explains that a lot of the artwork and furnishings are borrowed from his childhood home and jests that his mother wants some of them back! Beyond the interiors, though, is a real sense of warmth evoked by attentive and chatty staff.  

The menu is inspired by cuisines from all over India; some dishes feel street food-esque while others hark towards the lighter curries of southern India. We started with king prawns wrapped in crisp ribbons of kataifi pastry and served on a sticky layer of mango chutney. While from the ‘chaat bar’ we sampled Mall Road, another mellow dish featuring soft sweet potato, tamarind chutney and coriander. Notes of intense sweetness are a running theme throughout many of Colonel Saab’s dishes, sometimes cloyingly so, but it does score points for knowing how to combine different textures.  

From the mains, the vegetarian options caught our eye. Confit cauliflower in a creamy saffron sauce is the chef’s signature dish, while elsewhere adorable baby aubergines are stuffed with a surprise nutty filling and served in a tamarind curry leaf sauce. Aesthetically, these dishes are an Instagrammer’s dream and deliver on comfort and richness, although are slightly lacking when it comes to spice and heat. 

Not ones to usually order dessert at an Indian restaurant, we would actually recommend leaving room for something sweet. Taking classic puddings and adding an Indian-inspired twist, the milk cake with cardamom custard and the pineapple and chilli tarte tatin were totally worth the wait (guests are required to wait 25 minutes for the tart).  

One final tip: the dishes are expensive – with most mains starting from £16.95 - so if you want to pad out your meal on the (sort of) cheap, then sides are the way to go.

Good to know

Spend SquareMeal Smart Vouchers
Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Afternoon tea, Halal, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Fine dining, Fun, Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Quirky, Romantic, Unique
Food Occasions
All day dining, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Late night dining, Lunch
Special Features
Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celeb spotting, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Colonel Saab is a group of Indian restaurants that are from Roop Partap Choudhary. If you're looking for a delicious, fine dining experience with authentic Indian food, you should take a look at Colonel Saab in Holborn. Inspired by the stories of Roop's father, Colonel Manbeer Choudhary, who was an Indian Army Officer, along with his wife, the restaurant will take you on a journey through the subcontinent. This is a space where you can enjoy old style jazz music, modern interpretations of flavours and textures, and incredible, museum worthy artwork. This restaurant is a true love letter to what it means to enjoy Indian food, with each of the brand's locations reflecting a unique facet of Roop's family's journey.

Inside, the decor showcases a treasure trove of eclectic Indian art and artefacts, and each piece has its own story, meticulously collected by Roop Partap Choudhary’s family during their extensive travels – and now displayed carefully in London.

To start, the menu offers dishes of crispy fried cassava in tangy soy tamarind sauce with roasted sesame seeds, along with curry flavoured Mangalorean fried chicken supreme with crispy rice noodles and chilli mayo. Other starters are the pomelo and plum salad, an Anglo Indian chicken chop and tandoori broccoli. From the chat bar, enjoy the khubani aloo tikki chaat or purani dilli, before moving onto a la carte dishes of falahari curry koftas with crisp potato and green cress, Chef Sohan's confit of cauliflower in a cardamom saffron sauce, and gutti vankaya in a tangy tamarind gravy. Although the dishes here are pretty unique, you'll find classic Indian restaurant dishes of butter chicken and lamb curries. There are plenty of naan breads, sides and biryanis to try, and if you have kids in tow, they will find their own menu too.

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500 Points for lunchtime diners

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For all diners to this restaurant, spending over £120 on Mondays to Wednesdays, for evening diners.

300 Points for lunchtime diners

For all diners to this restaurant on Mondays to Thursdays, lunchtimes only.

100 Points

For all diners any day, every time

100 Points for evening diners

For new diners to this restaurant on Mondays to Wednesdays, for evening diners.

100 Points for lunchtime diners

For new diners to this restaurant, lunchtimes only.


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Menu Highlights

Main Courses
Diwali Menu (from 1st to 6th November) - £55.00

Five courses: Bajjias and crispy snacks, poppadum and chutneys - Assortment of House chaats, lip smacking snacks served with tamarind and coriander chutneys - Malabar fish or paneer tikka - Memsaab’s creamy chicken curry or corn in a coconut sauce - Rose Gulab jamun with gold leaf - Indian sweet platter - Chai or coffe


FAQs

Can you book Colonel Saab?

Yes, booking in advance is recommended but walk-ins are welcome when there is space.

Helpful? 0

Does Colonel Saab offer vegetarian options?

Yes, there are vegetarian options on the menu.

Helpful? 0

Does Colonel Saab offer gluten-free options?

Yes - please ask your server before ordering

Helpful? 0

What is the ambience at Colonel Saab?

The restaurant is beautifully decorated with Indian art and antiques, warm colours and stunning chandeliers creating the perfect back drop for your meal

Helpful? 0

What is the menu like at Colonel Saab?

The menu reflects a blend of tradition from street food to home style cooking and includes dishes from royal kitchens. We offer traditional Indian food with a contemporary twist.

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What is the dress code at Colonel Saab?

Smart Casual -we kindly request that guests do not wear sportswear, beachwear, ripped jeans , flip flops, sliders or workout trainers. Fashion trainers are permitted.

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Are there vegan options on the menu at Colonel Saab?

Yes there are vegan options on the menu at Colonel Saab.

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This venue also offers

Colonel Saab Holborn Hall
Private Group Dining

Colonel Saab Holborn Hall

Colonel Saab Holborn Hall
Christmas Parties

Colonel Saab Holborn Hall

Location

193-197 High Holborn, Covent Garden, London, WC1V 7BD

020 8016 6800 020 8016 6800

Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon 12:00-01:00
Tue 12:00-01:00
Wed 12:00-01:00
Thu 12:00-01:00
Fri 12:00-01:00
Sat 12:00-01:00
Sun 12:00-00:30

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Sam H

01 December 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

My favourite Indian restaurant in London. Every dish I've tried is delicious, the staff are all so friendly, and the interiors are stunning. 

Sara K

22 October 2021  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Amazing Ambiance Appetizing Food Attractive Cocktails

Thats what I call An A star restaurant... Being Punjabi, I always wanted to taste good North Indian food along with variety of drinks and I must mention this place is for all food lovers along with aesthetic architect. Soothing ambiance made our special day even more special. Thanks For this beautiful restaurant in Central London!

Sara

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Call Colonel Saab Holborn Hall to make a booking on:

020 8016 6800 020 8016 6800

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