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Farzi London

Bars, Halal, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian·
££££
·
Bronze Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Farzi London

Bronze Award

Passersby might catch a view of Farzi's glittering gold letters and illuminated amber bar and presume that this is the sort of place where a smart dress code applies. The modern Indian bistro on London’s tourist-trodden Haymarket certainly looks the part, but we suggest parking any preconceptions you might have at the door. Its glitzy interiors are tempered by welcoming staff and approachable menus, and in a world where diners are being increasingly priced out by restaurants, Farzi is making a noticeable effort to appeal to a broad demographic.

A generous selection of menus offers something for every price point, including a fantastic sounding Thali set (with dessert!) for less than 20 quid a head. We made a quick mental note before turning to the a la carte menu, where playful fusion dishes like dal-ahawal arancini and butter chicken bao buns offer fresh twists on regional Indian favourites.

The cocktail programme is worth a look in, too. It makes many of its own spirits in a hidden ‘lab’ downstairs, and if you like your drinks sweet, there’s a lot to like on its signatures list, the Grapefruit Margarita being one of them.

Farzi's dishes are very good, some excellent, and if you like your meal to come with a little extra fanfare then all the better. One of our starters arrived on a plinth emitting dry ice – deep-fried spinach and kale fritters doused in saffron yoghurt and tamarind – which was delicious regardless of the extravagant introduction. Elsewhere, gently-spiced ‘arancini’ fashioned out of rice and lentils are elevated with punchy chutneys and crisp poppadom shards. One particularly good order is its tandoor chicken which sees two gorgeously juicy, charred pieces of on-the-bone chicken carpeted in a vibrant orange marinade. A slightly lacklustre ‘ras malai’ twist on tiramisu rounded off the meal, although portions are so generous there’s a good chance you won’t make it to the dessert list.

Farzi certainly adds its two cents to London’s gamut of modern Indian restaurants, and with its friendly service and ‘big feasting energy’, will continue to do well in this part of town.

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Good to know

Spend SquareMeal Smart Vouchers
Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Bars, Halal, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Dark and moody, Fine dining, Fun, Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Romantic, Traditional, Unique, Widely spaced tables
Food Occasions
Bottomless brunch, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Beer garden, Great views, Outside seating, Terrace
Special Features
Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

About

Farzi London is an Indian restaurant that aims to do things a little bit differently. It was originally brought to London by restaurateur Zorawar Kalra, the founder of restaurant group Massive Restaurants, who owns a range of restaurants across the capital that aim to showcase the evolution of Indian cuisine. Farzi London is best described as a modern Indian bistro, serving innovative, avant-garde dishes that offer a culinary journey across what is known as 'undivided India'.

That's right, the restaurant's fresh, newly-launched concept looks at a breadth of countries from Afghanistan and Bangladesh, to the Maldives and Nepal alongside many more, which were once all recognised as a singular nation. With new menus, the team looks to honour the idea of one India, bringing together flavour references and cooking methods from across all of these cuisines and cultures. 

Enjoy trying the sizzling kebabs usually served in the bustling streets of Lucknow, or indulge in the legendary chaats of Chandni Chowk, a storied market district at the heart of Old Delhi. Oh, and be sure to try the succulent, slow-cooked stew Nalli Nihari from Lahore in the north of Punjab, found along the River Ravi. The team are also proud of how they've given new life to time-honoured cooking techniques and explore the likes of Dum cooking which using a slow, steaming method from Awadhi culture, as well as Sigri which grills meats over a charcoal fire. 

Farzi London also boasts a talented bar team who have worked closely with some of London’s most celebrated mixologists to create its signature serves. Discover a number of experiential and contemporary cocktails, such as one called Mesh featuring pink pepper gin, saffron, coconut water, coconut, kombucha, falernum, rose and pineapple blossom. There is also an extensive selection of Champagnes, English sparklings, wines and spirits to pair with your meal.

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Reward offers for Farzi London

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500 Points for lunchtime diners

For all diners to this restaurant, spending over £50, lunchtimes only.

400 Points for evening diners

For all diners to this restaurant, spending over £50 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, for evening diners.

300 Points for evening diners

For all diners to this restaurant, spending over £50 on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, for evening diners.

100 Points

For all diners any day, every time


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Menu Highlights

Starters
Dal Chawal Arancini - £10.50

Lentil & Rice Croquettes, Papad , Pickle & Chutney

Butter Chicken Bao - £11.50

Punjabi Butter chicken in Bao bun , Green chilli Mayo

Chicken Lollipop - £12.50

Crispy Chicken Lollipops. Choose from one of these sauces:- Sriracha & Honey Mayo - Desi Schezwan Sauce - Burnt Lime & Sweet Chilli

Dal Chawal Arancini - £10.50

Lentil & Rice Croquettes, Papad , Pickle & Chutney

Butter Chicken Bao - £11.50

Punjabi Butter chicken in Bao bun , Green chilli Mayo

Main Courses
CTM - £21.50

Farzi signature , Chicken Tikka Masala

Lamb Burra Chop Sizzler - £29.00

Tender Welsh Lamb chops, Crispy garlic & Cashew nut marinade, Masala Wedges & pickled chilli

Smoked Palak Paneer Handi - £19.00

Cottage Cheese, Creamy Spinach & Crispy Garlic Masala, Smoked In Casserole

CTM - £21.50

Farzi signature , Chicken Tikka Masala

Lamb Burra Chop Sizzler - £29.00

Tender Welsh Lamb chops, Crispy garlic & Cashew nut marinade, Masala Wedges & pickled chilli


FAQs

Does it offer takeaway?

Yes, there is a takeaway menu available via Ubereats, Deliveroo and Supper.

Helpful? 0
Meet the team
Farzi London

Nikhil Mahale

Head Chef

Nikhil Mahale's experience spans 23 years and multiple continents. Starting as a trainee chef in Mumbai, he discovered his passion for cooking at the Renaissance going on to work in various posts including Mayfair’s Babel House.

Inspired by his mother's hospitality, and having previously worked under India’s first Michelin-starred chef, Vineet Bhatia at Azok, Nikhil incorporates contemporary and experimental techniques in progressive dishes that capture the true flavours of Northern India.


Farzi London is featured in

This venue also offers

Farzi London
Private Group Dining

Farzi London

Farzi London
Christmas Parties

Farzi London

Videos and 360 tours

3D tour

Location

8 Haymarket, St. James's, London, SW1Y 4BP

020 3981 0090 020 3981 0090

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon 12:00-15:00
Tue 12:00-15:00
Wed 12:00-15:00
Thu 12:00-15:00
Fri 12:00-16:00
Sat 12:00-16:00
Sun 12:00-16:00
Dinner
Mon 16:30-22:30
Tue 16:30-22:30
Wed 16:30-22:30
Thu 16:30-22:30
Fri 16:00-23:30
Sat 16:00-23:30
Sun 16:30-22:00

Reviews

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3 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Alan B

05 April 2025  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4
Good find!

Great spot for Indian food that's a cut above the average.  Casual place, with a buzzy atmosphere, perfect for pre-theatre dining.  Menu choices are well-executed and presented, with enough spice to enhance the flavour without overwhelming it, but some dishes were served luke-warm.

Justin M

30 July 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 3

Alex G

12 April 2019  
Food & Drink 3.5
Service 2.5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 3.5
Head fake

‘No,’ was what I wanted to scream straight out when first I learned about Farzi Café. Everything about it struck me as wrong or offensive. The restaurant is subtitled as being a ‘modern spice bistro’ (what is that supposed to mean?), it is backed by ‘the Czar of Indian Cuisine’ (per the details on its website) and I learned through the Internet that farzi means ‘fake’ in Urdu. Add into this that London’s newest batch of Indian openings (Indian Accent, Kahani, Kanishka etc.) have all met with mixed reviews, and my expectations were certainly low heading to Farzi Café. The good news, however, was that they were comfortably surpassed. Both my comrade and I were impressed with the vibe and food on a recent weekday lunchtime visit. Begin with the décor and the angle here is post-industrial with touches of luxury. Of course, there is an open kitchen and a central bar area. We benefited from a leather banquette which afforded us a good view of the whole venue, but we could not help feeling sorry for the potentially unlucky diners who, at busy times, would be forced to sit at the significantly smaller and more exposed tables in the middle of the dining area. Onto the menu, there is a wide range of dishes available to suit all palates and budgets (within reason). If anything, the problem was tyranny of choice. My comrade and I were forced to ponder exactly how big might a ‘nano’ plate be and how many of these might need to be combined with small plates and mains before even beginning to consider where the paos and sliders may fit it. The branding conceit is also in full effect on the menu, with one section dedicated to ‘#farzified’ British classics. I guess the angle here is that all may not be what it seems; let’s take something traditional and give you a reinvented (or, less charitably, fake) version of it. All of this said, the four dishes we went for – we were ever so boring, opting for just two small ones and two mains – were exceptional, in terms of taste and presentation. Pan-tossed shrooms (their labelling, not mine) with a black truffle haze, served on a bed of dhal demonstrated immense novelty and offered diners an exciting spectrum of flavours and textures. Our other starter of naga pork packed a punch of spice intensity with a nicely contrasting addition of bamboo shoots. Mains of venison combined with stir-fired peppers and smoked aubergine served in its skin both spoke of originality and emphasised the kitchen’s skill. No complaints about service, while pricing was reasonable at ~£30/head (although we just drank fizzy water). Once you can get over the backstory, come for the food – and enjoy.   

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