Contemporary Indian restaurant Kahani announced the launch of its new sharing-style menu in October and we of course went down to check it out. The Sloane Square restaurant is known for using the finest British ingredients that are brought to life with rich, Indian spices and Chef Peter’s culinary techniques, a must try for any curry lover looking for an elevated setting.

The latest menu aims to showcase Kahani’s deliciously light Indian cuisine, with a brand-new small plates concept allowing for a social dining experience. Michelin-starred chef Peter Joseph is at the helm of the Kahani kitchen. Lucky for us the new menu has what has been described as an exceptional range of vegan and vegetarian dishes, as plant eaters this was music to our ears. We opted to start with a cocktail whilst we looked over the menu, choosing the SW1; Saffron and cardamom infused Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau, Lime juice, Fresh mint and Apple wood smoke. Completely decadent and both delicious and warming, it was served on its own little tray with a honeycomb bite, the attention put into the presentation was a good omen for the rest of the meal.

We opted for a selection of the vegetarian small plates to share. Berry papdi chaat; spiced chickpeas with sweetened yoghurt, wild berry & tamarind chutney, Pani Puri; Filled with sweet potato and chickpea, tangy spiced water in hollow crispy puri, Mushroom & cassava cake; with cumin, ginger and chilli, tamarind & date chutney, Saag Paneer; tossed with onion-tomato masala, puréed spinach. Served with a side of naan, pulao rice and okra, it was a colourful vegi feast, with a distinctive focus on presentation as well as flavour, colour pallets of reds, green, yellow and white. A great level of spice, dishes were mild as a base but with a fiery kick, making them perfect for grazing. My absolute favourite was the berry papdi chaat; with the sweetness of the berries and yoghurt balancing the spicey chickpeas, it was equal parts of nourishing and indulgent. We paired our main meal with a bottle of Jean Becker, Pinot Gris which was a great accompaniment for a fairly lengthy curry sitting; rich and full bodied with ripe tropical fruits.

Completely bowled over by our meal, we found room to squeeze in a dessert platter which I highly recommend sharing as a finisher; a medley of Kulfi, Carrot fudge mille-feuille and Chocolate delight, almond brittle. Like the mains it was a balanced mix of flavours and aesthetic, tending to all aspects of the flavour pallet.

Set in a lavishly decorated, dimly lit restaurant with smooth background music and interesting furnishings and decorations, Kahani is a great venue for a relaxed but somewhat fancy get-together, complete with a roaring fire in a stone brick fireplace. The food and service are of the level of quality you would expect in such an exuberant area (very high) and the menu caters to the full selection of tastes and dietary requirements.

The new menu continues to feature the restaurant’s irresistible and much-loved Bottomless Brunch offering for those who love Indian food and want to slip it down with delicious prosecco. Featuring an unlimited three-course meal for just £43, and for only £19 more, prosecco lovers can have as much fizz as they want on top.

Address: Kahani, 1 Wilbraham Place, London, SW1X 9AE
Website: www.kahanilondon.com

Written by Jordan Crowley

Photography courtesy of Kahani