Navadhanya

Expect fresh and innovative cooking from this understated Indian restaurant which recently moved to the heart of Theatreland in Grindlay Place.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

After a few years playing to an audience around Haymarket, Navadhanya has brought its modern take on Indian cuisine to the heart of Theatreland. Directly opposite the Lyceum, its waistcoated waiters pad beneath subdued lighting to talk you through a compact, imaginative menu. For dinner, you can opt for the full-blown five-course tasting menu, also available as a vegetarian option, and have it paired with wines if you desire (though sadly not with local craft beer). By day, there’s the excellent value two-course business lunch. Starters are particularly impressive, especially the tawa paneer - Indian cottage cheese marinated in ginger, on a sweet puddle of reduced beetroot, topped with coriander chutney. For mains, there are fish options including a catch of the day, dum biryani, as well as dishes like lamb malabar or jhingha courgette with meaty, perfectly cooked king prawns, both in a mild (possibly too creamy) coconut sauce.