Gymkhana

Traditional Indian food with a modern twist, located in the centre of Mayfair. Tandoori chicken chops were great, tomato curry was ok, and all the sides (naan, etc.) were all great, nothing bad, tomato curry could use a tad more tomato to the element and perhaps some spice, but overall great experience, quick service, reasonable prices.

So I have to say that I’m not an expert in Indian cuisine but I was very happy with my experience at Gymkhana. I was nearby at Fortnum and Mason and popped in at 7:00 pm on a Tuesday night hoping I could get a table for one. The restaurant was fully booked but there was a very small table near the bar that was offered to me. Since I was craving Indian food, I was very happy to take it. I ordered the lamb shank and it was delicious! I wasn’t very hungry, so I can’t tell you about the appetizers or dessert. Just had the lamb shank and some rice. The lamb was very tender and tasty.

Gymkhana is a quite clever but deeply cynical scam, basically, for converting large amounts of customers’ money into very poor suburban curry house food, very slightly tarted up. Poor doesn’t begin to describe this place. Gymkhana is competing for the customers of the wonderful Amaya in Knightsbridge, but isn’t a thousandth as good. Everything my Pakistan-​born friend and I had was cheap, badly made rubbish. To tourists who get ripped off here, I apologise. To the food critics who apparently liked it, I say shame on you. To favourable reviewers here, you were either very lucky or are clueless and gullible. To readers thinking of booking, please, please don’t. It’s an embarrassment to London’s restaurants.

Very good food and setting. Food with spices isn’t my top choice usually however this was fantastic. Every dish ordered was great from starters to mains to dessert. The restaurant is pricey however worth checking out if you can.

This is my favorite Indian cuisine in the world! Creative, interesting, a mix of new and traditional. The flavors are outstanding! A place where you can savor each bite.
Service is appropriately attentive. Can be difficult to get a table, so plan ahead. Expensive, but worth it.

This is a great Indian restaurant. The Quinine Sour cocktail is a top rated cocktail for a reason – its not just a regular gin and tonic. It has amazing aromas before you take a sip and the egg white adds a great element
I had not had the Dosa before and it was excellent – great flavor in the duck
I ordered the lamb chops and dal for dinner. It took all my discipline not to strip the bones. It was so flavorful and well cooked. I didnt have a bad bite of the lamb.
The service is great here as well. Just make sure you think to book in advance!

Gymkhana:
Having knowledge of the exceptionally high quality of authentic Indian cuisine offered throughout London, I researched Gymkhana, holding one Michelin Star, acclaimed to hold the title of National Restaurant of the Year in the UK. Prior to my vacation, I was not able to make a reservation, but I knew that the full menu could be ordered at the bar; I put Gymkhana on my list before traveling across the pond to London and dined here September 2015. Overall, Gymkhana was exceedingly deficient in service (save the pleasantly engaging bar staff), lacking any regard for diners who were not Indian. The staff seemed to practice ethnocentrism and discrimination– actively enacting racial prejudices toward Caucasian diners. One of the managers, Raj, ignored us the entire three hours of our $ 450 (£300) dining experience, yet actively engaged Indian diners.
Their food, however, was delicious and is perhaps the sole reason for their one Michelin Star. I’ve rated Gymkhana one star; should their service and attitude improve, it may edge upward. Being a well-​seasoned gastronome, I expected much better service. See below for a more detailed review.
Reservations:
I learned of Gymkhana a few days before my trip to London, so I was not able to make a reservation. They do serve their full menu at the downstairs bar (beautiful décor and wonderful bar staff, Aron and his partner Skol). We met some resistance with the main hostess, Nicolette. She repeatedly told us that there was no room at the bar, despite any attempts to consult a colleague to check the downstairs bar for availability. We ultimately decided to bypass the incompetent girl and were stunned when we found a completely empty bar downstairs – bartenders welcoming us with open arms. Unbelievable. This was our first taste of the ethnocentric attitude and racism toward Caucasian diners that Gymkhana practices; there was more to come later.
Décor:
Styled after an Indian colonial club; bathroom featured aesthetically pleasing exposed copper.
Libations:
To start, we all ordered a glass of an Indian red wine (who knew that India made red wine!) and enjoyed it. Later, we transitioned to gin; their gin collection is one of the largest I’ve seen! Monkey 47 (unique and excellent), Oxley (local and smooth), Martin Miller’s, Plymouth Navy, Sipsmith, and No. 3 were among those we tried.
Bread:
We ordered naan (not included) and found some pieces to be more burnt than others.
Dinner Dishes:
Gymkhana offers a variety of menu options, ranging from à la carte to two tasting menus. Having done our share of fine dining and Michelin-​Starred tasting menus during our time in London, we opted for the à la carte option.
Under the guidance of our waiter, we ordered kid goat, potato chat, kasoori chicken tikka (spicy), lasooni tiger prawns, methi malai curry (spicy), saag makkai, and a few others. All dishes were excellent, with the kid goat being a much-​enjoyed favorite. I would most likely not dine here again, as London has a plethora of Indian cuisine, but if I returned, I would order similar dishes, but perhaps not as many. Although, it is nice to try as many dishes as possible.
Dessert:
Being quite full from our entrees, we shared an order of the ras malai – an excellent version of rice pudding. We also sampled some rose-​infused truffles, which were uniquely delicious.
Service:
Nicolette, the girl at the front reception, was thoroughly incompetent and should be removed. Her ineptness nearly prevented us from dining that evening, which may have been intentional. Aron and his colleague at the bar were both exceptionally pleasant and made our evening one to remember. There were numerous Indian managers scurrying around during the evening. We inquired, and Raj was the manager who frequented our downstairs seating area. During our entire three-​hour dining experience, Raj never once came over to us to ask how we were enjoying our evening. Absolutely unacceptable for a one Michelin Star establishment. After spending $ 450 (£300), I like to be stroked to an extent. Furthermore, Raj engaged each and every Indian customer; what a flagrant display of ethnocentrism and discrimination. Expect the same disregard if you are a Caucasian diner.
Summary:
Gymkhana serves delicious Indian Cuisine, and the décor is lovely. The staff overall have a penchant for fellow Indian diners; you will be snubbed to an alarming extent if you are Caucasian.
My Recommendation:
Pass. London is burgeoning with Indian cuisine options; seek out other establishments where you will be treated more favorably.
1 Star
Michelin Star: One (2016)

I almost didnt want to write a review about this place because i love it so much and its already SO popular (yes i am turning british!). But OMG, awesome awesome place. I took hubby here for his birthday and we were both STARVING.
Food: We started at the upstairs bar with some poppadums and two chutneys, which were fine. I had a glass of bubbly which is always a way to make me happy. We then got seated in the front area (its a small restaurant), and ordered what felt like the enture menu. We started with the chicken wings, which were the best wings i have ever had. hands down. We then had the dosa with duck. for those who are indian, that is an unheard of combination, but again, SO delicious. a great combination for those who are weary of unique combos.
For the mains, we got the tandoori cauliflower and the chicken butter masala with naan and rice, both of which were delectable. I could not believe how tasty a cauliflower could ever be!
Service: Great all around, attentive but not overly so
Only negative is that they do not have takeaway bags for the food so the leftovers went to the garbage :(all in all, i will definitely come back, but remember to order less!

This was the first I had of two dinners in one night. I have limited time in London so need to get everything in! It’s by far the coolest Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to.
Gymhana is located in the bustling Mayfair neighborhood and boasts a colonial feel with a fabulous bar and cocktail list and authentic Indian food with a focus on wild game meats.
I started with the the venison naan and a nice
peanut salad. Both were really unique dishes. The naan came with a superb cucumber and mint raita but I didn’t love having meat in the naan. The peanut salad had a nice flavor of masala and fried lotus root.
The butter chicken masala was the best I’ve had. It was creamy and rich with really tender chunks of chicken.
Wild boar vindaloo was great too. It had the perfect amount of heat that lingered a little but wasn’t overwhelming.
Rice pudding (kheer) to end the meal was lovely with a scoop of pistachio ice cream hidden under the rice.
I will definitely return! A must if you’re looking for fabulous Indian in London.

Very tasty food and excellent décor. Like the China Club in Hong Kong, this restaurant harks back to the days of colonialism, featuring photos and paraphernalia from the British Raj in North India. Unlike the China Club, the staff don’t make customers feel like they are actively participating in cultural hegemony and oppression.
The menu is mostly game-​based, but as I went with my mom (a full-​time vegetarian) we decided to try all the veg dishes. The samosas were pleasantly puffed, a different style than the usual crispy ones, and I was surprised by the beetroot kabob: they were like beet falafels topped with a beet cream and an additional spicy mustard dipping sauce. The highlight was clearly the tandoor ghobi, a roast cauliflower dish with yogurt. I’d eat that again in a heartbeat. The veg sides were all delicious. I’d definitely return to try some of the game.
While we waited for a table, I perused the drinks menu and eventually ordered a Spice Monopoly, which was delicious spiced rum with homemade orange blossom ice cream, served separately in a tiny tea glass. They have an amazing selection of rums and gins at the downstairs bar.
The only negative thing I can say is that while waiting for a table we were ignored completely — that very British way of interaction where staff refuse to meet your eyes no matter how patiently you wait or how intently you stare. It took about half an hour of waiting before they finally offered us seats at the bar, which they apparently didn’t think of offering before. Definitely make a reservation!

This is the epitome of a restaurant. It is the gold standard for the ⁵⁄₅ star Unilocal rating and frankly I think other restaurants can be judged against it.
We went here on a recommendation from my attending and she was right. Being Indian myself, I judge Indian food quite seriously and probably critically compared to the average Unilocaler. This place offered authentic Indian food in traditional and not so traditional ways. Their drinks were amazing and their attention to detail showed on everything from the service to their fancy bathrooms!
If you’re in London you must book a trip for lunch or dinner here. We did a two course lunch and did not regret it. Perfect amount for two people.

I was very very disappointed and so was my friend. I was so excited to eat at Gymkhana as I read a lot about it (most of the review I read, people were invited to eat there).
They won a Michelin star so I thought it would be a very special place for Indian food, now I know that doesn’t mean anything at all. We left the place and both thought that next time we want an Indian dinner we will just go to Dishoom.
Two dishes were really good and special but the rest was just nice. Service was surely the worst ever and I never felt so rushed before in a restaurant. For sure service is the reason why our experience at Gymkhana was not as we were expecting and we didn’t take time to enjoy the food and the wine.

Amazing food but have to say something about the phenomenal drinks as well. The bartender was not just nice but also very talented. He made us the best drink ever! Tequila lime based concoction with sweet foam and fab texture. And extra special because it’s off the menu and complimentary! Who knew I would like the drink over food at this famed India place.

I was only in London for a few days and had to make important decisions about which restaurants we were going to visit. I wanted to get to some heavy hitters but retain a variety of flavors. Gymkhana filled the Indian food slot. The two others were dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Duck & Rice… FYI.
Upon entering I realized I was tragically underdressed in black jeans and a rather jacket… But whatever lol. The menu does not provide descriptions so be prepared to ask a lot of questions and/​or consult Google.
venison stuffed paratha — yes! One of my favorites. It’s exactly what you want it to be with more flavor and meat than you expect.
Boar vindaloo — perfect for those who love spicy food. Lovely balance and deep undertones. This is the best vindaloo I’ve ever had.
Spinach side dish — surprisingly delightful side dish. Rich flavors and creamy texture.
Goat curry — nice! Wasn’t too impressed but it was ok.
Rose ice cream with rhubarb compote — a must eat. Super creamy with some delightful added textures.

Tolles, sehr authentisches essen! Super Weinkarte und sehr hilfsbereite und höfliche Kellner! Tolles Erlebnis! Etwas teuer aber es lohnt sich…

I went to Gymkhana not just a little bit doubtful if it would be any good. I still recalled my last encounter with a Michelin starred Indian restaurant, Benares, with a certain level of horror as that was just horrendous. Gymkhana does however play in a totally different league. First of the service was truly top notch throughout the meal, the waiter always anticipated when we had questions and were always there when needed without us feeling as if they were hoovering around the table either. They were gret at explaining what the dishes were and making recommendations on what matched.
We had a selection of dishes (one of us had the taste of Gymkhana lunch menu and then we added a few random dishes to that) that really showed an impressive range of different food. One favorite was the Dosa with Chettinad Duck and fresh Coconut Chutney. It was just perfectly spicy. The Potato Chat, Chickpeas, Tamarind and Sev was also very nice and fresh with a touch of spiciness to it. The Tandoori chicken was also very nicely prepared, both nicely char-​grilled and tender inside.
We were really pleased with entire experience. The cocktails were really nice and they also did some really nice wine pairings with the food. Gymkhana really changed my opinion about fine dining Indian food and I will be back here to sample more of the food.

London is not a place known for it’s food, and after eating places in London, it was pretty apparent. How much skill does it take to drop fish and batter in hot oil? It doesn’t take a skilled chef only in UK to do that. London, however, is known for Indian food, and I was set on trying the best of it. Luckily, my friend took me to Gymkhana, otherwise I wouldn’t have never known to set foot in here as it doesn’t have a lot of Unilocal reviews, and it also has a ridiculous name. Seriously, who would eat at a place called «Gymkhana»? Only did I hear it was a Michelin star restaurant was I convinced to go.
Looking at the menu, it definitely wasn’t your typical Indian restaurant. They used exotic meats, and mix them with Indian spices and sauces. Sometimes it’s a gimmick, but it worked surprisingly well here. We got the Quail Seekh Kabob, and it was the juiciest tastiest Seekh Kabob I have had. I’ve only seek Quail offered in Asian restaurants, so I was really surprised to see it here, and much less as a Seekh Kabob since they are made with ground beef. It actually tasted like ground beef somehow, but juicier, which was amazing. The Wild Boar Vindaloo was good too, and had a good amount of spice. We also got the lamb Biryani, I judge an Indian restaurant by how their Biryani is, and it passed with flying colors. It had a nice char taste but was authentic. The naan was also nice and charred/​crunchy on the inside, soft on the inside. Gymkhana definitely is not street Indian food, but moreof gourmet Indian, and exactly what I was looking for in trying Indian food in London, a chef that pushed the limits of traditional Indian cuisine.
Update: This 5 star review has brought Gymkhana to a 4.5 rating territory from 4! Well deserved, Gymkhana…

I’m really baffled by the Michelin rating assignment. You can eat at a Michelin star restaurant meal in London or New York without breaking the bank. That’s a fact. You cannot do so in San Francisco. You just can’t. They must be handing them out like candies in London and New York. Other cities have to earn it. Both in the quality of food and the price of the meal.
I arrive with much skepticism. Indian food in the bay area and Vancouver are really good. In fact the top Indian restaurant in North America is in Vancouver, if you ask me. I’ve had superb Indian food for local people in and made for white people in India. I have Indian friends who take me to hole in a wall places in the South Bay and they are always superb. AND I have had a lot of Indian food in London in the past. How exciting could it be?
Well, quite, actually. For starters, this a fancy pants place. The décor is impressive and very British actually. The drinks were very good. A full on service bar.
But here is the real kicker. For a lunch set menu, it’s only 25 pounds. Basically $ 38 a head. For a Michelin star restaurant. Insanely affordable. I went for the dosa duck and Kid Goat, rose flower ice cream for dessert. Other party had paneer and tandori chicken chops. There were so many other things to get like the duck egg and soft shell crab, Alas, one only bring one stomach to lunch.
I liked the option of bread basket or rice as the carb options. Get the bread basket to go with your kid goat. It’s stellar. Sauces for dipping that were creative and innovative.
I wish the restaurants in San Francisco bay area could take notes from this Michelin starred Indian restaurant. Indian food can be better than they are back at home.
A couple arrived and were seated next to us. She’s Chinese. He’s French. They were having a tough time, and were fighting quite a bit. I sat awkwardly because I can understand what she said under her breath in Chinese. I knew everything she said on the phone with her friends in Shanghai too. Poor dude was not getting any break. But, after the food were served, it appeared that they finally had calmed down and stopped making a scene. They were all of sudden making up by having a civilized conversation about the food.
I’d like to think good, scratch that, excellent, food does that to people. Outstanding food make people happier, and thus more forgiving of one another. (Note to people of dating age: go to a nice meal and make up. Stop fussing over small things.)
Bonus point, it’s minutes away from Fortnum & Mason. After lunch, stock up on your teas and biscuits befitting of the Queen’s mother before returning to the States.

If you do the math, you’ll discover that each mouthful of food costs you more than $ 3 per, and frankly, it’s not all that tasty.
Oh, sure, it’s in pricey Mayfair, and the crowd looks to be flashy punters/bankers/*ankers and their companions, all poshish and noshish.
Nothing I ate was all that amazing, some of it was awful, too peppery and lacking any of the subtly that one would expect to find in a place like this.
The funniest thing was their wine guy, I won’t say sommelier because the guy didn’t have a clue as to what he was serving us with the two tasting menus our table ordered, even though he was most apologetic.
Our waiter was quite professional and nicely staggered our a la carte and tasting menu selections, perfectly timed so we could all eat together at the same table.
Looking to impress? Come here!
Looking for great food? Don’t!

Although it has been referred to as an ‘upmarket curry house’, I think Gymkhana deserves more praise and attention than that. The Mayfair façade of the restaurant is not a true testament to what’s hidden inside — a tribute to the old colonial clubs of India, complete with retro ceiling, black and white photos, booth style seating separated by wicker-​style screens. Even the bathrooms have wooden toilet seats. A great venue for dinner with friends, second date night (a bit too intimate if seated downstairs for the first date) or dinner with the parents.
The menu includes club style nashtas (Indian all-​day snack fare), sharing plates of tandoori kebabs and sigri grills, and curries and biryanis. There are some interesting feast menus for groups featuring game birds, suckling pig and kid goat raan.
We arrived before 6.30 so qualified for the discounted tasting menu. Don’t expect standard Indian dishes (although you can find plenty of the favourites on there too). Each dish had a distinct flavour — smooth and mild, dry and spicy, sweet, savoury — nothing standard about this place! The exotic cocktails on offer perfectly complemented all the flavours. And service was so smooth that the transition from one course to the next was just right — no waiting for hours to get through all the courses. Service was impeccable though it was a bit hard to understand what was in some of the dishes. All beautifully presented in uniquely decorated bowls and plates. Overall, a great dinner out with lots for the eyes to feast on.

I wanted to try a set menu for my last dinner in London before flying back home to the USA. I walked into Gymkhana and got sent to the downstairs bar which is great for solo diners without reservations.
I opted for the Ruby Red punch cocktail. It came with a cute grater to add more cinnamon to the drink. It wasn’t bad, but definitely not strong tasting. Points for creativity though.
For dinner I got their six course tasting menu for £60. The dishes ranged from bite sized to appetizer sized but then got to entrée sized portions. Dishes were:
1. Potato chat — spicy and well seasoned vegetarian dish. Good start!
2. Wild Tiger Prawn — only one prawn, but a good sized and perfectly cooked one. It has nice spice and goes well with the mild creamy red pepper chutney.
3. Salmon Tikka — I actually ordered the chicken tikka but this looked so good I tried it. Skin-​on salmon was cooked perfectly — so soft and juicy and the green sauce added some distinctive acidity.
4. Kid Goat Keema — actually three dishes — a buttery bun, side of minced onions with a grilled green chili and the smallest, cutest wedge of lime I’ve ever seen, and a dish of minced goat with fried onions. It’s like a riff on sloppy joe but I ate all three separately to avoid making a mess. The goat was spicy and very addictive — not gamey at all.
5. Curry Plate — yikes this was a five-​component dish. Piping hot garlic naan, very long grain white basmati rice, shrimp curry, lentils, and these amazing roasted potato balls coated with these black spices (not pepper but some kind of seed). I had trouble finishing this dish — everything was so good and savory.
6. Saffron kulfi — Dessert was two tiny scoops of pistachio ice cream, with a side of cream to up the sweetness if needed. Great finish to a wonderful dinner.
Service was great throughout — several waiters and even the bartender helped refill my water — necessary since 5 dishes had good amount of spice.