Pahli Hill Review

Festive shopping can be exhausting, but with delicious Indian food just around the corner at Pahli Hill, an evening of shopping becomes much more palatable.  

Situated just around the back of Oxford Street and in the heart of Fitzrovia is Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai. The restaurant celebrates an eclectic mix of flavours from every corner of India, with seasonal specials regularly added to the menu.

To start, I ordered the Papadi Chaat – layers of yoghurt, pumpkin, tomato, pomegranate, beetroots, mint & tamarind chutney, and my partner had a Mangalore Bun and Scottish Crab Sukkha, topped with fennel seeds and ginger.

For mains, we ordered what we were told was their most popular dish – the Chicken Tikka served with cucumber, coriander & mint salad and grated fresh horseradish – and the Chargrilled Cornish lamb rump, with dried rose petals, stone flower, crispy curry leaves & mint. All of the food had really lovely flavours, and a subtle kick for those who (like me) can’t handle a huge amount of spice in one go.

We then shared the Homestyle Fish Curry – halibut, green mango, ginger, tamarind and coconut, with Saffron Pulao and Dal Tadka. I liked that the fish curry was slightly sweet, and it was well complimented by the spicy cauliflower and potatoes and the fluffy pilau rice.

Unsurprisingly, we didn’t have much space for dessert, so had a scoop of ice cream each then on our way out, we went to have a look at the bar downstairs, called Bandra Bhai, which can also be hired for private parties.

Chef’s Counter
For a really exclusive experience, Pahli Hill also offers a Chef’s Counter experience for £125, where guests can sit at the kitchen pass for the evening and enjoy a bespoke menu curated by renowned Head Chef, Avi Shashidara, recently seen on BBC’s Great British Menu. 

For the entire evening, diners will be able to sample an array of authentic Indian flavours across twelve courses with the option of paired wines. Chef Avi will be on hand to talk guests through all the dishes, his take on Indian cooking, and his experience working in the kitchens of some of the most respected restaurants across the UK and Europe, including The River Cafe.

The Chef’s Counter at Pahli Hill takes place weekly on Fridays and Saturdays, and opens up for four guests in two sittings, from 6-8.30pm, and 8.45-close.

Homely, innovative, and indulgent, Pahli Hill offers up an entirely different festive experience, and is the perfect spot to spice up your Christmas this year.

Pahli Hill’s Christmas Menu is also available for £85 per person, and runs until after Christmas.