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The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3BU, Ngara
Innovative Indian dishes served in book-lined former Victorian library with downstairs cocktail bar.
Absolutely THE best Indian restaurant Ive ever been to.The meals were superb, the sommelier recommended the most fantastic wines and best of all Vivek Singh said hello to our table and asked how the food was.The whole eating experience was perfect, we will definitely be coming back.Id recommend the trout starter, venison main and the Indian breads with chutneys.
Sublimely delicious meal for 5 of us last night and the staff were utterly charming and welcoming, as ever.Particular mention of our delightful waiter Saif who was absolutely superb in every way. I do so hope he is our waiter on Christmas Day.
I regularly visit most of the Indian fine dining in London and also NY & Dubai, but this one turned out be very low in the quality of experience. This one is definitely NOT recommended. They are far behind from the usual fine dining delights that others offer to the customer. There was a lot of hype about their name but the actual experience was not that uplifting.1. In spite of booking in advance, we were not given the main library area. The overflow seating place upstairs is not what I would like to go for. The staircase to this place is through a clutter of waiter areas and computer screens. Not very good. Very medicore lighting and decor at this spare seating area.The booking does not provide a choice of the main library area or the upstairs spare space. How do I know that I have not been allocated the main library space ?2. Half of the tables were with nice tablecloths on and half of them were left just bare. Gives a feel that someone already dined before us and then the restaurant don’t have enough tablecloths to spread again for the next customer.3. The Champagne cocktail was not having any bubbling at all and was very watery. Not what you expect at a fine dining.4. After the starters and main course, the table had bits that should have cleaned before the dessert were served - which no one bothered about.5. The starters were very average presentation lacking the crunch and punch.6. The main course Paneer platter - the quantity of gravy was too less in proportion to quantity of the dumplings. Turns out to be very dry.7. It was my wife’s birthday celebration and clearly mentioned on my booking but there was no gesture from the restaurant to light up a candle or something similar – which usually every fine dining restaurant does as a kind compliment.Sorry to say, but heavily disappointed. Would not consider going there again for sure.
For an Indian fine dining experience there are some factors definitely missing but on its own it was an average / good experience.Pros:-Quality of the dishes-Menu variety-Quite a lot of tables-LocationCons:-Decor and presentation severely lacks below other fine / Michelin star places-Staff openly had their own private conversations in front of their customers- Cocktails were poor and did not match price expectations or their lavish descriptions- if sitting in the mezzanine, you will have a significantly worse experience than the main floor (you essentially walk through the back of the bar to get there which ruins the experience)Wouldnt recommend against other fine dining places in London. If you are looking to tick it off your list and only care about the food quality then may as well give it a go.
Absolutely outstanding fine dining. We enjoyed a work celebration here and we’re very impressed. Come prepared to enjoy three courses of something new - or go with a few reliable old favourites. Highly recommended.
We had the vegetarian autumn menu, each course was distinct and beautifully flavoured. Surprised that the Nan breads were cold and felt a bit chewey. Service was well paced and staff were professional and friendly. Great atmosphere!
Interesting Indian cuisine. Experimental flavours and appealing presentation. The dining room is very beautiful and airy. The bar is somewhat expensive, but beverages and cocktails are excellent. Worth a visit, but I would consider an ordinary Indian, with the classics instead.
Overly expensive, horrendous service.We had a reservation for 9pm. While we were seated on time and took a wine order quickly, but then we didnt see a server for at least 45 minutes to bring the wine or take a food order. We only had food around 10:30pm, by which point our group was incredibly hungry and annoyed.The food itself once it arrived was fine. Decently tasty standard Indian food, but nothing special, especially not for what it cost (almost 100 GBP per person for a table of 6 with 2 bottles of wine).
We had amazing time here. The food was delicious. The service was ok. The ambiance was great as an old library. The price was expensive but worth for the experience ~£100 per person with a glass or two wine. No parking definitely call taxi/ uber. Book in advance.
Exceptional Indian food. I arrived as a tourist with my backpack on and simple black jacket and thought am I at the right place. The exterior has it seem to look like a office. But the smells coming from the door of savory Indian spices. The chicken marinated in fenugreek and yogurt was simply compelling. I did not take pictures of the mango tart, but it left me in a euphoric state. The restaurant was Westminster library so when you look around it’s like eating and drinking high quality food in the rare collections section of the finest book store.
We went to the Cinnamon Club in November 2019 for a belated fathers day treat. The food was brilliant. Jazz music on a Sunday too!
Wonderful flavours on the autumn menu with the highest quality ingredients. Great environment and the bonus of a beautifully decorated bar (yet emptydownstairs. I will be coming back for the food but also for drinks with friends as I think the bar is a real hidden gem for a quiet get together.
Absolutely excellent service and delicious food 😍 plus one of our group had a birthday and they brought him a surprise birthday piece of cake!
We had a lovely lunch with our server, Sam, being attentive to us and our needs. We did the lunch tasting menu and order cocktails with our dishes. Every dish was delicious, I honestly don’t think there was one I liked more than the other. They were all amazing! The cocktail I had,the Sherbert Spritz was refreshing and went down so easily, I ended up having 3! This restaurant, the ambiance, and the food is all highly recommended!!!
Quite possibly the best dining experience of my life!! Every single bite was absolutely outstanding! The service was great and ambiance incredible. I would fly back to London from NY just to eat dinner at The Cinnamon Club again! 🤤😁
If you are looking for Indian fine dinning at its best then you wont be disappointed with the Cinnamon Club. The food, service and ambience was exceptional. We had the set menu where I had the crab fishcake for starters and grilled plaice for the main both of which was delicious. The portion size was good for the starter and the main.My only gripe is that the wine selection wasnt as varied as I hoped. It is expensive but if you want a Michelin experience then the Cinnamon Club has it.
First time in London and having Indian food! 20/10 experience! We had the Cinnamon Summer Festival 6 course meal (4/6 picturedI didn’t even get a chance to take a picture of all of the food since we couldn’t get enough of it. The flavors are amazing! I’m pretty picky when it comes to food and I finished every plate! No crumbs left lol the waiter Saif was exceptional, he described every dish perfectly. We had adequate time in between every dish so we didn’t feel rushed at all. The ambience was great as well. They even hand you your bill in a book. Everything is so perfectly thought out. I’ll definitely come back here whenever I’m in London!
Really good food. Had the lunchtime set menu - 2 courses for £30. Veg options are somewhat limited in the set menu with only vegan dishes (and no option to substitute).Service is good, really friendly staff - especially as we hadn’t booked.
We visited Saturday for 5.30pm booked Appointment with 3 friends from Vienna…….Fabulous environment and dining tables well spread out to enjoy a comfortable atmosphere for all…..Staff very attentive and friendly, helpful with selection of foods. The food is amazing with flavours and textures, attention to detail is fabulous. The whole experiment was absolutely great with unique Indian taste…RAJAB, our waiter made our experience a whole lot better…….All the staff seem to be attentive and working to enhance the enjoyment of the customer……Our Vienna friends enjoyed their evening……We are lucky that we live here, so will be returning for another visit soon……Thanks again guys….Oh and thanks for the bottle of water for my train journey home…..Ken and David….
The Cinnamon Club is in a beautiful old library near Westminster Abbey, and the food is very good. They have a lot of competition in London, but I think they hold their own. The service was particularly good, and the staff were attentive and friendly- we will be back.
The whole experience was absolutely great with unique Indian taste. Sam the waiter made our experience a whole lot better! 😊
Loooooved it! I’ll definitely be back. Excellent service, excellent food! Can’t recommend it enough
My wife and I have been coming to the Cinnamon Club for over 20 years and we recommend it to friends who are coming to London as an exceptional experience. Our last visit was anything but exceptional. I brought our two adult kids and my brother and wife.Upon arrival we were seated in an anti room that looked to be an overflow. The room was sweltering whereas the main room was air conditioned. Because of the heat wave we let that go. However when you go to a restaurant like this you pay for the experience not just the food.The waiter suggested that we have the 20th anniversary butter chicken at £70 for two. I confirmed that it was no just dark meat but that it also had breast meat as my wife prefers that So we order two of those and appetizers. The appetizers that we got were delicious and then they brought the 20th anniversary butter chicken. Well it was in a magnificent bowl but looked mor like soul then a chicken in a gravy. As I started to dish each piece out I noticed that they were all rib bones with the dry metre of the wing attached, not a whole chicken. When I asked the waiter he brought the maître’d over who explained that this was a poussin and it was meant to be small. This did not explain why every last piece was effectively a chicken wing.Finally after they discussion they sent over three chicken breasts that were very delicious and up to the level that we would expect. They ended up charging us for two of the chicken breasts and one of the butter chicken wing soup.We left the restaurant feeling extremely disappointed and quite frankly ripped off. It is sad that we will not be going back. There are so many great choices for Indian in London but this up until now was special to us.
The best Indian food I have ever tasted ( and I have eaten a lot of Indian food! ). I loved it so much I came back the following evening. Back to back quality meals. Especially wonderful was the lamb starter with such rich flavors, tender meat and amazing blend of textures. Service was super friendly and helpful too.
I can see that Cinnamon Club has potential or could have been great at one point in time... Not the night I went.First, they have a section where it states that when you order a gin drink that a bartender will bring a cart over and mix it for you. I ordered one, and the waiter brought it over. When I mentioned the cart, he said it was because I chose the gin already?!?! That didnt make sense at all and was a poor excuse. I pointed right to the gin menu that said it was the cart experience. I didnt see the cart budge all night.Next, we had a revolving door of different waiters all night. That part isnt a big deal.As for the food, around 3 of the dishes were good. The fish with the salmon was way overly salted and the lamb was super dry. They also served one of the courses out of order. The kulfi with quinoa wasnt great. I would recommend either eliminating quinoa or having much less of it. Chewing that was unpleasant.All in all, I can see why we scored a day-of reservation. It wasnt horrible but didnt enjoy it enough for the price.Incidentally, I went to Cinnamon kitchen the day before. I actually quite enjoyed the food much more!
The food was good though not mind blowing. The service was overall okay.
Great place, worth the price of the food and the drinks. My girlfriend and I went to this restaurant and we were very happy. The service was very good and we were not disappointed at all. The staff were nice too. They offer you to keep your belongings for you if you want. You can even ask them( if there is a chance of courseto charge your phone for you if needed. When we arrived it was full and they offer us to take a sit downstairs if that’s okay for us as they have a bar which was nice. I met Chris again after a long time not seeing him ( I used to work there years ago with himand he treated me very well. Thank you Chris my girlfriend was very happy for me being treated well.
Very atmospheric restaurant in the style of a gentlemans club library. With a massive central area that goes up a couple of floor and booth seating around the edge with a lower ceiling. When we went it was very crowded including the downstairs bar. The food is modern fancy 5 star Indian and the preparation and attention to detail is fabulous with excellent mixtures of flavours and textures. We ate off the Festival 2022 menu. Even on this limited menu there was a good variety of vegetarian and fish. I should mention the only reason for this not being 5 stars was that the service was quite slow even towards the end of the evening when the restaurant was emptying.
Such a beautiful atmosphere and to be surrounded by such great literary treasures was amazing. We took turns selecting and reading excerpts from classic Dickens and Shakespeare and many others! A real treat!And the food was awesome - each mouthful exploding with distilled flavours that had us all going "Wow!" Thank you!
Superb venue and dining experience. Had the vegetarian testing menu. The food was excellent and the wine was expertly described by the sommelier. One of the wines wasnt paired properly though and cancelled the flavours of the dish (hence the 4 stars). Pairing wines with a cuisine which doesnt feature wines is always going to be a tricky task so the fact they got it right for the majority is an achievement in itself.
The food was tasty but everything else wasnt. I very rarely leave a less than glowing review but unfortunately this is one of those times. I dined alone as a solo woman after a social function nearby at the Houses of Parliament. I booked for 9.30pm and for the 5 course Jubilee tasting menu with wine flight (£180as I had wanted to try the Cinnamon Club for a good few years. Upon arrival, I was asked twice if there was a man joining me, before being begrudgingly led to a table in the middle of the busy restaurant, with raised eyebrows and a tut by the woman escorting me. I was seated behind a big potted plant and told that I had to have the cheap £38 menu and they wouldnt bring the wine list to me. I guess the cheaper menu saves me money but I was planning on a more decadent meal as a treat. The dismissive waiter chose my 3 courses for me and that was the most interaction I had with any of the waiting staff all night. Another waiter cheerfully came over, pointed to my wedding band and said "oh you married" then I never saw him again.The food was good, not amazing and the side basket of bread had a chunk ripped out/bitten out of it in the bottom of the basket, most odd.My courses were pretty much slung in front of me with no explanation of what Id got and I was ignored even when it came to pay, it took 10 minutes to pay. Suffice to say I did not tip as the service was not good and I was not made to feel welcome. So beware if youre a woman dining alone - unless youre NOT wearing a ring!Toilets were dirty too.
Came here for a team dinner, a polite front of house hostess, greeted me.The food wasn’t giving what I thought it would have gave sadly. I like curries a lot!The presentation of our mains was definitely lacking pizazz.Wouldn’t go back but it would be a hit with the palettes of the intended demographic.
Amazing scenario inside the library with real old book in to the room. Upper room quite, more confortable for work dinner.Sophisticated fusion meals and wines.No particular dress code, I suggest casual business
The cinnamon club is an experience for me personally. This was my second time to club and the experience I had with my five other friends was just beyond amazing. The library setting stands out and looks so classy. It has the grandeur which never fails to catch my attention. Books instantly calms me down :)I must say TCC knows how to take a common courtesy to an uncommon level. Each and every staff was so warm and pleasant and made our evening so special. We all had an unforgettable evening. Food was simply scrumptious and bursting with rich flavours. The gorgeous taste and smell of the food took me back home. Never felt rushed the whole evening and with such regal ambience , warm hospitality and authentic Indian delicacies we could not have asked for more. Hats off to the luminary chef Mr Vivek Singh and his team for taking all the efforts to make every guests dining experience so memorable at TCC. God bless the fantastic team and thank you so much for the impeccable hospitality we received at the club.
One of my favourite Indian restaurants. Set in a wonderful building, tastefully decorated. Great selection of food, wine and cocktails. Been here 5 times and always try to make a point of visiting when in London.
Really great good! We took the brunch option and food was amazing!My favorite was the lamb with coriander chutney in starters!!! So good.
Amazing food at a premium price. Really enjoyed our time here, the food was fantastic and had a good variety of options for people with different tastes. Beautiful setting inside an old library as well.
Exceptional. High-end Indian cuisine - inventive, bursting with flavour combinations, that wows you with the taste and not the quantity. Mixed with Indian dishes you have european meats and ingredients but cooked in Indian-inspired spices and techniques - tandoori pigeon, smoked Romney marsh lamb etc.The environment is welcoming - think Victorian municipal library meets Pall Mall club. It’s a one-off.The staff couldn’t be better. Friendly, knowledgeable, exceptionally attentive and ready to explain food with enthusiasm and not in the least patronising.The vegan set menu here deserves a shout-out. The aubergine ‘steak’ is a feast for the taste buds and transformed my view of this vegetable.Prices range from reasonable to painful, depending upon choices, but if you consider that this is friendly fine dining, not a calorie-loading takeout then you’ll be in the right ballpark in terms of expectation of price and experience.
What a fun and unique place! We enjoyed the food here, but we especially enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was also on point. So glad we were able to snag a reservation during our time in London!
Best Indian food I’ve had. Flavors were very strong and delicious, definitely worth a visit if you’re in town.
A fine dining restaurant in an old library - loved the concept. The food was great too and very well priced. We got the dinner set so it was £35 for 3 courses, and there was also a complimentary starter. The basement bar was very cosy too.
Food was brilliant. Really nice and well prepared/ presented. Staff very polite although can see how busy they are. They all have a lot to manage but do very well! Great setting as well
We chose the London restaurant festival set menu. All 5 courses were delicious! The only reason I gave 4 star instead of 5 because the service “forgot about us “.Thank you so much for the experience.Tip:Go early enough so you can have a drink in the side bar!Delightful experience!!
Wow. What a fantastic find. Outstanding location and setting in an old library. The food was the best Indian I have ever eaten - we shared the 20th anniversary butter chicken and it was sensational.Drinks selection was also extensive (wineand good variety of beer.Staff were also highly attentive and knowledgeable.For a special occasion, I would highly recommend the Cinnamon Club.
What felt initially like an odd place to go into. An old library through and through with no signage out the front to suggest there is a lovely cocktail bar and Restaurant inside. Well, that soon changed by the time the first dish came. I share below the starters we had round the table. Paneer, fish, pigeon and chicken and wow the taste was incredible! This was only boosted when the main came and the butter chicken for two is 100% recommended and I may say one of the best butter chicken, and curry flavours Ive had. My advice, order extra naan because youll want to dip into the sauce over and over again.I cant wait to go back!
Exquisite food, chose the taster menu with accompanying wines, very knowledgeable and attentive staff which added to the experience. Then with the fantastic ambience of an old school library/stately home it all merged into a wonderful evening.Highly recommended.
Top notch food at a not unreasonable price - we paid just over £200 for the 4 of us and had some starters, desserts and some cocktails. It was very quiet on the Monday lunchtime we visited so lacked atmosphere but thats not the restaurants fault. Restrooms could do with an update. Loved everything about the food 🍽️
Visited this restaurant last week and was blown away by the culinary experience. I purchased the tasting menu and to say it was “good” is a vast understatement the dishes were served in good time and not a second too late, each course was just the right size and by the end of the meal I felt sufficiently filled. The staff were exceptional and welcoming and I ended up leaving them a 33% tip as I felt it was necessary and well deserved. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who has a delectable appetite for an Indian menu.
Brilliant atmosphere, great service and food.We were three and we stayed for hours just enjoying the ambiance, the food and our drinks. We ordered a la carte. I would recommend this place as it is unique and tasty.
Delicious meal. The king fish starter and halibut main were perfect. With the 3 types of chocolate dessert. 2015 magnum vintage to wash it down along with a port, muscat and whisky. Simply perfect! A great dining experience. For a party of 4 a very reasonable £80pp considering what we had.
The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3BU, Ngara
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