Bombay Bustle

Bombay Bustle is a hidden gem in the heart of Mayfair. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with beautifully curated interiors that create a cosy yet sophisticated dining space. Drinks: Stax (Lychee Mocktail) – The flavour had potential, but unfortunately, it tasted quite watered down, which diluted the lychee essence significantly. Rating: 6.5/10 Chai – Lovely taste with authentic spices, but the portion size was noticeably small. Rating: 7.5/10 Starters: Paneer Mushroom Tikka – The paneer was exceptional: perfectly marinated in a coriander-mint blend, melt-in-the-mouth soft, and full of flavour. However, the mushrooms were slightly disappointing, with turmeric overpowering the rest of the spices. Rating: 8.5/10 Samosa Papri Chaat – The samosa was spot-on: spicy, flaky, and full of flavour. The papri tasted incredibly fresh, almost as if it was made in-house. The chole was well-cooked but lacked depth, and the dish overall could’ve used more yoghurt and chutneys (though the chutneys themselves were delicious). Still, everything tied together nicely. Rating: 7.5/10 Mains: Paneer Butter Masala – One of the highlights. Rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned with a balanced amount of spice. Daal – Comforting and flawless; hearty with great texture and depth. Romali Roti & Garlic Naan – Both breads were freshly made, soft, and perfect for scooping up the mains. Dessert: Jalebi Cheesecake – A creative and well-executed fusion dessert. Creamy, not overly sweet, with a delightful pistachio mithai base that added texture and flavour. Overall Impressions: Bombay Bustle delivers a high-quality dining experience with an impressive balance of authenticity and modern presentation. While a few elements—like the mocktail and mushrooms—fell short in flavour, the strengths in the mains and dessert made up for it. One downside was the 12% discretionary service charge added on top of the standard 2.5%, which felt a bit excessive. Final Verdict: A beautiful spot with standout dishes and a few areas for improvement. Would definitely return.

Visit today to experience the Express Lunch set menu £29 x 2 courses or £34 3 courses and it was such an amazing experience. From the beginning the service was spectacular, they made us feel super comfortable and gave us great advice for “non spicy”/less spicy options. We loved the food, especially chicken spinach and broccoli. To end with Tiramisu was just the perfect note for our visit.

Good food, but beware of the mandatory 12.5 cover charge (on top of a 2.5% optional service charge)! The food was great overall - special mention to the lasooni palak (spinach) which was full of garlic and ginger, and the akuri truffle naan (truffled scrambled eggs on naan) was a fun and delicious deviation from the other dishes! On top of this, the service was great. The gulab jamun tiramisu was interesting but expensive (at £14), and very lacking in coffee and alcohol for a tiramisu, but the other dishes more than made up for it. While a meal here is quite pricey, the portions were mostly well-sized and I was very happy with my meal. However, the end of the meal left a bad taste in my mouth as there was a forced cover charge of 12.5% on top of an optional 2.5% service charge. I would have been happy to pay the full amount as service charge, but not only was the cover charge compulsory, I was told that it went to the company, not the waiters. This is to bypass a new rule from October stating that service charges must be shared fairly across all staff and can’t be kept by the company. This is the first time I’ve heard of a forced cover charge this hefty - for reference, there was mild outcry over Harrods adding a £1 forced cover charge to their meals to skirt the new law, and it’s a shame that even though I paid 12.5%, the excellent waiters won’t get to see any of that. On the menu, the wording is “discretionary tip of 2.5% and 12.5% cover charge”, which seems deliberately misleading as it sounds like both charges are discretionary. Overall, while I likely won’t be returning as a result, if the idea of the cover charge doesn’t put you off I’d highly recommend the food here! Every dish was delightful and while it was an expensive meal, you get what you pay for. Even with this cover charge, it’s still better value than many of the other higher-end Indian restaurants in London.