Bottom line: Not worth the money for mediocre food and poor service. Food: 2/5 Environment: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Value: 1/5 I had the Chicken Biryani and the Chicken Tikka Marsala. The Biryani rice was soggy and the chicken tasted old. It also took 45min to get. After the long wait, the order we finally received was wrong. Turns out I was not the only one bothered by the extremely poor service-- two other table also complained. The restraint only had three tables full to begin with... There is much better tasting Indian food in London at a way better price. This place had high reviews-- maybe a management or chef change? Regardless-- it's Not recommended. read more

The Painted Heron - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

We found this place on Zagat and were quite intrigued with the amazing review they received (24 out of 30 for cuisine). Upon arrival we found a lovely location right next to the Thames in the southern part of Chelsea. The decor was modern and comfortable, and the vibe was very casual. We got seated promptly and service was quick. After an appetizer of poppadums and various sauces, we got the prawn curry and mixed game skewers with mushroom curry. The shrimp was fair, but not amazing. As for the second entree, the meat served on the skewers (rabbit, venison, quail and pheasant) was not grilled as advertised; it came out as lukewarm, nondescript stewed bits on toothpick thin sticks. Stew on a stick? What a crappy idea. The meat was served on top of a roti that was soggy and soft. Very unappealing. The mushroom curry was nice enough, but not a saving grace for the meal. Based on what we were served, the chef seemed more concerned with adding exotic ingredients on the menu rather than creating a tasty meal. The food we were served was not as cohesive or enjoyable as it should have been, especially for a place with this good a reputation. In the end, we left quite unsatisfied. Disappointing experience over all. Not even close to being worth the 15-20 pounds an entree they charge. read more

Food: A starter was really nice. I shared a seafood plate with my friend with extra £6 on set price. I got prawn, some types of fish and squid. I felt those were a bit spicy, but had deep flavour. Compared to the starter, my friends and I couldn't get satisfied with a main meal. tMine was vegitable curry set which enabled me to try 3 types of curries on the menu. The taste was a bit different from I expected. I liked this selectable idea though.. Atmosphere: It's located on riverside in Chelsea. The atmosphere in the restaurant is good. Candle lights liven up the atmosphere. But unfortunatelly the toilet was small in downstairs and it wasn't comfortable to stay. Service: I didn't feel comfortable with staff service. Someone on the website said this restaurant deserves Mishelin star so maybe I expected too much? read more

The Painted Heron - The delicious starter - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

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When I am in London, I make it a point to visit The Painted Heron. Outstanding food, excellent service.

The Painted Heron stands proud on the corner of Cheyne Walk and Riley Street, overlooking the river Thames. An area which is mainly residential, has the delight of having its own exclusive contemporary Indian restaurant. When I say exclusive, I mean more that it has a select crowd of locals and regulars. That said, it does not mean you are not welcome, you very much are! The team behind Painted Heron are well versed in the cuisine that they offer, making it a very authentic experience. on the evening we dined there, it was to enjoy a showcase of new menu items. Let's start with the interior, on arrival there is a small bar. Work your way past this and there is a hidden labyrinth of space with tables neatly spaced out for couples dining or small groups. The space is very modern, with no hint of the normally garish textures and loud colours which normally frequent Indian restaurants. Just a calm, neutral area with the creative focus being firmly on the food. Once sat at our table, there was some tweaking of the airconditioning to get it right. It was extremely warm outside, so it was great that they had this, but sitting right underneath the main vent made you feel like you were in Greenland. The staff were helpful and we finally found a happy medium. The menu was introduced to us with three courses on offer, kicking off with a specific starter choice, followed by a selection of dishes for mains and a dessert of your choice to tantalise your tastebuds. Having put extreme effort into not wolfing down the popadoms with the dips, I started with the meat selection which included Spring lamb tikka, grilled lamp chop and wagyu beef kebab. Prisca had the seafood selection with pollock fish tikka, tandoori black tiger prawns and soft shell crab. What a delightful medley of well seasoned and cooked fare. The wagyu beef in particular was so delicate and tasty. Following the starters there was an avocado lassi. A strange concoction but it totally worked. It weirdly cleansed the palate. Next up was what seemed like a nevery-ending flow of dishes for us to share. Chicken tikka sweet chilly, Black tiger prawns with hot and sour goan spices. Rose veal sir fried and griddled with red onion and chilli powder. Bold choice for such a gamey meat to be served in the Summer! Lamb shank in a super hot curry. Hot being the key word here, it was a case of downing some water to save face. As if that was not enough, the sides arrived with broccoli, cauliflower and sugar snap peas poriyal (a sauteed dish). crispy asparagus okra and sweet potato. Yellow lentils with spinach, raita with yoghurt, cucumber and pomegranate. Lastly, watercress, mango and sweetcorn salad. The mango was ripe and sweet which is worth mentioning, as there is nothing worse that rock hard tasteless mango. Literally all of the dishes, whilst in its normal form being served solo, complimented each other perfectly. My eyes were definitely bigger than my belly and I over indulged on the mains. It was mainly because I wanted to check every dish! I honestly could not fault any of the dishes. The menu is well structured and interesting enough for anyone with a love of Indian food to enjoy. The Painted Heron is a must visit for a fine dining and experimental experience. Whilst many of the dishes were traditional in its base, some of the ingredients were curve balls to redefine your thoughts on a normal curry house encounter. read more

I love this place as the dishes appear to be fine tuned with spices as opposed to bathed in curry powder. Interesting ingredients and attentive staff, along with a great location just on the Thames. Highly recommended read more

I came here for the first time after driving past on so many occasions - and after so many people had recommended it. My goodness, I've been missing out. We had between us the mutton curry, a chicken curry, the trio of vegetables, rice, naan, popadums and a bottle of wine, with the total coming to £100 for 3 - excellent value. I've not been to India but my companions have and they both raved about how the food served by the restaurant captured the spice smells of India but the food was so much better. This is now my go-to for Indians in London - I flirted with the over-priced and ridiculous Chutney Mary (really a tourist trap) and have recently been drawn to The Cinnamon Club, but this is at another level. The other thing which delighted me was that they were fastidious with my gluten free requirements - Indian food is friendly in that respect but sometimes the restaurant is not entirely trustworthy. Here they went the extra mile. Highly recommended. read more

Cobra, for those (such as myself) who are from across the pond is a beer, seems to be served in large format containers (which I greatly appreciate) and at the painted heron, in abundance. I'd heard this place was pretty notable in that it was supposed to be excellent. It may be a difference in palate or a difference in terms of how much cobra I'd consumed. But the point it was that it was pretty good. Decently flavorful, good variety, decent portion size. The service could have been more up to speed, but the space was nice enough. read more

Delicious meal, great staff, pleasant ambiance. We had the sea bass; the homemade fries were fantastic. The raita was thick and delicious. Spinach paneer and potatoes with sesame were as good as I've ever had. read more

The Painted Heron - Vegetarian trio: potatoes with sesame, raita, spinach paneer - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

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Great atmosphere, however i was a little disappointed. I thought the food would be better. The food was good, but I had better Indian food. appetizers: Spicy chickpea curry on a sweet coconut "halwa" kulcha - recommend entrees: Black cod, spice roasted, served with masala mash & malabari coconut curry - just okay Chicken tikka with almonds in tomato & cream curry - recommend Pureed spinach & mint with paneer cheese - just okay Tangy yellow lentils with courgettes & fried red chillies - just okay Naans plain and fresh garlic, Tandoori roti - just okay read more

I've had two great meals here! Indian food is way better in London than it is in NYC. In NYC, we really don't have an upscale option for Indian. The first visit here, we had the prix fix menu. It was great value for the $$$. My last visit, I had the cod. AMAZING. Very flavorful. This place is now on my list of places to eat every time I'm in London. read more

Great location in a nice clean atmosphere. We were seated immediately and service was prompt all night. I thought they were a little pricey although they offered a nice full meal option which we chose. The food came out quickly, was hot, and tasted great. We never had an empty glass. I enjoyed the lamb, tikki masala, and duck options. Kulfi was also very good. I liked this restaurant and its just on the Thames so a little walk after dinner is a nice way to end the evening. read more

Great if you live in the are but a bit out of the way if you don't. The Indian food is good and offbeat- a pleasant divergence from traditional Indian fare. Its a pleasant fine dining atmosphere -elegant but with friendly wait staff. Good for special occasions, dates or simply a fine dining experience. If possible make reservations ahead of time. Not surprisingly the food tend to the spicy side - so you may want to beware of that. read more

The Painted Heron - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

I would have to say that I was disappointed with the Painted Heron. I do love elevated Indian food and this restaurant suffered from comparisons to the excellent Veeraswamy and Chutney Marys. Though the food was good to very good, when you realize that the price is similar to the two aforementioned restaurants and yet the decor and service is far below, it's hard to justify going back. read more

Indian is not my favourite cuisine - I'll eat it, but I don't seek it out. That said, when I'm coerced into going to an Indian restaurant, I usually end up pleased with one or two dishes (that tend to taste more Thai than Indian) and have become a great critic of poppadoms and/or naan - two things I am truly obsessed with. I am giving The Painted Heron 4 stars because it is the best Indian I've enjoyed in London. I know it's not your typical Indian - it's a little European gourmet, tasting more delicate than what's served up at an average curry house, and the atmosphere is quite stuffy and quiet (which would usually trouble me, but thankfully I was with a large, boisterous group). We ordered a wide assortment of dishes and shared everything, but highlights included a prawn and scallop curry, a chicken with spinach curry and the tandoori paneer. I even loved all of the veg sides (particularly an okra dish that others seemed not too bothered with). And the poppadoms (served with 3 amazing chutneys) and naan (choose from 4 types): 5 stars. read more

I'm sadly going to give this 3/5, not because the food isn't tasty (it is), not that the dishes aren't interesting (they are) but because it just seems to miss something...grounding. I dunno. I'd have to say it's "gourmet" north Indian and as their website suggests, Europeanized Indian. A consequence of this is the price is a bit high for very good, but not mind-blowing food (for mind-blowing, Vij's in Vancouver still tops it for me). Not a waste of time, by any means, but as an ex-pat in London my Indian food exploration is going to bring me to more satisfying experiences I'm sure. read more

This is one of the best, most original, Indian/Pakistani restaurants in London - as Fay Maschler once wrote, "Chelsea doesn't deserve a restaurant this good"... I have to agree! I have eaten some of the most exquisite food here, the service is as it should be, discreet. If you are passing through London and want a wonderful experience, I urge you to make a detour to this place. read more

Good food, eclectic menu (bit more southern indian influence). Intimate ambiance. Uncrowded setting near the river. On the flipside, food can be a bit too spicy at times. Location is not within easy walking distance of tube stations, so prep for a longer walk or hopping in a cab. Great for a date or an intimate dinner with a smaller group of people. read more

I am always struck by the excellence of this place including food, front of house, friendly knowledgeable service throughout the meal, wine list (the well-priced Rioja 07 complemented our meal perfectly), low-lit contemporary decor and peaceful vibe. The little-seen back patio is delightful in nice weather. Not easy to get to but the post-dinner walk on the Thames compensates beautifully. A lesser-known Indian but absolute gem, 4.5 stars. ED read more

I love the food but will only give it 3 stars because it's not very typical Indian food for the price they charge. The atmosphere and service are great, though. After dinner, I recommend a stroll along the beautiful Chelsea embankment, just across the street. read more

If you are in Chelsea I HIGHLY recommend you eat here. It's tucked away in a side street with an unassuming store front. But inside there is a delicious offering of food that will blow your mind. Starters were chicken tikka, spicy chick peas, and lamb chops. Then we shared butter chicken, chicken rice and lamb vindaloo. Finished with sticky toffee pudding. The service was extremely slow which is worth a one star reduction. Don't think I'm being an impatient american....one of the people I was with is from Argentina and HE was annoyed. Lol read more

The BEST Indian food in Chelsea. Hidden little gem ..debated reviewing because we want to keep it all to ourselves! One of the only places in Chelsea that you can almost always walk into without a reservation on a Friday night. And the food is always on point. Nice wine selection too. Love love love! read more

Accidentally ran into this Modern Indian cuisine restaurant after a walk on the Thames First time I tried Modern Indian and I must say the food is bloody marvellous (the coconut naan bread made my stamp my feet and howl to the moon - as well as the Black tiger prawns & sea scallops in hot & sour Goan curry)... There's a nice courtyard you can enjoy in the summer. And the staff is marvellous. Price per head around £30. More expensive than the usual Brick lane restaurants but this is a totally different world! read more

This has got to be one of the best restaurants in London, full stop, let alone one of the best Indians. The food is not just the basic traditional stuff but really innovative and creative and always totally delicious. The staff are very well organised, polite and friendly - I've been dozens of times and there's never been any waiting around trying to catch a waiter's eye. Prices have gone up lately - as they have everywhere. But the Painted Heron is still very reasonable. I can't imagine finding a better food combination of food service and atmosphere anywhere - and certainly not for less money! read more

An excellent Indian dinner, although not typical. The restaurant is a bit out of the way (there are no tube stations nearby) but well worth the trip. The only negative was, during my entire meal the waiter stood a few feet away, with his back to the wall, staring / glaring at me. I know his intent was to provide quick service if needed, but the result was very off-putting and and bit disconcerting. read more

FANTASTIC food, incredible quality and so very tasty. I also love the restaurant itself - gorgeous location and I think it's been recently refurbished so looks great. Definitely one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. read more

Went to the Painted Heron for brunch and have now made this my favourite Indian Restaurant in London. It's not yer bog standard gloopy curry and yellow rice.thisis grown-up stuff, delicately flavoured and beautifully presented. I would say the chef has real pride in what he's doing as every dish was absolutely perfect. Portions were small but adequate, certainly for an early afternoon meal.and it's really not the place to go for a belly buster after a few swift ales anyway. Posh Nosh. read more

Large portions good food but extremely slow service , waited almost 20 minutes for our check .

For some reason I hadn't heard about The Painted Heron, despite being an addict of Indian cooking, but have being turned away from Amaya and Roussillon we arrived at the unfashionable end of Cheyne Walk to a most delightful surprise quite the best Indian cooking I have had even in India. Actually, it's rather unfair to compare it as it's 'modern' Indian so cooked according to the European principle of separating tastes and textures, unlike the tendency of Indian cooking to become an undifferentiated hodge-podge of flavours. Each dish was perfection fillets of sea bass coated in spices and a vegetetarian tasing dish of splendid subtlety and variety. A couple of quibbles the asparagus was stringy and the wines by the glass could have been of higher quality (a common complaint), but the food, taken together with the sweet and helpful service and charming decor, puts this newish (2002) restaurant into the first league. Update 2009: It's become even better. The seafood starter plate was full of crisp deliciousness and the Goan Fish curry was a marvel of flavours. Add several wonderfully spiced vegetables and some crunchy naan bread and you have what we think is the best Indian cooking in London Update 2012: A further improvement a superb ayurvedic thali has been added to the menu. One of the best dishes I have ever tasted. The wines by the glass are still a bit dodgy though..Hungarian Pinot Grigio anyone? read more

Lovely upscale Indian food with some really fantastic twists! (Strawberry curry! Sounds odd, but it was wonderful.) We had the prix fixed menu, which seemed like a complete survey of the menu. It was so much food, but all of it was so wonderful and so beautifully plated, we happily kept eating. The service was attentive, and the ambiance was upscale without being stuffy. We'd go back in a heartbeat. read more

Very good food, relaxed atmosphere, ok service