Benares, the renowned Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by launching a special tasting menu honouring two decades of culinary excellence.
Since opening in 2003, Benares, named after India’s holy city, has been redefining Indian cuisine with the finest quality, impeccably sourced British ingredients to create unique modern dishes. The 20th anniversary is a celebration of the restaurant’s commitment to innovation and dedication as one of London’s leading lights in contemporary Indian cuisine.
Launching on 28 September and available through 12 November, Executive Chef Sameer Taneja has curated an extraordinary menu celebrating two decades of Benares. Capturing the ever-evolving journey of Benares’ cuisine, Taneja pairs impeccably sourced British ingredients with authentic Indian spices and techniques, showcasing the true essence of the restaurant’s legacy and craftsmanship.
Paying homage to signature dishes of Benares over the years, the eight-course tasting menu begins with a selection of Street snacks, including Gol Gappas with sour apple water, Bread pakora and a John dory fritter.
These are followed by King crab and egg masala, a signature Benares dish, and Tawa halibut and clam moilee. Sparkling tea refreshes the palate before the main courses of Chicken tikka pie, which makes a return to the menu after ten years and Lambchop biryani with Indian staples. Desserts include a palate cleansing Green chilli sorbet, a Malai kulfi and sweet Little fours.
A 20th-anniversary vegetarian tasting menu will launch alongside, featuring Black truffle and white chocolate galouti kebab, Samosa ragda tartlet, Paneer tikka pie and Courgette kofta biryani.
To accompany this exceptional menu, Benares has curated a wine and cocktail list, expertly selected to complement the diverse flavours of the dishes. All inspired by Indian spices, the cocktail menu includes Passion fruit chutney Martini infused with chillies from the Andhra region, a Pickled margarita, an intriguing ginger twist on the classic, and Aged negroni infused with gin and raisin.
To mark the occasion, the restaurant’s entrance has unveiled a vibrant new entrance. A dazzling gold awning now graces Benares, bordered by elegant planters overflowing with foliage to meet guests as they arrive.
- The tasting menu is priced at £139pp.
- The vegetarian menu is priced at £129pp.
- The lunch tasting menu is priced at £81pp.
- The vegetarian lunch tasting menu is priced at £75pp.
Benares is at 12a Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BS. You can find information on the restaurant at www.benaresrestaurant.com.
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