A Cosy New Restaurant

Saturday, August 17th , 2019

Jamavar in Mayfair is an outpost of the Indian Leela luxury hotel group. After a couple of regime changes in the kitchen it is now in the capable hands of  Surender Mohan, who was formerly the corporate chef of the Leela group, and who opened the very first Jamavar back in 2001 in Bangalore. The level of the food here has improved from its already high standard since my last visit, and this last meal featured some really impressive dishes. Stone bass tikka has been a star dish here since it opened, but dish after dish is now at a level that you would be fortunate to find in India. Unsurprisingly, the places was jam-packed on a Tuesday night, turning tables at a time when a lot of Mayfair dining rooms might as well have tumbleweed blowing through their dining rooms. 

Gezellig in Holborn cooks a European style of food in a relaxed setting. The cooking was very good, with delicious pork croquettes with mustard, an excellent vegetarian dish and an elaborate suckling pig dish to share. Even a modern take on Peach Melba was interesting and successful. Unusually, the wine list was moderately priced and well put together, a rare thing indeed in central London. This was a most enjoyable recent opening.