Mai'da Indian Eatery

I have been visiting this restaurant from last year; there is one thing outstanding about this eatery – food and food; if you want to try some of the best prepared Indian tandoori / mughlai dishes, then here is your chance- Personally I recommend that you go on weekdays when you can get things prepared as per your choice and perfection.

I have tried most of the top shot restaurants in London (Bombay Palalce, Chor Bizaare, cafe lazeez, Zaika, Sitaare, Benaras etc.) and personally I rate Maida at par with these on purely food basis. Off course, this place cannot compete on decor with these places, but then probably you will end up in spending at least 40% cheaper than these places.

Some of my recommendations from grill are: Madira kebab, burhansi kebab, Paneer Saunfia, paneer laal mirch, lamb rozali kebab....in mains side, Butter chicken will freshen your reminisce of a punjabi dhaba back in India....A must try..

Clearly, a restaurant worth giving a try particularly if you are looking for a 'true' indian flavour...
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PUSHKAR ACHARYA
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My first experience here will sadly be my last!

Firstly the food was cold and looked as though it had been prepared in a hurry. The chicken was under cooked and unbearable to eat. We were in one of the private rooms with the cushions and when we arrived, we were disappointed to see that no effort was made to clean up the place after the previous lot. Bits of food were on the carpet.
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Inam Mahmood
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 04, 2008

Went here for a couples night out after a reccomendation. Although it was a Sunday evening it was quite busy.... always a good sign when an establishment is filled with patrons. The Moktails were refreshingly good.... As for the food, overall I'd say I was quite disappointed. Starters were average at best.... the chicken dishes stood out as the best choice.,.... The Sheek kebab and lamb chops were below average.... . The Panner Masalla and Butter chicken were excellent although in all honesty tasted very similar.... the roomali roti is very novel and hard to find in London.... excellent again. The biryani was quite poor.... was over spiced with cardamom, and the rice seemed slightly over cooked.

Decor is nice and does create good ambience... although overall the quality of food let the place down. If you are willing to sacrifice decor for simple finger licking food....
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Mo Saleh
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The food, service, atmosphere and value for money at Mai'da are hard to beat.

My wife and I visited on a damp Tuesday late afternoon, having booked after seeing the glowing reviews and fancying a change from our usual Indian eateries in Tooting. The fact that we had turned up 25 minutes early was not a problem, even perhaps welcomed.

The menu caters for a wide range of tastes, both vegetarian and non-veg (predominately) north Indian cuisine, along with Chinese-inspired dishes. In order to help maintain a clean palate, smoking has always been banned here and no alcohol is served. The range of fruit-based "mocktails" more than makes up for the lack of alcohol, along with a range of teas and lassis. Mai'da also specialise in milkshakes, incorporating almost any brand of popular chocolate bar; with a combined age of 94, we resisted such temptation as being designed for a much younger palate.

As we were both somewhat chilled by the weather, we opted to drink masala chai, which was subtly yet perfectly spiced, followed by water (from Mai'da labelled bottles) throughout the meal.

To start, we shared a dish of mushroom and potato kebabs, along with one of grilled paneer slices; both perfectly cooked and tasting quite sublime, each served with a salad garnish, a chili and half a lime. Lime pickle, raita and mango chutney accompanied each course.

For a main course, we shared again. This time a spinach and onion dish with a mixed vegetable curry; accompanied by an onion kulcha and a masala paneer, served in a bamboo steamer more familiarly used for Chinese pancakes - a masterstroke in keeping the flatbreads warm and maintaining their texture.

The sublime flavour of the main ingredients, plus the subtleties of the spices used, made these truly dishes to savour.

Service was friendly and attentive, yet discreet, a surprising feat as we were the only customers that wet late afternoon. Pickles, water and any other requirements were replenished quickly and without fuss or intrusion.

The restaurant is bright, spacious with a contemporary feel. There is a large upstairs dining area, a smaller one downstairs, along with private rooms with low tables and leather floor cushions. From the menu and layout, a wide audience is catered for, from single diners and couples through to larger groups inclding families with children.

The bill came to around £25 before the 50% food discount; just under £15 once the special offer had been applied. We both agreed that we would have been happy to have paid the full price, such was the quality of the food, service and general ambience. Mai'da cannot be faulted for value for money.

Along with the bill, we were asked if we would like to fill in "customer feedback forms", which asked for names, contact details and our thoughts on our experience at Mai'da, along with the entry to a draw, I believe the prize being another meal there. These were completed willingly and with justified praise for this wonderful restaurant.

We will definitely return at any time in the future that we are in inner London and within reach of the Central, Circle or District lines.
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ian_springham - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 28, 2007

We went to Mai'da purely based on the reviews I read on the internet and I must say that we had a really nice time. This is a great place to have a quiet dinner. The food is great and has lots of vegetarian options. The menu has good variety with both Indian and Indo - Chinese cuisines available. The service is really courteous and the food is well presented. The portions are great and it tastes great as well - unlinke many restaurants where dishes labelled 'Spicy' too are sweet. This place is also great value for your money. I am going to go with a thumbs up for Mai'da. Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it. And ah, if you're a group, try to book one of the private rooms. You can order over the phone kept in the room. And dont forget to carry your very own ipod! There's a docking station to ensure you hear exactly the kinda music you like!!
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Prateek
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

What can one say about Mai’da, it’s a breath of fresh air. The perfect Indian dining experience.

There are too many positives to award Mai’da with on only two visits. The food is mouth watering delicious, with a vast array of options to choose from, each equally prepared with quality in mind. From starters, to main, to the side courses and desserts, I had a great culinary experience all the way through.

The décor is stylish, modern and authentic. It’s a quantum leap from the local restaurants that we may often frequent on a Friday night. Make Mai’da your local if you can. The service is impeccable, with time to settle in review the menu and not feel hassled to decide before you hang up your coat. It’s the perfect place to a romantic meal, and also for gathering with friends, as they accommodate both settings perfectly as was the case on my previous visits.

To be honest, I live to far outside London to make mai’da my regular, but whenever I do get into London next, it will be a MUST DO on my list. To top this all off, you must not leave there without trying the Oreo Milkshake….its divine.
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Anton
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 06, 2007

Excellent place....there should be more of them.

It's not rocket science, just nice fresh food, service with a smile, relaxed atmosphere, , open kitchen and damn good curries.

Going back again today.
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Eilis
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 26, 2007

This restaurant is truly fantastic! The food is like no other restaurant I've ever visited, some really unique dishes. The private rooms are a great, complete with ipod docking stations for your music and IP phones to place your order! My only complaint is that I had to leave some of my main course to ensure that I had enough appetite for one of the heavenly milkshakes! Well done!
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Iain
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 24, 2007

This a top drawer place to eat, meet, greet, lunch or dinner. A true banker for service and excellent value fresh food. Maida specials are always worth the surprise. Excellent deco, fine winesand service that's a cut above. If you are anywhere near this place give it a go, also excellent private rooms for booking parties, weddings and perfect for sociable style and fine dining, not to be missed.
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Johnny
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 19, 2007

Really great service allround, especially with the private dining facility.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 27, 2007