Anokha (Fenchurch St)

A couple of friends and i visited Anokha for the first time last week. Although it was a midweek night there were quite a few diners and i did worry that the service would suffer. However, we were greeted within seconds of walking in and seated in the booth of our choice.

The decor at Anokha is great, there has clearly been a lot of attention to detail and overall it feels like quality. I love the tea lights and the wooden lattice work - the seating and table-sizes were also very luxurious.

I felt the staff were very attentive and tried to be as helpful as possible - yes their English wasn't great at times but it wasn't difficult to order what we wanted.

We ordered a starter platter and some King Prawn butterfly and it arrived in good time and clearly fresh of the oven. We loved every single dish, the lamb tikka really melts in the mouth and the paneer was not overcooked as i've found in many other places. For the main course, i ordered the famous biryani, which i'd read about on several reviews and Chicken dhansak, amongst others. Again the food arrived within 10 minutes and was piping hot.

I have to say, for once the reviews were right - the Shahi biryani is out of this world, i think it's cooked in the oven and comes in a metal bowl with a chappati sealed over the top to hold in the flavours. This also means that the meat in the rice is very moist and tender and the blend of spices really goes deep into the dish. Chicken dhansak is also one of my favourite dishes and theirs is up there with the best - i would recommend it to anyone. All in all, a great meal out.

Our bill for 3 people, with starters, 4 main dishes and drinks, etc. came to around £70. Which, for the quality of food, ambiance and location wasn't bad at all.
Comment on this reader review

Sean Johnson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Went there yesterday evening and was very disappointed. Initially, was placed right next to a table of 30 people which were very loud, even though there were other areas in the restaurant which were relatively empty and would have been quieter. Ordered a whiskey and coke, which was served with very flat sweet sickly coke on tap, which to be fair they did replace, but replacement was little better.

Starters were fine, though portions were a little meager. As to the mains, after about a twenty minute wait once the starters were cleared away, the mains eventually arrived, however although my girlfriend's dish was piping hot, mine was quite cold, clearly had been been cooked at different times. As such, was also quite dry.

All in all, service was not great as attention was clearly on the table of 30, food was poor as starters were small and main was cold, and was quite pricy, £70 for a whiskey and coke, two beers bottle of water, two starters and two mains.

Very disappointing, especially as this is the same restaurant that owns the Anokha near St Paul's, as had an excellent experience there.
Comment on this reader review

2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, July 05, 2011

This is by far the most bland and forgetable Indian meal I have ever had. The restaurant is chic and modern and very appealing but the food failed to deliver on taste and flavour. Very disappointing and we won't return.
Comment on this reader review

Trish Dench
4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Saturday, May 28, 2011

Went there for a special occasion where I planned to enjoy a delicious meal in a great atmosphere which was completely ruined by the attitude and service of the ignorant waiters. Not only was the service bad but they were literally rude to the customers. I for one haven't experienced this service in any other restaurant before. Food was good but overshadowed by the terrible service and therefore wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Comment on this reader review

Matt
2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

We went to this restaurant on the 50% deal. The waiter said, it only is valid with starter and main, desserts are exempt from this offer. I think that should be reflected in the description then. We were the first in, restaurant was empty, but the waiters all tended to hang out near us for some reason - that was a bit uncomfortable. Food was delicious, but with very little salt. Would I come again? - No, would I recommend to visit? -yes, why not, go see for yourself, it's not expensive and good value.
Comment on this reader review

E.R.
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 11, 2010

We went to Anokha again and had a wonderful time. The food and service was exceptional. It is an upmarket restaurant but very reasonably priced. The ambience was lovely and the restaurant was packed. Probably not the best restaurant in London but definitely the best in the London's square mile.
Comment on this reader review

MK
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, November 06, 2010

We went to Anokha tonight for a farewell dinner for our colleagues based on the net recommendations as we wanted something close to the office and Indian. The restuarant was extremely dissapointing - tasteless food, poor service, very small portions. The waiter was insisting that we order 5 veg platters instead of 2 when we kept requesting for two! Four of the six wines were not available. The one we took was horrible. We left the bottle as it is. The main course was tasteless and very less salt. The waiters didnt know proper english.

We were actually planning to go to another restaurant for main course after we had to eat the cold tasteless starters.

During the farewell speeches we requested them not to disturb us but they kept interrupting us. There was only one drinks menu provided for 14 diners and the waiters kept asking every minute what we wanted to drink. Not at all recommended.
Comment on this reader review

A Dissappointed Dinner
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 28, 2010

I have eaten at Anokha more than 20 times in the last year or so and am a proud card carrying (Club card) member. I can honestly say I have not had a single bad experience, hence the frequency of my visits.

I have got to know some of the guys that work there and have to give a special mention to the owner/manager, Aziz, who is a very friendly chap and always has time to say hello even during the mad lunch time rush. The man is genuinely passionate about the place and it is refreshing to hear his views on how a 'proper Indian restaurant should be'.

I have brought clients and colleagues here and they all loved it. This is definitely the best Indian restaurant by a country, sorry, City mile! The food is excuisite, service is professional and friendly, ambience is great and the prices are very reasonably especially with the 15% discount with the club card.

I have been to most of the top end restaurants for the usual reasons, but I find myself coming back to Anokha simply because it is comforting in the way, that only the company of a reliable old friend can be.

Highly recommended.
Comment on this reader review

Martin Becket
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 21, 2010

Great Indian restaurant serving fresh, delicious dishes. Such a relief from the bland Brick Lane restaurants down the road.
Comment on this reader review

londongal - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, May 27, 2009