Mint Leaf

Great food but slow service, truly awful staff and overly intrusive music . We were very disappointed by the whole experience and in no way would go back again.
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Katy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thoroughly disappointed with my recent trip to this restaurant as a birthday treat for a friend. We were mistakenly given the reduced options menu not realising that there was a fuller menu with more choice. it wasn't until after we had ordered and seen others being given larger meus that we realised our waitresses mistake. When it came to obtaining the bill she gave it to us then took it back and said oh no this is wrong you had the smaller menu by mistake but as you hadnt booked the special offer you will not get the 50% off. I thought this was very mean as it was clearly her mistake and then she tried to argue that there wasn't more choice on the larger menu???

Will definitely not be returning here again!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, November 02, 2009

Overall we had a good night, due largely to the fact that we changed from the 50% off food offer to the regular menu and the company around the table. My review is based upon experiences in similarly advertised Indian restaurants in London for quality and price.

When we arrived it all seemed very positive; we were ushered to a nice table and things were looking up. A few mins later the waiter approached and asked us to move... to a not so nice table, without reason. It was only then did we realise that being part of the 50% off offer could be a drawback .

The reduced menu when it arrived was a severe disappiontment to all 5 of us around the table. We honestly thought that we had been given a lunch menu or something. It arrives as a cheap looking little piece of photocopy paper stuck in a hard card holder - something you'ld get in a bog standard high street curry house that offers fare at a fraction of the cost of the Mint Leaf. Except with this offer you have much less choice. We saw several other tables begin the evening on the 50% deal and then forego the offer once they realised what they were presented with.

Also, the general service this evening was tectonic. It was just so slow, and absent minded. At one point I had to leave the table to try find the waiter we had asked for a couple of things 10 mins previous, only to discover that he had left for the night and no-one had picked up our table (and this was during the meal).

Initially the 50% deal seemed to have something to do with the slow service. Our waiter immediately, visibly perked up when we waived the 50% offer in place of the standard menu. But generally very it was very slow.

The Atmosphere is dark and secluded - suits some and not others.

In a nutshell then I would not go if the 50% off is your main reason. It's not worth it. Just go to another less upmarket curry house where you can get a better choice of food and good atmosphere for the same cash.

Alternatively, if you go here and avail of the standard menu, the food is more expensive but well varied, of good quality and very nicely presented. Just what you would expect at a place that advertises itself as such.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Loved the food here. It's a world away from a mere 'curry'. I went with a friend and the two of us shared three large size "starters" and one "main" although ignore those labels because we asked for them to all come together and they were all the same size. The two I liked best were the soft shell crab, in a lovely light crispy batter, and the black tiger prawns which were huge and juicy and full of flavour. The quails and baby lamb shank were also excellent, although the lamb wasn't quite as meltingly tender as I had expected. We also had on the side a portion of black lentils (slow cooked with butter and tomato with cream - very rich), a peshwari naan and their "baked" rice. The baked rice was described on the menu as being baked with cream and saffron, but could have done with being creamier and more aromatic to live up to its billing. The bill for two came to almost £80 - including service and two bottles of water but no alcohol - so it's not by any means cheap, but I used my Taste London card which gave me 50% off the food and it came to about £45 which felt like great value for such high quality food. Service was discreet and efficient. Atmosphere is buzzing (there's a bar along one end but behind a see through screen) and there was a mix of couples, friends and a few people in suits. Probably better to go with friends than on a date.
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Claire - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 03, 2009

We ate here last night for the first time.

The restaurant is dark and intimate. Lovely long bar serving great cocktails.

Our waiters were attentive and friendly. We probably over ordered as we were starving. I had the tandori paneer, which was delicious. My husband had the Chicken Chettinad. Side dishes we ordered new potatoes with garlic and cumin - lovely. Yellow lentils, spinach and cumin - wonderful. Okra crisp fried - gorgeous and the speciality breads - all fabulous.

The food was delicious. We loved the whole ambience of the restaurant.
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Angie B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 6
Monday, May 11, 2009

It seems everyone here is a vampire. It is incredibly dark! The food, however, is great. The decor is also fantastic. Try it once, best Indian food I have had in a long time, and I am INDIAN!!!!
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James Holding
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Visited Mint Leaf for my Husband's Birthday (Nov 2008) and was thoroughly disappointed! The food was terrible and shockingly over priced for what was on offer. The place looks nice, so may be worth visiting for a drink, but wouldn't recommend it for dinner.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Went on a Saturday. Great atmosphere in the bar area and excellent cocktails. Had a very good whisky sour which isnt easy to get right. The music was good but the Sax player seemed confused. He kept playing the same 30 second tune over and over whilst walking around. Would have been far better and less annoying if he actually played a song or two whilst doing his rounds, or just stayed put and complemented the music.

The food was good - far better than I expected and I have been lucky enough to eat the best indian food in London.

The service was not good. Our waiter did not understand customer service at all but feels he is more important than the customer. Shame as the night would have been perfect otherwise.
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Sarj
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Save your pounds and go elsewhere - Mint Leaf is overpriced and badly staffed. My friends and I encountered the rudest, pushiest, most arrogant staff in town - not only did they get the orders wrong, but they kept pushing the wine menu despite our group making it clear we were not there to drink. The portions were miniscule and the meat options, most notably the twelve one-inch cubes of meat masquerading as a kebab tasting platter, were overcooked to the point of eliminating all nutritional value. The vegetarian curries were watery. Avoid, avoid, avoid - you can have a much better time at it's competitors.
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Sajini - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Saturday, November 29, 2008

We went there yesterday night, my boyfriend and I. The food was good (quite spicy too), the ambiance nice, and the staff helpful. The only think I didn't like was that the music was VERY loud (but good) for a restaurant; there is no separation between the bar and the restaurant. Certainly, this is cool for drinks in a bar but not to have a diner, it was a bit annoying and exhausting...

I could probably go back, but for sure not with my old parents, neither with a good friend to catch-up, nor for a romantic diner (unless you don't want to hear your girlfriend of course ;-)
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, November 16, 2008