Now that restaurants have opened up again with social distancing measures in place we can visit the lovely Benares that serves “modern Indian Cuisine with a British contemporary twist”.
Founded in 2002, Benares is under the watchful eye of executive Chef Sameer Taneja.
Located at the posh Berkley Square, Benares boasts a very clean and contemporary look. As you enter you are greeted by the friendly staff at the welcome desk as the dining area is actually situated on the first floor.
As you walk up the stairs you are welcomed by a pool with beautiful flower petals floating in it and on the left-hand side you can see the extraordinary expensive looking bar. The restaurant has a vast dining area as well as a private dining section and a chef’s table.
There are a couple of options menu wise, you can choose from the al a carte menu, the tasting menu or the set menu. Benares also has a Thali which is currently offered as a “Bottomless Thali” from Tuesday to Saturday for lunch at an extra cost and this includes a house wine or beer with your meal.
As you know by now I absolutely love paneer and as soon as I saw Paneer Tikka on the menu I had to order it. It arrived and it looked exquisite. My mouth started watering almost immediately and I couldn’t wait to dive in. It was accompanied with a quince and lime murraba.
The Tandoori Rattan also sounded amazing, so I ordered that as well. Included in this is Chargrilled Sea Bass, Chicken Tikka, King Prawn and Lamb Seekh Kebab. Just the thought of having that set fireworks off in my mind as it had a good mix of different proteins.
For mains I couldn’t decide between their a la carte or their Thali. As I visited the restaurant during the day I was able to order the Thali without pre booking. However, if you are planning on going to Benares for dinner and fancy the Thali, I suggest you pre-book this to avoid disappointment.
As I am not a vegetarian I ordered the non-veg version which came with an extensive amount of food including herb marinated Sea Bass, tossed Edamame, cucumber and cheery tomato salad, coconut chicken curry, slow cooked lamb, potatoes with spinach, yellow daal, saffron spiced rice, naan and cumin raita. The Thaali came with so much food and it all tasted amazing together. It is the perfect mix of veg and non veg dishes which is always great when you are ordering a non-veg one.
For dessert I ordered the Bhapa Doi, Cranberry and Passion Fruit as I wanted to see how a Michelin star restaurant was going to present this dish. Bhapa Doi is a steamed yogurt and I have to say they done a brilliant job of making it look pretty. So much so that I didn’t want to eat it as I would ruin the hard work, however I am glad I did as it tasted phenomenal.
Benares is a restaurant that can get very busy due to it’s location therefore, I suggest booking in advance to secure yourself a table.
Main Image Photo Credit:
Vallisa Chauhan
Author
Vallisa Chauhan (@vallisachauhan) presents the Flagship breakfast show on Lyca Radio 1458. She has scripted and produced a full feature film called "Those 4 Walls" and is currently working on other projects. She loves travel and movies and tries to fit in both as much as she can.
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Not Into Flu Shots? Try These Centuries-Old Desi Home Remedies Instead!
-
Diwali Gift Guide: Barbie® Diwali Doll & 8 More Unique South Asian Gift Ideas
-
From Turkey To Tadka: Desi-Inspired Thanksgiving Recipes
-
Mommy's Time-Out: How To Reclaim Your Zen After The Back-to-School Scramble
-
Khichdi Cups & 5 South Asian School Lunch Recipes For Busy Desi Parents
-
6 Complaints Desi Grandparents Have About Keeping Pets & How You Can Counter Them
-
Raksha Bandhan Gift Guide: Celebrate The Festival With A Modern Twist!
-
Summer Elixirs: Healthy South Asian Cooling Drink Recipes To Beat The Heat
-
Stay Cool: Build a Summer Garden Oasis At Home With Tulsi & Shade
-
Celebrating International Yoga Day: Find Your Balance Through Chakra Meditation
-
Spice Up Your Summer BBQ With These 5 Mouthwatering South Asian Recipes
-
South Asian Heritage Month: Journey Through Time With 8 Iconic South Asian Travel Destinations
-
How To Add Ancient South Asian Spiritual Cleansing Rituals To Modern Spring Cleaning Techniques
-
Toronto's Living Luxe Design Show Sets a New Standard for Luxury Exhibitions
-
Savouring South Asian Style: Elevate Your Home Decor with Cultural Flair
-
6 Ways To Create Fun Quality Time With Your Kids & Parents That Both Will Love!
-
Celebrating South Asian Literature: Must-Read Books by Female Authors
-
Flavourful Festivities: Traditional Holi Recipes To Spice Up Your Table
-
The Living Luxe Design Show Presented By JennAir Announces Powerhouse Program Of Speakers
-
7 Ways Yoga Will Save Your Mental Health
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Can I Convince My Friend That Her Threatening Boyfriend Is The Problem, Not Me?
-
10 Tips To Manage & Survive Long-Distance Relationships
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: I'm Afraid My Childhood Bully Will Be Back In My Life, What Do I Do?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Create "Me Time" In My Demanding Life?
-
Hot Spot Alert: Mishree Cocktails & Cuisine Exhilarates With South Asian X Middle Eastern Cuisine
-
BioAro Founder Dr. Anmol Kapoor Wants You To Be The CEO Of Your Health
-
Savour the Holidays With This Paneer Pakora Recipe By KFI Sauces!
-
Here's How To Craft And Achieve Meaningful New Year's Resolutions
-
Snack It Up This Holiday Season with Indian-Inspired Potato Wedges by KFI Sauces
-
Butter Chicken Nachos Recipe By KFI Sauces Is Perfect For Your Holiday Spread
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Friend She's Taking My Emotional Support For Granted?
-
Anjali Pathak of Patak's Shares Her Favourite Recipes For The Holiday Season
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: Why Does Our Family Get Togethers Always End With A Fight?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Sis-In-Law To Stop Intruding In My Daughter's Wedding Plans?
-
Event Alert: The Auric Living Conference Brings Holistic Healing To Toronto
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: I'm On The Outs With My Friend Because I Supported Her Breakup What Do I Do?
-
Event Alert: The Desai Foundation Rings In 10th Anniversary of "Diwali On The Hudson" Gala
-
South Asians & Arthritis: Busting Myths And Sharing Facts About This Disease In Our Community
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Convince My Kids That My Granddaughter's Best Friend Is A Bully?
-
Make Your Brunch Brilliant With This French Buckwheat Crepes & Dosas Recipe!
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Sis-In-Law That Her Messy Dog Is Not Welcome At My House?
-
You Just Need A Hot Pot To Make This Amazing Masala Style Vegan Tomato Soup
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Friend To Stop Interrupting Me?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Trust My Husband After He Cheated On Me?
-
Check Out This Insane Recipe For Mini Masala Idli
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Brother That His Cottage Rules Ruins All The Fun?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: What Do I Do When My Fiancé Shares His Dog With His Ex?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Convince My Partner That Our Six-Year-Old Is To Young For Sleepovers?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Deal With My Friend Who Always Wants To Start A Fight?
-
Here's Why Paris Calls Tharshan Selvarajah The Best Baguette Baker In The City
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: Help! My Bestie Roommate Is A Nightmare
-
Pride 2023: Why Is India's Supreme Court Taking So Long To Legalize Same Sex Marriage?
