If your group would rather share curry and naan than pull crackers over a roast, an Indian restaurant makes a brilliant Christmas party venue. Our two West End restaurants, on Charing Cross Road and on Old Compton Street in Soho, are made for a good party, and our group set menu keeps the planning simple for whoever is organising.
Maharaja of India was established in 1960, and big, happy tables are a familiar sight for us. Here is how a festive get-together works with us, and why it pays to book early for December.
Why choose Indian food for a Christmas party
Indian food is made for groups. Dishes come with rice and bread, flavours range from mild and creamy to properly spiced, and vegetarians are well looked after without anyone having to make a fuss. It feels generous, which is exactly the mood most people want from an end-of-year party.
It is also a welcome change. By mid-December plenty of people have already sat through a turkey dinner or two, so a table of tandoori, masala and naan tends to go down very well.
How our group set menu works
We don't run a separate festive menu. For parties, Christmas ones included, we offer our group set menu, which comes in three levels:
- Option A, Classic: mains are Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Chilli Masala, Shashlik Masala or Chicken Traditional Curry.
- Option B, Maharaja: mains are Original Masala, Mango Chicken, Chettinad Chicken or Lamb, Railway Lamb Curry, Staff Lamb Curry, Sizzling King Prawn or Chingri Malai Curry.
- Option C, Royal: the Maharaja Special Shank, or any Option B main instead.
Every guest gets the Maharaja Mixed Starter, one main, pilau rice and plain naan. The whole party dines from the same option, which keeps service smooth for a big table, and vegetarian choices are available. You can see it all on our group menu.
If you are torn between options, think about your crowd. Option A includes creamy favourites such as Butter Chicken and Paneer Butter Masala. Option B adds dishes such as Chettinad, a South Indian-style curry with freshly ground spices and roasted aromatics, and Staff Lamb Curry, slow cooked on the bone. Option C brings in the Maharaja Special Shank, slow-cooked lamb shank in our chef's special house sauce, for a party that wants to push the boat out.
Book early for December
December is the busiest month of the year for group dining in central London, and late-week evenings in the run-up to Christmas are usually the first to go. The earlier you book, the more choice you have over dates and times.
Our advice is simple: pick a date, get a rough headcount and book as soon as you can. It is far easier to adjust numbers a little later than to find a free table for a big group in mid-December. When you book, let us know:
- roughly how many people are coming
- which option you would like: Classic, Maharaja or Royal
- how many vegetarian guests you have, and any other dietary needs
- whether you prefer our Charing Cross or Soho restaurant
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
Charing Cross or Soho?
Both of our West End restaurants are easy to reach after work. Charing Cross is at 19A Charing Cross Road, a minute from Leicester Square tube and a short walk from Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. It is handy for teams based around the Strand, Covent Garden or Westminster.
Our Soho restaurant is at 63 Old Compton Street, in the heart of Soho near Shaftesbury Avenue's theatres. It is our late-opening site, which suits a party that might want to linger. If you would like a more private setting for your group, have a look at our private dining page as well.
Making the most of the night
- Raise a toast: our drinks list includes Cobra and Kingfisher Indian lagers, Prosecco, Champagne, wines by the glass or bottle, cocktails and mocktails, so everyone has something to celebrate with.
- Keep it fair: with one set menu for the whole table, splitting the bill is much simpler than untangling a dozen separate orders.
- Name a point person: one organiser who confirms numbers and dietary needs with us makes everything run more smoothly on the night.
Good food, a busy table and no one stuck deciding what to order: that is a Christmas party most people will happily turn up for.
Planning this year's party? Look through our group set menu, choose your option and book a table early to secure your December date.
