Booking a table for a crowd is easier when everyone knows what is coming. Our group set menu is built for exactly that, and it is available for parties at our restaurant in central London, on Charing Cross Road.
Here is how it works, and what is in each of the three options, dish by dish, so you can pick the right one before you book.
The basics
Every guest gets the same shape of meal:
- the Maharaja Mixed Starter
- one main from the option you choose
- pilau rice
- plain naan
All guests in a party dine from the same option, which keeps the kitchen and the service running smoothly for a big table. Each guest then has their main from that option's list. Vegetarian choices are available, so let us know how many vegetarian guests you have when you book.
For the organiser, that means one decision instead of twenty. You choose the option, share the list of mains with your guests, and the rest of the evening takes care of itself. No long ordering debate at the table, no forgotten side dishes, and everyone eats at the same time.
Option A: Classic
The Classic option is full of familiar favourites and is a safe bet for a mixed group, especially if some guests are new to Indian food.
- Chicken Tikka Masala: tandoori chicken tikka in a smooth, creamy masala sauce.
- Butter Chicken: tender chicken in a rich tomato, butter and cream sauce.
- Paneer Butter Masala: soft paneer in a rich, creamy and mildly spiced North Indian sauce.
- Paneer Chilli Masala: paneer with fresh chillies, peppers and garlic in a medium-spiced sauce.
- Shashlik Masala: chicken or lamb with peppers, tomato and onion in a garlicky medium sauce.
- Chicken Traditional Curry: a chicken curry for anyone who likes to keep things classic. Ask us about it when you book.
If your table is split between the two creamy chicken dishes, our guide to butter chicken vs tikka masala explains how they differ.
Option B: Maharaja
The Maharaja option moves into our Chef's Specials, with lamb and seafood alongside chicken. It suits a group that likes a wider spread of flavours.
- Original Masala: marinated boneless chicken cooked in a subtly spiced house masala.
- Mango Chicken: a roasted curry sauce with coconut milk and sweet mango.
- Chettinad Chicken or Lamb: a South Indian-style curry with freshly ground spices and roasted aromatics.
- Railway Lamb Curry: boneless lamb curry with potatoes, yoghurt and coconut milk. We tell the story of this one in Railway Lamb Curry: the dish and its story.
- Staff Lamb Curry: a traditional staff-style lamb curry, on the bone, slow cooked for a deep, homestyle flavour.
- Sizzling King Prawn: king prawns with chillies, peppers and garlic in a medium sauce.
- Chingri Malai Curry: tiger prawns in a luxurious, delicately spiced creamy sauce.
Option C: Royal
The Royal option is for a proper occasion. Its centrepiece is the Maharaja Special Shank, slow-cooked lamb shank in our chef's special house sauce. Guests who would rather have something else can choose any Option B main instead, so nobody is left out.
Slow cooking is what gives dishes like the shank and the Staff Lamb Curry their depth. Our piece on Indian slow cooking explains why time matters so much.
Choosing the right option
- Mixed or cautious group: Option A covers the dishes most people already know and enjoy.
- Keen curry fans: Option B brings in lamb, prawns and South Indian-style spicing.
- A celebration: Option C gives everyone the chance of the lamb shank, with Option B as the alternative.
- Vegetarians in the party: vegetarian choices are available, and Option A includes two paneer mains.
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
Where to book
Our Charing Cross restaurant at 19A Charing Cross Road is a minute from Leicester Square tube, with Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square a short walk away, and Soho and Shaftesbury Avenue's theatres are close by too. It is open every day from midday until midnight, and easy for groups arriving from all over central London.
Ready to bring the group together? Look through our group set menu, choose Classic, Maharaja or Royal, and book a table for your party.
