Ordering for a table of eight is where Indian food really shines. Instead of eight separate plates, you fill the middle of the table with starters, sizzlers, curries, rice and breads, and everyone helps themselves. The trick is getting the balance right, so there is enough variety, enough heat for the chilli lovers and enough gentle dishes for everyone else.
Here is how we suggest ordering for eight at our West End restaurant, or skipping the maths entirely with our group set menu.
Start with shared starters
For eight people, two or three starter plates spread along the table usually work better than eight individual starters. They get the table talking and nobody feels they have to finish a plate on their own.
- Maharaja Signature Mix Platter: samosa, onion bhaji, chicken tikka, seekh kebab and paneer tikka, with salad and chutneys. A ready-made sharing plate.
- Onion Bhajee and Chutney: easy to share and loved by almost everyone.
- Hara Bhara Kebab or Paneer Tikka: good vegetarian options for the middle of the table.
- Tandoori Lamb Chops: a treat for the meat eaters.
Our guide to the best Indian dishes for sharing has more ideas if you want to vary things.
Add a sizzler or two
A sizzler arriving at the table is a moment in itself. For a group, one or two make a great centrepiece:
- Tandoori Mixed Grill: a generous selection of tandoori favourites, served sizzling with fresh salad.
- Tandoori Chicken Sizzler: half chicken on the bone, marinated with yoghurt and spices.
- Paneer Shashlik: paneer with peppers, red onion and tomato, chargrilled, so vegetarians get a sizzler too.
Curries at different heats
This is the most important part of a shared order. Aim for a spread across the heat scale rather than several dishes at the same level. As a rough guide for eight, four or five curries gives plenty of choice. A balanced mix might look like this:
- One mild and creamy: Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala or a Korma.
- One or two medium: a Bhuna, Rogan or Railway Lamb Curry, which is boneless lamb with potatoes, yoghurt and coconut milk.
- One hot: a Madras or Jalfrezi for the people who like it hot. Leave the Phall to the brave, and only if someone really wants it.
- One or two vegetable dishes: Dall Makhani, Saag Paneer or Chana Masala, so vegetarians have more than one choice.
Mixing proteins helps too. Our traditional curries come with chicken, lamb, paneer or king prawn, so you can cover different tastes without repeating the same dish.
Rice, breads and sides
Rice and bread are what hold a shared meal together. For eight, order a few portions of rice and a mix of breads rather than one of each for every guest. Pilau Rice is the natural choice, with a Lemon Rice or Mushroom Rice for variety. For breads, mix Plain Naan, Garlic or Kulcha Naan and a Peshwari Naan, which is usually on the sweeter side, with a Paratha or Tandoori Roti for anyone who prefers something lighter. Our guide to Indian breads explains the differences.
Finish with sides that cool things down: Raita, a Mixed Salad or an Onion Salad, and a Chutney Tray. They make the hotter curries far more enjoyable. You can always order more once you see how quickly things go. For more on putting a meal together, read our guide on how to order Indian food.
Or let the group set menu do the work
If you would rather not plan the order, our group set menu keeps it simple. Every guest gets the Maharaja Mixed Starter, one main, pilau rice and plain naan. There are three levels:
- Option A, Classic: familiar favourites such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken and Paneer Butter Masala.
- Option B, Maharaja: dishes such as Chettinad Chicken or Lamb, Railway Lamb Curry and Chingri Malai Curry.
- Option C, Royal: the Maharaja Special Shank, or any Option B main.
All guests in a party dine from the same option, and vegetarian choices are available. Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
Our restaurant is in the West End, at 19A Charing Cross Road, a minute from Leicester Square tube.
Booking for eight? Book a table for our group set menu and tell us your numbers, your chosen option and any allergies when you book.
