Bringing a tour group or a travel party to London and need somewhere for dinner that everyone will enjoy? Maharaja of India has a restaurant in the West End, on Charing Cross Road near Leicester Square, and our group set menu takes the hard work out of feeding a crowd. Everyone gets a starter, a main, rice and bread, and you choose the level once for the whole party.
We have been serving Indian food in London since 1960, and plenty of our guests are visitors seeing the city for the first time. Here is how a group dinner with us works, and why it tends to be one of the easiest meals of the trip to organise.
A central restaurant, easy to reach
Our Charing Cross restaurant is at 19A Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0ET, a minute from Leicester Square tube. That puts it a short walk from Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the London Coliseum, the Palace Theatre and the Prince Edward Theatre, so it fits neatly around a day of sightseeing. It is open every day from midday until midnight.
Soho and the theatres of Shaftesbury Avenue are a short walk away too. If your group arrives later in the evening or wants dinner after a show, tell us your timings when you book. You will find a map and directions on our location page.
How the group set menu works
The group set menu has three levels. Whichever you pick, every guest gets the Maharaja Mixed Starter, one main course, pilau rice and plain naan. The only choice each person makes is their main, from the list for your chosen level.
- Option A, Classic: Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Chilli Masala, Shashlik Masala or Chicken Traditional Curry.
- Option B, Maharaja: 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.
All guests in a party dine from the same option. For a tour leader that is a real help: one decision covers the whole table, nobody has to study a long menu in a hurry, and there is no confusion about who ordered what. Guests still get a genuine choice of main, so the person who wants something familiar and the person who wants to try something new are both looked after.
Why a set menu suits travel groups
Ordering from a full Indian menu can be slow for a large table, especially if some of your party have never eaten Indian food before. With a set menu everyone starts with the same mixed starter and then moves on to their main with rice and naan, so the group eats at the same pace and you can keep to your schedule.
It also takes the guesswork out of spice. Option A leans towards mild, creamy favourites such as Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala, which are a gentle introduction for first-timers. Option B brings in dishes with more character, like Chettinad and Railway Lamb Curry, for groups who want to explore. If you are not sure which to pick, our guide on how to order Indian food explains the main styles, or simply ask us when you book.
Dietary needs and allergies
Vegetarian choices are available on the group menu, including Paneer Butter Masala and Paneer Chilli Masala on Option A. If some of your group have other requirements, let us know in advance and we will talk you through what the kitchen can do.
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame. A short list of guests' needs sent ahead of the day makes service smoother for everyone, and saves your group waiting while questions are answered at the table.
Tips for booking a group
- Book ahead. Give us your numbers and arrival time so we can have tables ready when you walk in.
- Choose your option in advance. Agreeing the level before the day means we can plan the kitchen around your party.
- Tell us about timings. If the group has a show, a coach or an evening tour to make afterwards, say so and we will pace the meal to suit.
- Plan the walk. Charing Cross Road is handy for Trafalgar Square and the theatres around Leicester Square, and Soho is a short walk away.
Whether it is a school trip, a coach tour, a group of friends on holiday or colleagues visiting for a conference, the format is the same: one option for the party, a choice of main for each guest, and plenty of rice and naan on the table.
Planning a group dinner in London? Look through the options on our group set menu, choose the level that suits your party, and book a table with us at Charing Cross. We will take care of the rest.
