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Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar, London,

Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar

4.8
4.8
1878 Reviews
£26 to £40
Contemporary Indian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 p.m.
Booked 13 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for groups
Indian Essence by twice Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar brings vibrant flavours, subtle blends of spices and incredible aromas to the heart of Petts Wood with its contemporary Indian cuisine.

An array of delicious dishes are available including Tandoori Lobster Tawa Masala, Railway Lamb curry, Chicken Tikka pie and many more. Guest can also enjoy Vegetarian and Pescatarian options from these specially designed menus.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Indian
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm Sun 12:30 pm–2:45 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat 5:30 pm–10:30 pm Sun 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    01689 838700
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Atul Kochhar
  • Catering
    <br>We specialise in Outdoor caterings where Chef Atul Kochhar will personally design the menu to make your evening a memorable one.
  • Private party facilities
    We have facilities for private dining for up to 35 guests.
  • Neighbourhood
    Petts Wood
  • Cross Street
    Petts Wood Road
  • Parking details
    <br>We have adequate street parking opposite the restaurant and within 50 yards there is a huge car park that can accommodate 80 cars (free parking)
  • Public transit
    5 min walk from Petts Wood train station
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wine

What 1,878 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • South East London

    Best Overall

  • South East London

    Best Food

  • South East London

    Great for creative cocktails

  • South East London

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar offers a "memorable Indian dining experience" with "amazing food" and "excellent service." The restaurant features a vibrant atmosphere with live music and a well-balanced tasting menu. While some guests noted service speed issues, the "attentive staff" and "authentic flavors" make it a "highly recommended" choice.

1,879 Reviews
  1. Chris

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Our booking was moved 30 mins later due to an event being on to ensure our table would be ready, however when we arrived we had to stand in the rain 10 minutes to even get inside the building and it was another 10 minutes before we got to our table. At no point did anyone acknowledge or apologise for this. After the starters we were asked to move to a different table due to a booking error. The food was nice but service rushed and our bill was brought without us even asking. We were given a free single shot drink at the end but didn’t really make up for the poor service, especially at the price point. Won’t be in a hurry to return

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  2. Matthew

    London

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    I should state first, that the food here is great. I have been a fair few times, and yes it is a little more than your average, but i believe the food is worth it. However, I have to say this experience was way below normal. I can understand there are busy days, but this was a disapointing experience. I dont know if the restaurant was overbooked, but while we were half way through our taster menu (which was wonderful i should say) the waiting area was overflowing with people which even spilled to the outside. We had to say we did feel a little rushed, and overlooked for alot of the meal with people standing around us (and in 2 cases made comments about my partner which made her very uncomfortable). In the end we left before finishing our menu as the crowds really impacted the experience. Like i said though, the food and drinks were lovely. However the atmosphere was runing unfortunately by other elements (and when your paying approx 250 for 2 people,, you kinda want a pleasent evening). I do hope it dosnt happen again, and happy to discuss it further.

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  3. Saurabh

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Atul Kochhar is a Michelin star Chef. The proof is in the pudding. Perfect food. Great service. Ambience could be better and price can be a bit more reasonable. Overall a great place to enjoy exemplary food and experience. Good for family and romantic outings. Tasty food is important to set good mood.

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  4. Claire

    VIP

    London

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, exceptional service. Feel so spoilt having this incredible restaurant on our doorstep.

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  5. Tracy

    London

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very buzzy and busy restaurant but very good, attentive service. Great food and would recommend this to anyone, even those who don’t usually like Indian food.

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  6. Stephanie

    VIP

    London

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is always delicious at Indian Essence. I had the squid for starter and then the Railway curry. Amazing! The service is exceptional, staff very welcoming and friendly.

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  7. Sharath

    Manchester

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Really enjoyed it. Look forward to our next visit.

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  8. Linda

    London

    32 reviews

    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on February 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Outstanding food and wine pairing at the inaugural wine dinner. Only downside was the noise from a packed restaurant and some raucous tables.

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  9. Jeremy

    VIP

    Kent

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a superb lunch yesterday with delicious food. The 2 course meal from the lunch menu was excellent and tremendous value. We had different starters but all 4 of us had the lamb which was beautifully succulent with a superb flavour. Two courses were enough for us but Indian Essence never fails to deliver exquisite food with excellent service. Thank you !

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  10. Jennifer

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a beautiful Weekend lunch menu, just couldn’t manage three courses! Really delicious food, the flavours are amazing! The choices from the set menu is excellent.

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FAQs

Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar does offer delivery in partnership with Just Eat and Uber Eats.

Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar is rated 4.8 stars by 1878 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 p.m.
Booked 13 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Indian Essence by Atul Kochhar

176-178 Petts wood Road, London, BR5 1LG

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Petts Wood Road
  • Neighbourhood
    Petts Wood
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm Sun 12:30 pm–2:45 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat 5:30 pm–10:30 pm Sun 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Indian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    <br>We have adequate street parking opposite the restaurant and within 50 yards there is a huge car park that can accommodate 80 cars (free parking)
  • Public transit
    5 min walk from Petts Wood train station
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Atul Kochhar
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wine
  • Phone number
    01689 838700
  • Catering
    <br>We specialise in Outdoor caterings where Chef Atul Kochhar will personally design the menu to make your evening a memorable one.
  • Private party facilities
    We have facilities for private dining for up to 35 guests.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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