A fresh new hangout for London's glitterati

A recent addition to the map of London’s hippest landmarks for elegant dining and drinking, Mint Leaf Restaurant & Bar opened its doors in 2003 and has rapidly taken lead in the race for the city’s top Indian restaurant.

A 140-cover restaurant to be found in the basement of a former banking hall in London’s exclusive Haymarket district, Mint Leaf is a name that has become synonymous with both the highest calibre of modern Indian cuisine, as well as the most sumptuous signature cocktails, rendering the fashionable venue the perfect setting for world class drinking, dining, or a combination of both.

A popular hang out for London’s glitterati, and featuring a high celebrity count among its guest list that includes Halle Berry, Mickey Rourke, Kelly Osborne, Kim Cattrall and Matthew Perry, Mint Leaf translates authentic Indian cuisine to a stylish, contemporary setting, with the addition of a spectacularly long bar that provides the backdrop for a vast array of exquisite cocktails and home grown drinks such as their infamous Vanilla Vodka.

Mint Leaf’s Head Chef, Ajay Chopra, was headhunted from Mumbai’s leading 5-star hotel, the JW Marriott, where he continually entertained a plethora of international celebrities and Bollywood stars. With an immaculate attention to detail under Ajay’s supervision, the sumptuous new menu at Mint Leaf reflects food hailing from all over India. Observing Ajay’s ethos of producing healthy Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist, it features dishes inspired by the seafood of the south and meat from the north.

Featuring A La Carte, Set and Vegetarian menus, Mint Leaf starter dishes include: Saunfiya Paneer Tikka (Paneer stuffed with mint and raisin farce, marinated in fennel and turmeric yoghurt, radicchio and crisp bean salad; Lehsuni Jhinga Sunehri (Tandoor grilled jumbo prawns marinated with cumin, roast garlic and chilli yoghurt, served with pineapple chutney); and Tandoori Bateyr (Boneless jumbo quail steeped overnight in home ground mustard, ginger
and piquant chillies, served on curly endive salad).

Mint Leaf main dishes include: Makai Khumb Do Pyaaz (Baby corn and oyster mushrooms tossed with scallions, cumin and crushed coriander); Methi Machli Curry (Fillet of wild sea bass poached in a fenugreek scented curry); and Murgh Pista Korma (Chicken breast stuffed with pistachios and mushrooms, poached in a yoghurt and almond curry). Mint Leaf desserts include: Chocolate Parfait, Passion Fruit Mousse or the Dessert Platter.

Prepared by world-renowned Mixologist, Darko, the matchless menu of over 40 signature cocktails unique to Mint Leaf include: A Burst of Mint (Wyborowa muddled with fresh mint, sugar, lime juice and orange bitters, served with crushed ice and topped with vanilla liquer); Russian Spring Punch (Wyborowa shaken with fresh berries, berry liquer and topped off with Laurent Perrier); and Blackcurrant and Apple Bison (Zubrowka, fresh lime, Chambord, blackcurrant puree with apple juice shaken and served long).

The Bar also features an irresistible collection of over 500 high quality spirits. For clientele wishing to enjoy a light bite as an accompaniment, the Bar Menu also boasts a wide choice of food to suit all tastes, and including vegetarian options.

Designed by the same team who are responsible for the interior for Stella McCartney’s London store, Mint Leaf’s setting is as immaculate as the menu itself. The discreet entrance leads diners down a staircase of Uruguayan slate and into the sumptuous Bar area.

The cavernous Restaurant beside the Bar blends dark wood, acres of leather and stone, perfectly juxtaposed with softer touches in the exotic flowers, flickering candles and subtly burning incense sticks. The Restaurant is cleverly divided with wire mesh screens and wooden slats, creating a warm feeling of intimacy within the atmospheric space.

On the unprecedented success and clientele appeal that Mint Leaf has drawn since its opening, Gerard McCann, General Manager comments, “Mint Leaf presents an innovative combination of eating and drinking, with emphasis on perfection in every aspect of the venue’s menus and service. We pride ourselves in pioneering a new way forward in the drinking and dining experience, which will appeal to a clientele who expects and deserves the very best.”

For more information, visit Mintleafrestaurant.com.