Authentic luxury North Indian Punjabi cuisine seasoned with a unique Kenyan twist, the brand-new opening at The Dilly is the crown jewel in the illustrious 41-year Madhu’s Dynasty.
Madhu’s of Mayfair has officially lifted the curtain to its most exclusive venue yet at The Dilly, one of London’s most prestigious and historic hotels. The newly renovated hotel opened its doors for the first time in May, located in the beating heart of London’s West End at the vibrant intersection of Mayfair and Piccadilly.
Madhu’s, headed by renowned restaurateur, hospitality stalwart and founder Sanjay Anand MBE, boasts a rich vein of family history dating back four generations from origins in Nairobi, Kenya. The Mayfair opening marries authentic cuisine, enriched with secret recipes handed down over 86 years and fused between two complementing cultures in South Asia and East Africa, with a superb opulence of a listed property which leverages the dining experiences beyond the unrivalled robata grill menu.
Whether it be the signature Nyamah Choma, succulent prime cut lamb ribs marinated in chilli and lemon, or the Madhu’s Machi, another original favourite consisting of a whole seabass in an onion and carom seed marinade, the promise of Madhu’s of Mayfair is that guests will not find another luxury Indian dining experience to match their way within the lucrative capital city.
The proud family heritage being told through the exclusive London lens
With family inspiration dating back to 1935, Madhu’s of Mayfair tells the story of a decorated dynasty against the backdrop of a setting which unapologetically veers away from the associated modesty of a family-run business.
However, though Madhu’s of Mayfair is perfectly situated in one of central London’s most exclusive locations and commands a profile from the upper echelons of fine dining, it is the accomplished secret recipes handed down across eight decades which has seen the brand recognised as the gold standard for Asian cuisine. This has led to catering contracts for private events hosted by HRH Prince Charles, famous accolades such as the first Asian caterer to provide services at no.10 Downing Street, Windsor Castle, The Savoy Hotel, Buckingham Palace (twice) as well as high profile national awards. Now, it is the Mayfair opening which eloquently encapsulates decades of industry firsts and royally approved cuisine into a dining experience of the highest calibre.
Madhu’s maintains the family values established back in the 1930s, with the esteemed master chef, and sister to Sanjay, Poonam Ball at the fore of the famous menu. ‘Happiest when in the kitchen’, Poonam is one of a rare breeds of female Asian chefs with catering experience for extremely high profile individuals, including heads of state and royalty, and a highly recommended Makhani chicken recipe endorsed by none other than Clarence House. Her new recipe collaboration with Laurent Perrier Champagne has been the source of much anticipation.
Sanjay’s son, Arjun Anand, is the highly ambitious and esteemed director of Madhu’s and has himself been awarded in the ‘Rising Star’ category at a ceremony at the House of Lords. Forward-thinking Arjun has been instrumental in the early demand witnessed by Madhu’s since opening at The Dilly.
The eye for craftsmanship separates Madhu’s from the crowd
Madhu’s brings with it a revered reputation for high quality dishes and refined service, but it is the dream of the visionary Sanjay to make Madhu’s of Mayfair a location which engages all of the senses, which gives this eatery a whole new distinction. From the subtle aroma of Oud which flows through the bar and lounge area, by design, to the bespoke Madhu’s marble tables designed and crafted exclusively for the Mayfair venue and the scintillating chandeliers overlooking diners from the tall, listed ceiling, it is Sanjay’s mission to give guests a 360-degree rounded experience which taps into an appreciation for hand crafted décor, artistic interior design and exclusive detail to remind each and every visitor of Madhu’s thought-leadership.
A lounge experience which goes into the night
Madhu’s of Mayfair offers a perfect balance of discretion and tranquillity whilst dining, with a dynamic, zestful atmosphere in the bar area – synonymous with the buzzing nature of central London. With an extensive drinks menu and a seating area furnished with avant-garde material and designs, guests can whet their appetite pre-meal or socialise well into the night to the sounds of bespoke and elaborative DJ sets mixed exclusively for Madhu’s from Buddha Bar, Marrakech.
The Madhu’s story
Though the famous Madhu’s brand would officially etch itself into hospitality royalty in 1980 thanks to Sanjay, the true origins of the now prestigious pearl dates back to 1935 when Bishan Das Anand started his catering business. He later opened the legendary Brilliant Hotel in 1957 and established himself as an industry success story.
Inspired by the work of his grandfather, Sanjay opened Madhu’s Brilliant in 1980 at the age of 17 alongside his brother Sanjeev, aged 16. Having moved to London, and opened the initial branch in Southall, Madhu’s Brilliant was rebranded to Madhu’s in 2004 and Sanjay has overseen his restaurant being awarded the Best Indian Restaurant by Pat Chapman’s Good Cobra Guide Award multiple times.
The renowned late AA Gill also awarded the restaurant a four-star rating and Madhu’s has been engaged by the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols to set up on-site collaborations with the famous British stores.
Madhu’s also opened another high-end restaurant at The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire, which has also been met by incredible demand including global A-listers.
Factbox
Address: 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH
Tel: 020 7734 8000
Website: thedillylondon.com
