Colonel Saab Restaurant Review

In the heart of Holborn, contemporary Indian restaurant Colonel Saab stands with a gracious story behind it. Created by Roop Partap Choudhary, the restaurant was built as an act of gratitude to his parents and an ode to his loving childhood.

In the middle of the hectic district of Soho and the theatre-centric Covent Garden lies this impressive eatery which has an enriched history behind it. Harboured in the library of the old Holborn Town Hall, the building was assembled in the late 1800s by William Rushworth, in his classic french renaissance style.

As soon as you step through the door you are struck with their gorgeously decorated dining space which was inspired by the very house Roop grew up in.

Walls were elaborately lined with exquisite antiques and artwork that was taken from Roop’s childhood home and numerous chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling. The decor is very much something you would expect to find behind palace doors, so if you are looking for somewhere fit for royalty, this is your best bet.

The atmosphere is wonderful and it is even more amazing with the personal touches displayed around the space. One is the love letters Roop’s parents had exchanged when his father had embarked on his journey with the army. When you visit Colonel Saab, please make sure to take in the captivating decor and delve deeper to uncover the hidden meanings.

Deep-rooted within Mr Choudhary’s culture is hospitality and it was obvious as soon as we arrived. We received a warm welcome from the lovely staff that was ready to accommodate me and my guest. Furthermore, Roop took it upon himself to come to our table and to greet us in person. He also candidly shared childhood memories and family stories, enabling us to understand the inspiration behind such a beautiful space.

On the evening of my visit, we decided to order a range of their starters to share. The dishes we went for gave us a taste of authentic Delhi food. One dish that stood out was the Purani Dilli, named after an area serving as the symbolic heart of the city of Delhi. The dish had a savoury taste, married nicely with a citrusy spark of orange zest and pomegranate, which was an unusual (but delicious) combination. The mini samosas added a touch of crunchiness which I absolutely loved.

The Paneer Tikka (Bengali Style) was a sensational dish. Enriched with mouthwatering flavour and spice, this starter had a mild taste with an indulgent creamy finish. The starter was presented beautifully with a delicious tomato chutney that paired amazingly with the crumbly paneer cheese.

Then, my friend and I tried the Jaipur baby aloo which is baby potatoes seasoned with a load of spices. This dish was phenomenal and definitely something I’d go for again. The Jaipur baby aloo was soft and full of fiery flavours.

Of course with all that sensational food, we had to get something to refresh ourselves. I went for a classic passoa passionfruit with elderflower water, whilst my friend opted for their own speciality drink named after the restaurant itself! Overall, the beverages were full of flavour and perfect to revive your palette in between dishes.

For Mains, my friend ordered one of their signature salads which entailed prawns and pineapple, rum and coconut mayo with cashews for garnish. Whereas, I ordered the Katafi Prawns. Both dishes were phenomenal- The flavours were beautifully intense but not overpowering.

The texture of the kataifi prawns was delightful and by far my favourite dish of the evening – You have the softness of the prawns with the gorgeous outer layer of kataifi pastry that melts in your mouth. Overall, the mains were outstanding and very filling.

Despite the amazing starters and mains, we tucked into, we still had room for dessert!

Their dessert menu is really extensive so we were blown away with the range of puddings they have to offer. I opted for the bread and butter pudding while my friend decided to go for the Rasmalai Milk Cake which is their signature dessert and my friend’s favourite.

Both desserts were rich and were a delightful way to conclude our meal. The Bread and Butter pudding was decadent, with enriching flavours of cinnamon and cream and provided an extra texture with the raisins and almonds.

Overall, the dining experience at Colonel Saab was amazing. Roop and his staff have exceeded our expectations and were ready, on hand whenever we needed something. The atmosphere in the restaurant is ambient and comfortable which makes it quite easy to tell you I’d love to visit again. The price point is mid to high but justified by the type and selection of dishes, the service and the wondrous environment they have created. Colonel Saab’s range of authentic Indian dishes stood out to us as they were very creative.

We truly enjoyed every single dish we selected and will definitely be visiting again.