Afternoon Tea at Colonel Saab in London

A recent addition to London’s Indian restaurant scene is Colonel Saab.

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Located in the historic former Town Hall of Holborn, Colonel Saab is the first London restaurant from Indian entrepreneur Roop Pratap Choudhary. Roop is a second-generation hotelier and heads the Noor Mahal, a majestic palace hotel in Karnal, India. He is also the Managing Director of Jewel Group of Hotels (India).

Colonel Saab features an eclectic decor and aims to offer a unique dining experience with the various dishes reflecting India’s diverse cuisine. There is a beautiful story both behind the decor and the food served at Colonel Saab. Roop’s parents, Army Officer Colonel Manbeer Choudhary and his wife Binny are the inspiration for the restaurant. The menu, the decor - everything is a celebration of India and reflects the Choudharys' love for travel, art and food.

All of the artwork displayed at the restaurant is from the personal collection of the Choudhary family.  From hand woven Persian carpets to a silver temple door from Gujarat and from ornate coloured glass chandeliers to beautiful Tanjore paitings, the restaurant has been beautifully decorated with exquisute artwork. 

Also, dotted around the venue were personal photographs and memorabilia of Roop's family which added a personal touch and made the place more inviting.

In the main dining area are the framed portraits of Roop’s parents surrounded by a collection of ceramics from his parents' travels.

In addition to the main dining area, there is seating on a mezzanine level and two private dining rooms as well.

The menu at Colonel Saab is inspired by the places Roop's father was stationed at.

Roop spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India with Karen Anand (Indian food writer, restaurant consultant and known for her contribution to Dishoom) to come up with a collection of dishes showcasing the best of India's regional specialities. Colonel Saab recently launched a unique, Indian and British fusion afternoon high tea and this was what we experienced on our recent visit to the restaurant. 

The fusion afternoon tea comes in three different options

• a regular tea and coffee option
• a bubbly option or 
• The Three C High Tea – Chai, Charlie and Champagne Afternoon Tea including a variety of excellent chai and three of Taittinger's most popular champagnes - Brut, Rose and Nocturne.
  
  Prices start from £25 per head.

The afternoon tea was beautifully presented. The savouries included a selection of finger dhokla sandwiches with coriander & mint chutney and onion bhajia sprinkled with chaat masala. The flavours and texture were perfect and this in our opinion was the best part of this afternoon tea. 

The selection of sweet treats were delicious as well and included fresh raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, homemade coconut & Earl Grey cookies, saffron & rose Shrikhand macarons and a selection of tea cakes. The homemade cookies and the raisin scones were our favourites.

The range of teas, though limited, featured some common and some unusual teas like Dragonwell Green, Egyptian Mint, Citrus Chamomile, Organic Tsuki Matcha, Persian Pomegranate, Spicy Rooibos, Organic Darjeeling and Spiced Chai to name a few. Bhavin opted for the Persian Pomegranate while I chose the Spiced Chai.

Overall, the afternoon tea at Colonel Saab was everything that we expected it to be. The food was flavoursome & delicious, the restaurant team was professional & friendly and the ambience lovely.

If you are in London and want to taste a wonderful fusion afternoon tea with an Indian touch, do stop by at the Colonel Saab for this tantalising treat.

Colonel Saab | Holborn Town Hall, 193-197 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7BD
Phone | 020 8016 6800 Email | [email protected]

Colonel Saab's Unique Art and Food Pairing Experience

Colonel Saab is all set to launch a unique Art and Food Pairing Experience on 24 May 2022. It promises to be an interesting affair with the restaurant's founder, Roop Partap Choudhary personally taking diners on a culinary journey across India, with a nine-course tasting menu of dishes and carefully paired & curated art collected by the award-winning entrepreneur and his family across the continent and lovingly brought to London. The nine-course menu is to cost £150 per person.

Win an Afternoon Tea Experience at Colonel Saab

Interested in experiencing the fusion afternoon tea at Colonel Saab? You are in luck, for one lucky reader of The Globe Trotter will win a regular afternoon tea for two at Colonel Saab in London. Entry is very simple and via the Gleam widget below. Enter now for your chance to win. All the best!

The competition is open to UK residents only.

Win an afternoon tea at Colonel Saab in London