The perfect date restaurant is hard to stumble by. Even in the most affluent places, you expect a pretentious server or an expensive, mediocre starter to spoil the affair. I’ve had many Indian meals, but none at fine dining establishments. And wow, Mint Leaf delivered an education into Indian cuisine and an exceptional restaurant experience.

Within walking distance of Bank Underground Station, Mint Leaf London sits on Angel Court, a quiet lane off Throgmortan Street. The grand building beckons you in, with flowers and red rope adorning the entrance.

Greeted with a friendly face, we sat at our table and were immediately welcomed with menus. Serving halal food with South Asian flavours, Mint Leaf London also provides a lounge. It has an award-winning, 16-metre-long cocktail bar with over 500 spirits.

The cocktail menu has everything and more, so I opted for a fruity recommendation. I received Sunderban – a signature drink featuring Vodka, Peach, Pineapple, Grenadine & Lemon Juice.

While the classics start at £12.50, the ultimate wow-factor signatures are between £15.95 – £19.95. I’d recommend trying at least one at the bar before heading to your table. If you love a sweet, fruity cocktail like me, Sunderban is a must-try.

The Royal Bee also lived up to its description as an interpretation of a drink created for the Royals of India.

Our meal started with appetisers: Lamb Seekh Kebab (skewered lamb mince spiced & char-grilled, £16) and Dahi Padi Chaat (spicy, tangy Indian street food with yoghurt and crispy wheat cracker, £12). The former should be mandatory to order as a first course. It complimented the lamb wonderfully and tasted so scrumptious that we devoured the bowl within minutes.

We chose chicken curries for mains: Butter Chicken Masala (ideal if you’re not a strong spice lover but still want mouth watering flavour, £23) and Chicken Banjara (£23), which had more of a kick. With generous portions, we only needed one rice (£5.50) and one naan (£5).

I wouldn’t have found room for dessert if I didn’t have such a sweet tooth. As a cheesecake fanatic, I couldn’t refuse the Vanilla Cheese Cake (8.99). Again, it was delicious and worth every mouthful.

Mint Leaf London: Why it ticks all the boxes

Mint Leaf is simply stunning. The chic exterior and interior create the wow factor you want when trying to be romantic. I love the balloons across the bar and above the clock in the restaurant. I would have preferred, however, more lighting or brightness in the restaurant area.

The UK can stereotype Indian cuisine as a takeaway option or post-drinking cure. If you’re one of those people, please push those thoughts aside and sample authentic, traditional food (with a Mint Leaf twist). While I can’t pretend I’m an expert, I could taste the menu’s quality.

They use British seasonal produce where possible and prepare the ingredients using the traditional tandoor oven, charcoal grill and tawa hot plate.

On top of the pleasing aesthetics and fine dining, the staff proudly presented our meals. We felt welcomed and well looked after.

If you want a luxe dining experience without compromising on quality food, add Mint Leaf London to your restaurant wish list.

Book a table and learn more here.

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