Dinner at Quilon: Coastal Indian Cooking in Central London
- Dr. K.
- Dec 2
- 2 min read
Quilon sits next to the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate in Westminster, a short walk from St. James’s Park. It’s a practical, central location, and the restaurant has a calm, steady dining room that immediately feels well run.
The reputation is established — Quilon has held a Michelin star since 2008 — but the experience is not about theatrics. It’s about a specific regional style of cooking from India’s South-West coast.
Since I spent 20+ years of my life in India, the flavors were instantly familiar: coconut, curry leaves, pepper, mustard seeds, and the kind of spice foundation you expect from Malabar dishes. It’s a cuisine that doesn’t always get spotlighted abroad, and seeing it treated with focus and clarity in London is part of what makes Quilon interesting.
We started with cocktails. I chose the Last Sting, a watermelon, Reposado tequila, and jalapeño mix that had a clean kick and didn’t disappear behind sweetness. My husband had the Maple Oak, a bourbon drink built around maple syrup, bitters, and smoky orange zest. Both were well balanced and had enough character to make the start of the evening feel considered. The warm rasam they offered us — tangy, peppery, and unmistakably South Indian — was a thoughtful touch.
For dinner, we ordered Chickpeas Masala (Malabar-style), Okra Pearl Onion Masala, Malabar Parathas, and a dry vegetable dish with asparagus, mange tout, and tender-stem purple broccoli. The chickpeas and okra dishes reflected the regional profile I expected, with aromatics that felt authentic without being overwhelming.
The asparagus dish was nicely prepared but felt stylistically different from the rest of the meal, more contemporary and less rooted in the coastal flavour identity. Still really enjoyable, just not in the same lane.
Service throughout the evening was warm, attentive, and steady. Quilon has been recognised for years, and you see why — not through big statements, but through consistency. The meal felt intentional and grounded in its regional roots while still fitting comfortably into London’s fine-dining landscape.
For travelers looking for Indian food that goes beyond the usual North-Indian-dominant menus in the city, Quilon offers a clear point of view. And for anyone familiar with coastal Indian cooking, the flavors feel recognizable in the best way. It’s a strong London dining option, especially if you’re curious about a cuisine that isn’t always easy to find represented with this level of care.
