You've spent the afternoon in the National Gallery, or you've got a 7.30 curtain in the West End, and you want Indian food worth sitting down for rather than something rushed on the Strand.
Central London has no shortage of Indian restaurants. What's harder to find is regional cooking done properly, in a room you actually want to spend two hours in. Colonel Saab sits at 40–42 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD, roughly two minutes from Charing Cross and a short walk from the square itself.
What authenticity actually looks like
India doesn't have one cuisine. Northern tandoori cooking, the black pepper and curry leaf of Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, Kerala's coconut and tamarind, Bengal's mustard-led fish: these are separate traditions with separate techniques. Most Indian restaurants in the UK pick one lane, usually a Punjabi-leaning one, and stay in it.
Colonel Saab is built the other way round. Head Chef Sohan Bhandari and his team cook across regions, working from recipes the Choudhary family gathered over decades of travelling through India rather than applying a single house style to everything. Spice is used for balance rather than heat, and the kitchen will talk you through it before you order.
The family behind the name
The restaurant is named after Colonel Manbeer Choudhary, who was given the honorific "Colonel Saab" during his service in the Indian Army. His son, restaurateur Roop Partap Choudhary, opened the first Colonel Saab in the old Holborn Town Hall as a tribute to his father and to his mother, Mrs Binny Choudhary, whose home cooking runs through the menu and whose art hangs on the wall. Behind both restaurants sits Noor Group, the family's hospitality business in India, which includes Noormahal Palace in Karnal and spans more than three decades.
That history is on the walls as much as the plate. The antiques, artwork and Firozabad glass chandeliers were collected on family travels rather than sourced as decor, and the Trafalgar Square site sets them against a bar, a lounge, a mezzanine and two private dining rooms.
What to order
Colonel Saab's Butter Chicken is the dish most people order first and it earns the reputation: tender chicken in a velvety tomato and cashew gravy. The Sunday Lamb Curry is the one to order if you want to understand the restaurant. Slow-cooked and home-style, served with cumin potatoes, dal makhani, rice and naan.
Elsewhere on the à la carte menu:
● Chicken Chettinad, from Tamil Nadu
● Gutti Vankaya, baby aubergines in a tangy Andhra tamarind gravy
● Kandhari Paneer Tikka, grilled cottage cheese stuffed with prune and pomegranate
● Nadan Fish Curry from Kerala, served with Malabar paratha, and Prawn Moilee in spiced coconut milk
● Falahari Kofta Curry, a beetroot and lotus root kofta, for vegetarians
● Mall Road's Dahi Sev Puri and other Delhi street-food starters
For dessert, the Rasmalai Milk Cake and Rose Gulab Jamun are the two guest favourites, with a Bengali Mishti Doi Cheesecake for anyone wanting something less familiar. There's also a tasting menu curated by Chef Sohan Bhandari, with meat, pescatarian and vegetarian routes through the same courses.
The meat served across the menu is halal, and the vegetarian side of the menu is substantial rather than an afterthought, which makes it a straightforward choice for mixed groups where everyone needs to be able to order freely.
Getting there, and when to go
Charing Cross is around two minutes on foot. Leicester Square, Embankment and Covent Garden are all within about ten. The restaurant sits between Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, in the middle of Theatreland, which makes it straightforward before or after:
● Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
● The National Portrait Gallery
● St Martin-in-the-Fields
● Leicester Square and the West End theatres
● Covent Garden
● Piccadilly Circus
Lunch runs from 12pm to 3pm and dinner from 5pm to 9.45pm, seven days a week. For a pre-theatre dinner, book from 5pm and allow about ninety minutes.
Private dining and occasions
Two private dining rooms handle birthdays, anniversaries, corporate dinners and smaller celebrations. The bar and lounge work well for a cocktail before the table's ready, and the central location plus a room quiet enough to hold a conversation makes it a reliable choice for client dinners.
Recognition
Colonel Saab has been named Asian Restaurant of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards, won Best Newcomer at the British Curry Awards, been listed by Forbes among its top Indian restaurants, and holds a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice award.
Book a table
Reservations are recommended, particularly at weekends and before West End performances. Book a table at Colonel Saab Trafalgar Square, email reservations@colonelsaab.co.uk or call 020 8016 6800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find authentic Indian food near Trafalgar Square?
Colonel Saab is at 40–42 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD, about two minutes' walk from Charing Cross and a few minutes from Trafalgar Square. It serves regional Indian cooking from across the subcontinent in a fine dining setting.
What's the nearest tube station?
Charing Cross, around two minutes away. Leicester Square, Embankment and Covent Garden are all within roughly ten minutes on foot.
What time does Colonel Saab Trafalgar Square open?
Lunch is served 12pm to 3pm and dinner 5pm to 9.45pm, seven days a week.
Is Colonel Saab halal?
Yes. The meat served at Colonel Saab is halal, so the full range of chicken, lamb and kebab dishes is available to guests who eat halal.
Does Colonel Saab serve vegetarian and vegan dishes?
Yes. There's a range of vegetarian dishes and several vegan-friendly options across the menu, and the team can guide you through them if you have specific dietary requirements. It helps to mention them when booking.
Is it suitable for special occasions?
Yes. There are two private dining rooms alongside the main dining room and mezzanine, used for birthdays, anniversaries, business dinners and celebrations.
Is there another Colonel Saab in London?
Yes. The original Colonel Saab Holborn is in the old Holborn Town Hall at 193–197 High Holborn. Indian Afternoon Tea and the tiffin lunch are only available there.
Can I book in advance?
Yes, and it's recommended at weekends, over the festive period and before West End performances.
