Walking distance from the iconic disused Battersea power station and on the banks of the river Thames, lies this Rajasthani restaurant looking to bring the flavours of West India to the UK. Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Those craving traditional Indian Rajasthani food
Casual dinner with friends with a relaxed vibe
Large group bookings
Ambience & Décor
The décor of Chokhi Dhani was incredibly opulent and decorative. No spare inch was left untouched by some form of pattern work or artistry. The bar area downstairs carried more grandeur and opulence and was a good spot for drinks with a view of the Thames. The upstairs had a more sober approach.
Some may prefer the look of having clunky teak chairs & divans, large painted murals depicting Rajasthani history, the random smattering of jewellery for which the state is renowned for (all with price tags I might add) and the glass cabinets of trinkets on display. For me, the bar area was too gaudy, ostentatious and cluttered… and we have not even mentioned the humongous elephant statue outside the front door for some bizarre reason adding only comedic value.
The upstairs décor was more my taste. Ornate wooden beams and beautifully crafted dining chairs contrasted with more demure furniture, mood lighting and plain walls. I found it bizarre and distracting that there were Rajasthani artefacts buried underneath the glass topped surface of the dining table. The décor is not fine dining material and needs to be stripped back and less distracting.
The ambience was also dead but it was saved in part, by the tableside magician, who provided some merriment to mask the fact the restaurant was slow. Yet another bizarre twist to be found in this restaurant.
Service
The service was good but this was not too hard given this the place was not bustling. The tableside manner was still attentive and friendly nonetheless.
Food
The Chicken lollipop pakora (left) was the first dish and it was very tasty. The crispy coating on the outside was packed full of flavour and spice, with the inner chicken remaining incredibly succulent. Fantastic start to the meal.
We are massive fans of authentic Chili fried potatoes and safe to say, these were delicious. Tossed in chillies, spice and tomatoes, these fries were a crowd pleaser.
The Murgh Malai (right) was first off the grill and whilst the chicken was tender, it lacked depth. The chicken was bland, but the mint chutney gave some sweetness but little else. The quinoa-type salad was tasteless and had no business being there. If you cannot handle spice, this is for you, but I love spice, hence not for me.
The Sheekh-e-khazana kebab (left) was very spicy and packed full of flavour. The chicken and lamb fusion was delicious with the accompanying lemon cutting the spice beautifully along with the mint & mace chutney. Not for the faint hearted but well made.
The Adraki Lamb Chops (right) were amazing. The premium lamb was so succulent. The ginger, clove and cardamom marinade was incredibly potent and tasty; elevated the natural flavour of the lamb. The level of heat was to my taste but the accompaniments on this dish added nothing and padded out the dish.
The last dish was the Maharani Thali (left). This is the best way of gauging how good a Rajasthani restaurant is because the menu’s best offerings can be sampled.
The highlights were aplenty with the Rajasthani Khadi (Curd based curry), Subzi Kadhai Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) the standout, but all were palatable.
The dishes were authentically cooked, prepped and spiced. However, they were not Indian fine dining standard. The padding of the dishes with bizarre complementary items seemed an attempt to justify the price. The food quality was mediocre and Chokhi Dhani did not leap out as a recommendation.
All the smoke and mirrors, the gaudy unnecessary trinkets, the ornate and decorative pieces, the clutter and the ostentatious patterns, were all designed to overwhelm and distract diners. Chokhi Dhani was trying too hard to hit you with everything authentically Rajasthani all at once. The décor needed to be toned down before I can accept it. The food was not at the calibre of other high-end Indian restaurants. Traditional Rajasthani spice is not for the faint hearted, and Chokhi Dhani was true to its roots, so I applaud the restaurant’s authenticity. Overall this restaurant fails to hit some key areas and as such gets a C- rating.
Photos of Chokhi Dhani and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: C-
Final comment: Authentic Rajasthani eatery that is memorable for all the wrong reasons.
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