Quilon

Quilon offers South-west coastal Indian cuisine in the Victoria neighborhood of London, and holds a Michelin star. Located next to the St. James Court Hotel, the menu embodies a unique blend of ethnic and progressive dishes with seafood at its heart but also offers meat, poultry and vegetarian dishes, mostly designed for sharing.

Keith and I dined here for our last night in London.  We had a long day of sightseeing, and were staying in the adjoining hotel, so it was super convenient to just pop next door.  We decided to go all out and ordered the seafood tasting menu.

We started with their version of "chips & dip" with naan bread crackers and a range of mild to medium spicy dips, as well as pickled green beans.  My favorite was the coconut tahini dip and the tangy tamarind dip.

We then started the seafood theme with Lobster Broth flavored with coriander and a hint of coconut cream, and poured over chunks of lobster tail meat.  This soup was light and lovely.

The Fisherman’s Catch included a sampling of peppered shrimp, crab cake, fish cafreal, and grilled scallop.  Each bite was fresh and distinct in its own seasonings.  My favorite bite was the sweet scallop.

As a palate cleanser, we were given a shot of hot Tomato & Cumin soup.  The spices were a bit overpowering for my liking, so I did not finish my entire serving.  

Next, the Baked Black Cod was subtly spiced (pictured in the center) and paired with Fresh Lobster cooked with butter, pepper, and garlic (on the left), and Prawn Masala that was marinated and cooked with onion, tomato, mustard, curry leaves and coconut masala.  Served with malabar paratha - a soft flour bread cooked on a skillet with ghee - this course was the best and I could have eaten a whole dish of that butter lobster!

The main course featured Seafood Biryani - basmati rice studded with fish and shrimp, mixed with herbs, spices, and dried fruit - and sides of delicious Fish Curry, Coconut with Asparagus and Snow Peas, and Yogurt Sauce.  Also on the plate was a deep fried Sesame Okra.  The vegetables were surprisingly simple and vibrant, and provided a nice crunchy juxtaposition to all the seafood.

To transition us to the dessert course, we were given a Passion Fruit Pana Cotta of sorts.  It was a bit grainy and did not have much fruit flavor.

Lastly, we each had our choice of dessert and tea.  Keith chose the Pistachio Cake and Ice Cream, while I picked the Chai Creme Brulee.  The desserts were a bit lackluster compared to the other items on the tasting menu, however did not detract from the overall experience.

The menu was unique and not your typical Indian fare.  I appreciated the fresh coastal ingredients, and the price was very reasonable for a Michelin meal.

Total Rating: 4.28
Food: 4.5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3.5, Accessibility: 5