
Colonel Saab High Holborn
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Quick info
About Colonel Saab High Holborn
Colonel Saab High Holborn is an Indian restaurant at 193-197 High Holborn in London, set in the former Holborn Town Hall, with an upstairs dining area as well as the main room. The all-day menu follows an Old Delhi-style approach, with lamb curry among the curries and rose lassi on the drinks list. A bar covers cocktails, mocktails, wine and beer, and afternoon tea is served with cold brew teas, potato sliders and raisin scones. Art and detailed decor fill the interior, and music adds to the Indian theme. Reservations are required. A private dining room is available for groups. Diners are also given a booklet that tells the story of the restaurant's history and its owners.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- AccessibilityWheelchair: restroom, seating
- Good for kidsKids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Menu & Prices
3 dishes · mains £35–43- Tasting Menu£90.00
- Lunch Tiffin & Dosa£34.95
- Tandoori Sunday Roast£42.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention butter chicken, lamb curry, cocktails and rose lassi.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention butter chicken, lamb curry, cocktails and rose lassi.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the lamb curry, with the Old Delhi lamb curry named a favourite, though one diner found the lamb in chilli sauce too spicy and another would only suggest lamb to those fond of it. Butter chicken and dal makhani are described as creamy and rich, and several say the flavours tasted authentic and reminded them of Delhi. Close behind are the rose lassi, the Kunwar cocktail and the desserts, including the Rasmalai cake. Afternoon tea draws praise for the cottage cheese sandwiches, potato sliders and raisin scones. Service splits. Many describe friendly, welcoming staff who told the restaurant's history, while one Friday evening diner found a single server covering the whole upstairs, abrupt, and not returning to repour wine, with the meal stretching past three hours. Another had the chilli lamb replaced with a chicken curry that was heavy with black pepper. One diner noticed a missing side and had rice brought over promptly.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the lamb curry, with the Old Delhi lamb curry named a favourite, though one diner found the lamb in chilli sauce too spicy and another would only suggest lamb to those fond of it. Butter chicken and dal makhani are described as creamy and rich, and several say the flavours tasted authentic and reminded them of Delhi. Close behind are the rose lassi, the Kunwar cocktail and the desserts, including the Rasmalai cake. Afternoon tea draws praise for the cottage cheese sandwiches, potato sliders and raisin scones. Service splits. Many describe friendly, welcoming staff who told the restaurant's history, while one Friday evening diner found a single server covering the whole upstairs, abrupt, and not returning to repour wine, with the meal stretching past three hours. Another had the chilli lamb replaced with a chicken curry that was heavy with black pepper. One diner noticed a missing side and had rice brought over promptly.
Featured reviews
- shiv '
“We visited on 9th October, a Friday evening. The restaurant was busy and it is really disappointing to have to start with how poor the service was. There was one member of staff for the whole upstairs, and he was not the most attentive, whilst also being very abrupt. Due to the pressure he was under, he was rushing between tables, not allowing much time to consider options, whilst also not doing the basics of decent service, such as coming back to repour wine. A second member of staff joined after an hour but it was still not adequate. We ended up spending over 3 hours from start to finish... From a food perspective, the starters were excellent and the mains were good. Cocktails were nice and so was the bottle of wine. No complaints there. Desserts were ok, though lacking a real wow factor. It's a shame as the setting was beautiful and it has the potential to be a showstopper restaurant, but not with the service provision we experienced.”
- Mina
“Had a lovely experience at Colonel Saab! The atmosphere was great and the food was spot on. The flavours and spices came through really nicely without being too overpowering, and everything was well balanced. What I really liked was that the food didn’t feel too heavy, which made the whole meal even more enjoyable. Great food, a lovely setting and a really enjoyable dining experience. Definitely a place I’d recommend and would happily visit again! 😊🍽️”
- Adam Bakr
“We absolutely loved our experience at Colonel Saab’s for afternoon tea! All of the food was delicious and clearly curated to provide an elevated experience. All of the food was delicious, with the standout items being the cottage cheese sandwiches, potato sliders, and the raisin scones. The cold brew teas were distinct and interesting flavors, and we also enjoyed the citrus chamomile hot tea. The service was great. We felt taken care of and were not rushed at any moment throughout the experience. The restaurant itself matches the food. Curated for perfection. Every corner has something special to look at, and it is clear that attention to detail is a must here. We plan to come back every time we are in London.”
- Yoni Budovsky
“The restaurant exudes an authentic atmosphere and serves delicious food. I particularly appreciate the booklet placed on each table, which provides history overview of the restaurant and its owners. The interior itself is adorned with beautiful, authentic art. I ordered the lamb curry, which was quite enjoyable. However, I would recommend it only to those who are particularly fond of lamb. For my next visit, I’ll likely opt for the classic chicken curry. I also noticed that the staff at the restaurant goes above and beyond to ensure the satisfaction of their customers. During my meal, one of the staff members noticed that I was missing my rice and promptly suggested and brought it to me. Their attention to detail and kindness were truly commendable.”
- Gautam Ghai
“Colonel Saab is consistently fantastic! The love and care put in by the team especially the founder Roop Pratap Choudhary is evident in everything from the spectacular menu to every little detail in the restaurant. The story of Roop and his family is woven into a rich tapestry covering their travels and history representing India’s rich culinary traditions. Always my favourite when I am looking to have an extraordinary dinning experience! Oh - the cocktails are also just divine!”
Hours
- Monday
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- Tuesday
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- Wednesday
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- Thursday
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- Friday
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- Saturday
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- Sunday
Highlights
“Colonel Saab is situated in the heart of central London in the former Holborn Town Hall. The extensive all-day menu, with dishes from around India, has been curated by one of India’s top food personalities.”
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for lunch
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Accepts reservations
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Kids' menu
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Offerings· 9
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Hard liquor
- Late-night food
- Private dining room
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Dining options· 5
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 3
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Highlights· 5
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Planning· 3
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Indian restaurants near Colonel Saab High Holborn
- 0.2 mi£10–20
pani puri shots, masala chai, chhole bhature
- Oorja Indian Dining4.83,5050.4 mi
table lamp ordering system, butter chicken, railway curry
- Dishoom Covent Garden4.729,1000.4 mi£20–60
chicken ruby (butter chicken), okra fries, chai (various forms)
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Saab High Holborn | 4.87,000 | — | — | butter chicken, lamb curry, cocktails |
| Keep Chaating Indian Vegetarian Restaurant | 4.7730 | 0.2 mi | £10–20 | pani puri shots, masala chai, chhole bhature |
| Oorja Indian Dining | 4.83,505 | 0.4 mi | — | table lamp ordering system, butter chicken, railway curry |
| Dishoom Covent Garden | 4.729,100 | 0.4 mi | £20–60 | chicken ruby (butter chicken), okra fries, chai (various forms) |
The 3 nearest indian restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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