Last Updated on December 10, 2025
Pre-theatre dining at a modern, spice bistro
3.8 out of 5.0 starsTucked next to the Theatre Royal Haymarket and just a short walk from London’s West End, Farzi Indian Restaurant offers a well-placed stop for pre-theatre dining. When I visited to review the menu at 6 p.m., the restaurant was already lively, with diners settling in ahead of the evening’s shows. Located close to both the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery, Farzi also makes a convenient spot for a late lunch, with the pre-theatre menu available from 4:30 p.m.
On arrival, we found the outdoor terrace full of people basking in the sunshine and enjoying an early evening aperitif. Inside, we had a view of the street through a glass wall overlooking the busy Haymarket, while a double-volume, cut steel, golden mobile of leaves struck a sophisticated note. There was an attractive, central, L-shaped bar and an open kitchen at the back.
The pre-dinner menu offered a choice of five starters and five mains for £25.99, with an additional £3.95 if you wished to add on a choice of two desserts. Service was swift but not rushed, with the two-course meal ordered and eaten within an hour. As we were not going to the theatre on this occasion, we relaxed and enjoyed dessert and a tea to finish. If we had arrived for dinner half an hour earlier, we would have been in good time for a three-course dinner and a stroll over to our chosen theatre to take our seats in time for the curtain up.
We began with drinks, an Empress ale and a pink guava lassi with dragon and cocoa dust. The latter was served in a traditional silver lassi goblet and looked very pretty – dusky pink with a dusting of ground, dried dragon fruit. It was thick with yoghurt and not overly sweet. I grew up eating guavas with the regularity with which we eat apples in the UK, so it was especially pleasing to enjoy this refreshing and fruity drink.
From the starter options, my husband ordered murg malai tikka – tandoori smoked chicken tikka with tandoori carrot salad. This was attractively served in a ceramic dish with two small pieces of chicken sharing the plate with the orange pop of carrot ribbons. The chicken was tender and well-spiced, and I particularly enjoyed the effect of the carrots cut on a mandolin.
Intrigued by the idea of innovative Indian cuisine, I ordered a starter salad. Grilled nectarine, burrata, and crispy kale Nero salad sounded Mediterranean, but the menu listed ingredients also included coriander, chilli, and sesame lime dressing, crunchy green mung beans, and radish. I liked the sweetness of the nectarine, although it was rather pale in flavour compared to the lushness of a juicy, grilled Mediterranean nectarine wearing its griddle stripes with pride. Although a fine attempt at a fusion dish, this version lacked sunshine and discernible Indian flavour.
Staying with more conventional Indian cuisine for the mains, we enjoyed a series of small dishes, each of which was well-flavoured. My husband ordered Wagyu beef seekh kebab pasanda – strips of tandoori Wagyu beef kebab simmered in a creamy nut and onion korma. The meat was tender, and the sauce was spicy and perfect for mopping up with the buttered naan that accompanied the mains, along with a bowl of steamed rice.
I enjoyed prawns machar jhol – plump tiger prawns cooked in a Kolkata-style spicy curry of pickled mustard and tomato. The rust-coloured sauce had a pleasing tomato flavour while the prawns were meaty and juicy. The main courses were served along with a portion of dal makhani, a slow-cooked, creamy black lentil dish. It is very popular in Rajasthan, and on my travels to that region, I ate it almost daily. It is utterly delicious, so I was delighted to find it on my table at Farzi.
There were two dessert dishes on the pre-theatre menu, and we ordered one of each. While chocolate brownies and cheesecakes might not sound like traditional Indian dishes, they are both very popular in India. Warm spice chocolate brownie was a small brownie served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a chocolate crumble. A heavier hand with the spicing would have been welcome.
Parle G cheesecake was a small finger of Philadelphia cheesecake served with a Parle G biscuit on top. These are popular tea biscuits in India. It was surrounded by a masala rabdi – a cardamom-infused, creamy, milk-based dessert which was dotted with tiny chocolate balls.
We ended the meal at Farzi with small glasses of Karak Chai. Karak means strong in Hindi, and for my palate, this one could benefit from a spicier profile, though it’s possible the spicing has been deliberately moderated, given the central location.
Farzi is an attractive and conveniently located Indian restaurant in Central London. It offers a range of menus at different times of day. Staff are very friendly and the service is good. The pre-theatre menu is tasty, good value and filling, and will set you up nicely for a night out.
The pre-theatre menu is available Sunday to Wednesday from 4.30 – 6.30 pm and after 8 pm. From Thursday to Saturday, it is served from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm and after 9 pm.
Farzi has a full à la carte menu and also offers a Thali Menu served from 12 – 3 pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Farzi – 8 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4BP
Telephone – 020 3981 0090
See website for daily opening hours
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