Madhu's Punjabi Cuisine at The Grove Hotel
Madhu's at The Grove
We had the absolute pleasure of spending an evening at Madhu’s restaurant - the authentic Indian dining experience located in the heart of The Grove’s mansion in Hertfordshire. Previously, its arrangement was that of a pop-up, but it has recently reopened as a permanent restaurant following a full refurbishment.
Madhu’s is part of a growing empire, which has a total of six restaurants including locations in Mayfair, Richmond and at Harvey Nichols.
After a very warm welcome, we were walked through the stunning restaurant which houses several rooms along with a private function room, all dressed to a very high standard, taking inspiration from Lodi Gardens in New Delhi. It instantly takes you away from England and steps you into a blissful Indian utopia showing off plenty of wonderful touches and stunning views over The Grove’s grounds. Handpicked textures, colour palettes and bespoke historic murals have been carefully curated to compliment The Groves fabric of royal heritage, high ceilings and nature and results in something quite spectacular.
You can always expect professional, friendly, and attentive staff at The Grove Hotel and Madhu’s was no exception. Our waiter Pratik was just that - there at the right times and bursting with pride regarding the menu and décor.
At Madhu’s there is the option for a la carte or a range of tasting menus, which impressively caters for non-vegetarians, vegetarians, and vegans. We decided to try the non-vegetarian tasting menu along with the wine pairing which was a perfect way to sample an array of their delicious Punjabi dishes. Secret recipes have been handed down over four generations, so we didn’t want to miss anything off this innovate menu.
Each element brought something special. Not only was the presentation stunning, but we can also confirm that the team of talented chefs served a mouth-watering array of perfectly balanced dishes. The Cumin flavoured queen scallop, sautéed prawn and succulent grilled salmon was delightful and probably the favourite of ours, although it was a challenge to pick.
Little offerings such as the avocado and mango chutney were a delight. The Madhu’s Royal Thali was commissioned and produced for the first ever Asian catered event by Madhu’s at Windsor castle for HRH King Charles which is a testament to how delicious it was.
The chargrilled spiced chicken and mini lamb skewers with Robata grilled tender lamb chop were cooked perfectly. If you like heat, you’re in luck as there is some spice here, so feel free to ask the waiter for some yoghurt if you would like to cool it down a notch.
The wine portions were generous and paired very well. Our favourite being the Quid Pro Quo Malbec, Argentina but all of them were great selections.
For those with a sweet tooth, Laduree’s famous chocolate and hazelnut dessert served alongside warm carrot halwa and cardamom infused clotted cream Indian ice cream will tick all boxes and the perfect way to end the meal.
Madhu’s was a fantastic all-round experience. Thanks to the decor, the staff, and the quality of food, we left the evening very satisfied. Even though this isn’t a place to come every weekend, for a £65 tasting menu you certainly get your money’s worth and is perfect for a special occasion. We will certainly be back.
Avocado & Mango Chutney
Poppadom’s and dips
Wine Pairing: Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée, Champagne, France
Jeera Scallop, Chilli & Garlic Prawn, Tandoori Salmon & Kuchumber Salad
Wine Pairing: Wachau Federspiel Grüner Veltliner, Austria
Chicken Tikka, Seekh Kebab & Robata Chop, Pickled Salad, Blackberries, Mint Yoghurt
Wine Pairing: Quid Pro Quo Malbec, Argentina
Passion Fruit Sorbet
Royal Thali: Dal Makhni, Murgh Makhni, Saag Gosht, Baingan Bhartha, Raita, Rice, Pickle, Salad & Mini Tandoori Naan
Wine Pairing: Decoy Zinfandel, Duckhorn, Sonoma County, USA
A Dessert Trio of Plaisir Au Chocolat, Gajjar Halwa & Badam Kulfi
Wine Pairing: Château La Rame, Ste-Croix-du-Mont, France
Madhu's
Madhu’s at The Grove is open Tuesday – Sunday for dinner service from 5.30pm with the last sitting at 10.30pm.
The Grove
Set in 300 acres of stunning Hertfordshire countryside, The Grove is the ultimate five-star retreat. Lovingly restored, the former home of the Earls of Clarendon is situated just 18 miles from London, and is home to an award-winning spa, championship golf course and mouth-watering restaurants.
The Grove, Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire, WD17 3NL