Review: Date night at Hankies Haymarket New Flagship Restaurant [press invite - gifted]
Just as we arrive outside Hankies new flagship restaurant in Haymarket, Dave has a horrible moment of clarity, and stops us in the street. “What is it Dave? Have you forgotten to turn the gas off? Have you just got the twist at the end of The 6th Sense?” (He’s convinced Bruce Willis isn’t dead and will debate at length anyone who says otherwise.)
“No” he replies, “It’s worse than that. He looks at the entrance to Hankies and gasps.
“I’ve been to what this place was before, and it was very sh*t.” He continues to describe the kind of central London club where you often leave with slightly less dignity and (most likely) a singed fringe from one of the many sparklers that accompany a magnum of Grey Goose to the baller’s table. Very sh*t indeed.
I manage to coax him inside, and to both of our surprise, we are in fact greeted by a dimly lit tardis of a restaurant, with a rather impressive selfie station next to the cloakroom. *see how not to do it in the photo below.
Dave, just taking in the atmosphere of Hankies Haymarket
Contrary to the iteration of ‘cocktail bar/lounge’’ this had been previously, the atmosphere at Hankies Haymarket is in fact ‘vibey’ yet relaxed.
The staff are super attentive, explaining each dish they bring to our table. For those looking for the extra swanky experience, there’s also a private dining room.
We all know you should ‘never judge a book by it’s cover’, but our big lesson this night was: ‘never judge the food you expect to eat by the restaurant’s previous incarnation as a trashy late night drinking venue’. Not as catchy, sure, but no less true.
So what is the food like at Hankies Haymarket flagship restaurant?
If you’re looking for Indian Restaurants in London, the food at Hankies is AMAZING. It’s tastier than it has any right being, full of delicate flavours and textures, and with beautiful but not ‘over-showy’ presentation. Before we ordered, we thought the prices seemed reasonable. After we’d eaten the food, it seemed like an absolute steal.
Being an Indian Tapas menu, we ordered a selection of ‘sharey bits’ and of course end up absolutely over ordering and rolling out of the restaurant at the end of the night.
Do come here if you want some seriously tasty and interesting food. Don’t come here if you want to drink shots out of a bucket for your Hen-Do. (We’re going pitch that back as their new slogan)
Our food highlights were:
Wild Mushroom Kachori - sort of like an Indian Arancini ‘Fruit De Mer’ Popcorn
Bhindi Bhel - crispy Okra (with a lovely kick)
Paneer Salan
Kathal - Stir fried Jackfruit
Words & Photos: Liz & Dave
About Hankies
Tapas meets traditional Delhi street food at Hankies, a stylish West End eatery inspired by the classic hand spun roti, cooked on a searing Roomali Tawa and delicately folded into the eponymous ‘hankies’. Hankies is an up scale take on authentic Indian street food, it evokes the heady scents and sultry evenings of the sub-continent in a distinguished setting.
Hankies is a casual Indian street food restaurant serving Indian Tapas and specialize in serving Roomali Roti. A classic Indian roti which is hand spun to its thin enough to read through, cooked on a burning hot Roomali Tawa and folded into ‘Hankies’.
Hankies Haymarket
4 Suffolk Pl, West End, London SW1Y 4HX