Christoff.ai

Pali Hill

restaurants•
London
London

Pali Hill

79-81 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7SJ

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Christoff

Christoff's Take

Insider review

Tucked into Fitzrovia's Mortimer Street, Pali Hill delivers something genuinely different in London's saturated Indian dining scene. This isn't your typical curry house – it's a love letter to Bombay's building society culture, complete with sharing plates, counter dining, and a downstairs speakeasy that feels like stepping into a 1970s smuggler's den.

Pali Hill: Bombay Building Society Culture Lands in Fitzrovia

Where authentic regional Indian meets Michelin recognition and retro cocktail den vibes

My Honest Review

Atmosphere & Ambiance

The moment you step into Pali Hill's bright yellow-accented dining room, you're transported into the communal spirit of Bombay's social housing communities. The 70-seat space buzzes with energy (scoring 7.5/10 on the liveliness scale), creating an authentically colorful and family-friendly environment that manages to feel both relaxed and sophisticated. The counter seating overlooking the open kitchen provides live cooking theater – a brilliant touch that adds to the communal dining experience. What sets this place apart is the downstairs cocktail bar, Bandra Bhai, which completely shifts the mood with its retro velvet upholstery and smuggler's den aesthetic. The overall vibe strikes an impressive balance between casual accessibility and refined execution, earning its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition while maintaining the warmth of authentic home-style Indian hospitality.

Food & Drink

Pali Hill's kitchen showcases genuine regional Indian flavors through a carefully curated menu of sharing plates and larger dishes. The small plates like Papdi Chaat and Pondicherry fried squid demonstrate the restaurant's commitment to authentic home-style recipes from across India's diverse states. Larger plates including John Dory curry, Chettinad veal shin, and lamb biryani show serious culinary ambition beyond typical Indian restaurant offerings. The vegetarian-friendly approach shines through their thali lunches, which offer excellent value at £14. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition speaks to the kitchen's ability to deliver exceptional regional flavors, though it's worth noting that some diners have flagged dishes as pricey. The sharing-focused concept works brilliantly for the communal atmosphere they've created, allowing diners to experience the breadth of India's culinary landscape in one sitting.

Service & Experience

The family-friendly service approach creates the relaxed communal atmosphere that Pali Hill aims for, drawing inspiration from Bombay's social housing communities. Staff clearly understand the sharing-plate concept and regional specialties, which is crucial for guiding diners through the diverse menu offerings. However, there's a notable caveat – service can feel strained during peak times, which might impact the otherwise charming experience. The team manages both the upstairs restaurant and downstairs Bandra Bhai, which operates different hours (Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-12am), suggesting they've got their logistics sorted for the dual-concept operation.

Value for Money

With a price level of 2/4, Pali Hill positions itself in the mid-range category, though the 'date-night-pricing' and 'central-london-premium' tags suggest you'll pay accordingly for the Fitzrovia location and quality. The set menu options offer solid value at £25 for two courses and £32 for three courses, while the £14 thali lunches represent exceptional value for Michelin-recognized cooking. The extensive cocktail, wine, beer, and spirits program adds to the overall cost but enhances the experience significantly. Some diners note that individual dishes can feel pricey, but the sharing-plate concept and set menu options help manage costs while experiencing the restaurant's full range.

Insider Tips

Best Time to Visit

Book for 5:30pm when dinner service begins – this gives you the best shot at counter seats for kitchen views, plus you can transition downstairs to Bandra Bhai afterward. Avoid peak weekend dinner times when service can feel strained. The restaurant operates Tuesday-Saturday with lunch service 12pm-2:30pm and dinner 5:30pm-10pm, closed Sunday-Monday.

What to Focus On

Start with the Papdi Chaat and Pondicherry fried squid for authentic regional flavors, then move to the Chettinad veal shin or lamb biryani for mains. The £14 thali lunch offers exceptional value for experiencing multiple regional specialties. Consider the set menu options (£25-32) for a curated experience of the kitchen's strengths.

Christoff's Insider Tips

Specifically request counter seating when booking – the open kitchen views add significantly to the experience and showcase the cooking theaterAfter dinner, head downstairs to Bandra Bhai for retro cocktails in the velvet-upholstered speakeasy atmosphereThe restaurant's OpenTable rating sits at 4.5/5, with particular praise for regional flavors and charming interior design

The Final Verdict

Pali Hill succeeds in bringing something genuinely unique to London's Indian dining scene. The Bombay building society concept isn't just marketing fluff – it translates into a warm, communal experience that feels authentic while earning Michelin recognition. The combination of regional specialties, sharing-plate format, and the downstairs cocktail den creates a complete evening experience. Yes, individual dishes can feel pricey, and service struggles during peak times, but the overall package delivers on its promise of authentic regional Indian dining with a sophisticated twist.

Christoff's Rating:
7.8/10

Perfect For:

couples seeking a date-worthy Indian restaurant with charactergroups wanting to explore regional Indian cuisine through sharing platesfood enthusiasts interested in Michelin-recognized authentic regional Indian cooking

Quick Details

1

Pali Hill

🇮🇳 Regional indian
⭐️ Sharing plates
⭐ Michelin bib
⭐️ Counter dining
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family friendly

This Fitzrovia favorite brings regional Indian home cooking to London through a sharing-focused lens that encourages exploration. The bright yellow-accented space buzzes with energy as diners discover lesser-known dishes like Pondicherry fried squid alongside familiar favorites. The counter seating overlooking the open kitchen provides front-row seats to the cooking action, while the downstairs cocktail bar Bandra Bhai offers a 1970s retro escape. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition confirms what locals already knew,this is authentic regional Indian food executed with precision and served with genuine warmth.

What's Great

✓ Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for authentic regional flavors

✓ Counter seating overlooks open kitchen for live cooking theater

Keep in Mind

× Service can feel strained during peak times

Christoff

Christoff's Tip:

Book counter seats for kitchen views at 5:30pm, then downstairs to Bandra Bhai for retro cocktails after!

Vibe check scores

Trendiness
Sophistication
Noise Level
Uniqueness

Venue details

🕐"Tue-Sat: 12pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm\nSun-Mon: Closed\nBandra Bhai: Tue-Sat: 5pm-12am"
📍79-81 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7SJ
💷£££
📞+44 20 3981 3900
🌐Website

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Pali Hill has been featured in 2 of my curated guides. Here's where you can find more context and discover similar spots.

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