Colony

STELLA MAGAZINE (Zoe Williams)

"As you push open Colony's heavy doors, you join a gently throng of expensive people, bubbling mellifluously away, under lighting so flattering it's practically a special effect. I'm not kidding, I think this is what heaven will look like....this subtle beige luxury warranted a fanfare."

"Through an open doorway is the restaurant, which is fractionally more functional, but only insofar as a diner would be required to sit upright...."

"My mains were both brilliant....tiger prawns in piri-piri sauce....moderately spicy, extremely juicy."

"....my mallard....the meat was delicious, springy and fatty in the best possible way, and the lentil stew beneath it was like a superior tarka dal."

TIME OUT

"....the bar is warmly welcoming and has a buzzy vibe....our favourite dish was a chunk of meltingly tender mutton, in a shroud of caramelised onions, cooked down with meaty juices spiked with mild Kashmiri chillies....also a transformed Keralan fish stew into an elegant centrepiece. Sliced onions simmered in coconut milk, ginger and crackling curry leaves providing a contrast to the delicacy of perfectly sautéed sea bass fillets."

ZAGAT

"A hop and step away from Marylebone High Street, the chichi yet chill Asian grill and cocktail bar Colony comes from two respected names - Atul Kochhar and Carlo Spetale. The menu focuses on small plates of Indian street food (there's a seven-dish lunch box available) while the Eastern influenced drink list was designed by a former mixologist from Sketch and Paris Buddha Bar."

CITY AM

"Atul Kochhar, who makes brilliant, innovative food that made him the first Indian chef to win a Michelin star....you might look forward to Kochhar's new baby, Colony Bar and Grill, which he co-owns with 'the best host in Town' Carlo Spetale."

"....a bar and restaurant inspired by the clubs of the British Raj. The slinky, elegant bar serves great cocktails and posh Asian street food: move to the dining room for top notch, Indian-inspired food....every bite, whatever it contains, is delightful."

"....the service is smiley, very assured, and very good - we received good wine advice and were waited on as if we were the only ones there. If Colony is anything to go by, the days of the Raj had much to recommend them."

EVENING STARDARD (Fay Maschler)

"Nothing's too much trouble; the Colony's waiting staff were assiduously attentive."

"Atul Kochhar is a gifted chef...."

SQUARE MEAL

"....some neighbourhoods have all the luck....
Marylebone has Colony"

THE INDEPENDENT (Tracy MacLeod)

"....Colony, the latest venture from star chef Atul Kochhar....the name evokes the vanished glamour of Raffles hotel and the whoosh of the punkawallah's fan....Colony's tapas-style menu would be inspired by Indian street food, specifically the marinades, aromatic flavours and grilling methods of the street traders of colonial Asia.

"Mains are designed to be shared....ours ranged from an aromatic rogan josh-style dish of slow-cooked shoulder of mutton - to a vivid and precisely cooked piece of monkfish, roasted in the tandoor, and served with crab vermicelli....side dishes included terrific smoky aubergine, cooked in a sauce flavoured with stone moss, and light and buttery naan."

"....the cocktail list conforms to the colonial theme, with such offerings as Empress of India, based on cardamom-infused gin and Champagne....with a £39 bottle of Alberino, our bill came to around £50 a head....the dishes we tried were very good....a masala of a meal - mixed up, spicy and full of zing."

GILLIAN CARTER,
EDITOR BBC GOOD FOOD GUILD

"Very warm welcome….nice and buzzy at the bar. We were given some lovely bar snacks as well as the meal - the lamb cutlets and squid from the bar menu were my favourite dishes of the evening. The mutton was also gorgeously tender."

"It's in an excellent location, I'm sure it will flourish."

HARPER'S BAZAAR

"….not only an impressive Anglo-Indian à la carte menu in the dining room, but smaller 'nashta' plates, inspired by traditional street traders, on offer at the bar, alongside an extensive cocktail and wine list….with delights like oysters prepared three ways….grilled paneer from northern India, filled with mango and mint chutney….seasonal vegetable 'tempura' style, with a chilli and lemongrass dip on offer - and that's just the bar appetizers"

TOPTABLE

"Tucked away from the bustle of Marylebone High Street, Colony combines a sophisticated but relaxed West End style with the vibrant flavours of the street-traders of Colonial Asia. Owned by Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar and restaurateur Carlo Spetale."

"During the day, diners can lunch Colonial style or from a traditional 'Thali' menu, whilst on Sundays, a Colonial style Sunday roast is on offer. A full a-la-carte menu is available in the restaurant for lunch and dinner. In the bar and lounge, guests can linger over cocktails and share a wide selection of Asian-inspired 'small plates'. The dining room itself is elegant but informal, with subtle lighting and a neutral colour scheme - ideal for low-key business lunches and cosy dinner dates."

VIEW LONDON

The Venue...."is all very stylish with a long bar slinking elegantly towards the rear, fancy contemporary art adoring the walls and spotlights ensuring everything is bathed in a warm, golden glow. The nicely separated, rectangular restaurant keeps things similarly simple, with a uniform beige and brown once again illuminated perfectly....with excellent seating, impeccable upholstery and some very shiny knives".

The Atmosphere...."a venue that's relaxed and informal yet with that undeniable sense of sophistication, helped in no small part by a staff who are friendly, helpful, efficient and welcoming....Colony has achieved that are feat of balancing proximity, space and privacy perfectly."

The Food...."Colony brings the tradition of Indian street food to the table - think of tapas with an Asian bent. With four to six of these dishes being just about right for two."

"A sumptuous slice of pan-fried sea bass cooked impeccably served with an incredibly creamy garlic mash; the monkfish is every bit as impressive with soft, fleshy fish glazed in the tandoor oven served with exquisite vermicelli and perfectly seasoned crabmeat; the lamb duo of meatloaf and grilled chops are good on their own but sublime together; the poussin is as authentic as it gets, thrown in the tandoor until the skin is smoky and the meat almost scandalously soft; the rich veal finishes things off adroitly with excellent cuts from the fillet and the cheek. Desserts are well worth saving room for, if you can."

"You'll end up feeling it's actually very good value once you're done."

QUINTESSENTIALLY

"....Colony offers something fresh, and vibrant in its attitudes and approach." The front room is a stylish looking bar, which instantly gives the impression that this will be as fun a place to drop into for a couple of cocktails as a sit-down meal....it allows the opportunity to have some unusually daring bar snacks, such as barbequed lamb chops in yoghurt, fennel and black pepper and oysters three ways."

"It should be noted, however, that the main meals here are nothing less than excellent. There is also a ridiculously good value 'Thali' menu at lunchtimes that even include a drink and offers an overview of the entire menu."

"....the wine list is copious yet sensibly priced, or of course you could stick with the excellent cocktails".

"....given the enthusiastic reception that this has received since its recent opening, there seems no doubt that Messrs Kochhar and Spetale are onto another winner."

DAILY CANDY

"....there's a little something for everyone....
so spread the word"

DINING

"Atul Kochhar has scoured the Indian sub-continent and beyond, for this menu at his latest venture. Colony Bar and Grill. Inspired by the street food served during India's British colonial rule, the Michelin-starred chef is throwing out the rule book and serving up a type of Indian tapas....the menu also shows off both African and Caribbean influences."

PORTMAN MAGAZINE

"....novel in concept, elegant and great fun - in other words, the best bar in town."

"In the cocktail lounge, small plate compliment the cocktails, with dishes like roast quail rubbed with coriander and chilli served with a tamarind chutney; and char-grilled Nile perch with lime leaf....a slightly more formal dining experience is on offer in the restaurant where dishes are designed to be shared....desserts focus on fresh fruits....lunch and afternoon tea are also served."

"Every chair is an armchair, the banquettes are deep and generous. It's elegant and stylish, but not stuffy."

BIG HOSPITALITY

"....Colony is a partnership between an established and skilled chef and an equally accomplished restaurateur....they offer diners a quicker, informal, and more importantly, cheaper way to enjoy food with pedigree."

"....a step south from Baker Street tube....Colony could have been used on the set of 'Jewel in the Crown'....the bar area comes replete with fresh palms, hardwoods, marble and leather and leads to a more formal restaurant area."

"....The menu may be driven by the cuisine of the sub-continent, but that's not to Say that Kochhar's approach is in anyway humdrum. The trademarks of his sophisticated cooking are all there: a holistic and creative approach to his homeland's food, tempered with some European refinements."

"....Colony has secured the considerable talents of mixologist Marco Perrotti....as head barman, Perrotti has developed a cocktail menu that blends Eastern flavours with Western classics."

"Colonial India may conjure up images of middle-aged majors with gravity-defying moustaches, but the clientele on the night of our visit were a young and trendy bunch, especially in the bar area, which was buzzy."

VOYAGER

"Colony takes the idea of sharing plates....based on dishes from the Raj which have been updated for the 21st century.....I urge you to try something that rarely features in Indian restaurants in this country yet is immensely popular in the sub-continent: mutton. 'I marinate it in spices for 48 hours and slow cook it for another 12, that's why the meat is so flavoursome' Atul Kochhar tells me."

"the dining room feels exclusive, with largely plain walls save for specially commissioned art."