I visited a newly opened Indian restaurant in Trafalgar Square that had the most eclectic and opulent décor steeped in history.

Colonel Saab recently opened its second restaurant in Trafalgar Square earlier last year, following its successful first restaurant in Holborn.

The Resident: Colonel Saab recently opened its second restaurant in Trafalgar Square earlier last year.Colonel Saab recently opened its second restaurant in Trafalgar Square earlier last year. (Image: Cult Media Collective)

Colonel Saab opened its first branch in 2021 in Holborn before opening its second branch in Trafalgar Square in late 2023. 

It’s located just a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, with travel links via Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations..

The Resident: The restaurant features an unusual and unique décor featuring Indian lamps, rich jewel colours and an eclectic mix of items.The restaurant features an unusual and unique décor featuring Indian lamps, rich jewel colours and an eclectic mix of items. (Image: Cult Media Collective)

The restaurant features an unusual and unique décor featuring Indian lamps, rich jewel colours and an eclectic mix of items collected by Colonel Saab’s wife during their time in India, including some very beautiful temple doors and a vast collection of clocks.

The Resident: The décor includes some very beautiful temple doors and a vast collection of clocks.The décor includes some very beautiful temple doors and a vast collection of clocks. (Image: Cult Media Collective)

We first began with some drinks; the restaurant has a wide selection of cocktails which are Indian takes on classics like Negroni and Old Fashioned.

We went for the Lychee Wine, a sweet and light blend of gin and lychee with red berries and citrus which gave it a slight sharpness.

Cocktail prices start at £14.95, so possibly more of a treat experience, but honestly after trying them I would say they are definitely worth it.

The Resident: The Lychee Wine cocktail was a sweet and light blend of gin and lychee with red berries and citrus.The Lychee Wine cocktail was a sweet and light blend of gin and lychee with red berries and citrus. (Image: Emily Davison)
For starters, we tried the Jaipuri Baby Aloo, a spiced crispy potato dish served with sour cream and the Noor Mahal Chicken Tikka served with a lime dip.

Everything had a great mix of different spices and flavourings, the lime dip with the chicken gave it a delicious tangy flavour, and the potatoes were honestly one of my favourite dishes I tried, I could have ordered more.

The Resident: Everything had a great mix of different spices and flavourings.Everything had a great mix of different spices and flavourings. (Image: Emily Davison)

Mains consisted of a selection of dishes including the Sunday Lamb Curry, a traditional homemade-style curry, and the Memsaab's Chicken Curry, a slow cooked chicken in light cream sauce flavoured with 10 different sweet spices.

The Resident: Mains consisted of a selection of dishes including the Sunday Lamb Curry.Mains consisted of a selection of dishes including the Sunday Lamb Curry. (Image: Emily Davison)

Both very much promised on rich flavour and quality, the meats being slow cooked were succulent and the combination of spices gave the dish a delicious aromatic flavour.

The Resident: The mains very much promised on rich flavour and quality, The mains very much promised on rich flavour and quality, (Image: Emily Davison)

If you have a sweet tooth, the restaurant also offers 7 different desserts with a wide palette of flavours and ingredients inspired by Indian flavours.

We tried two of the restaurant's most popular desserts that were recommended to us.

I opted for the Rasmalai Milk Cake served with cardamom cream, Boondi caviar, pistachio and topped with edible flowers, whilst my mother tried the Mishti Do Cheesecake, a Bengal dessert made with sweetened and flavoured yogurt and Bengal lime and jaggery syrup.

The Resident: The restaurant offers 7 different desserts with a wide palette of flavours.The restaurant offers 7 different desserts with a wide palette of flavours. (Image: Emily Davison)

After all that food this dessert really hit the spot, it was light and sweet with a little bit of warm spice from the cardamom, and although it won’t have been my first choice I really enjoyed trying it.

This restaurant, with its old-world charm and longstanding history, was like stepping into a little piece of the past despite being so new to the London scene.

The Resident: With its old-world charm and longstanding history, this restaurant was like stepping into a little piece of the past.With its old-world charm and longstanding history, this restaurant was like stepping into a little piece of the past. (Image: Emily Davison)

If you want to try an Indian restaurant that incorporates authentic food, delicious flavour and a lot of warmth this is somewhere to add to your visit list.

I can say with conviction I left there hungry for more and very eager to return again.