Mela

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 13 reviews

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152-156 Shaftesbury Avenue,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2H 8HL

0872 148 4058
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.

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Mela
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Reviewer Suzanne_Nicol
09/01/2012
Good food, good service was worth then money spent.
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Reviewer ali_macdonald
09/08/2011
Booked a table for 4 at Mela for a friend's birthday. We were shown to a small table in the middle of the restaurant – we asked to move to a more private table in the back but we were told "no, you can't" even though it was not busy. After a frustrated wait had to ask someone for a drinks menu. We were not offered popadoms, in fact we didn't know they did any until we saw another table with some! We ordered: starter: chicken tikka (good, & hot), whitebait (bad, avoid, flavours did not work at all); main: jalrezi (perhaps above you average curry house standard, but nothing special), lamb rogan (very good, thick, flavoursome), kozi vertha (very good flavours but avoid if you don't like scrawny chicken legs in your curry); sides: stay away from spinach and corn masala! It doesn't work and it was weird. Daal was OK. Bombay potato very good. Naan was burned but nice. Lights were off in the toilets. Service was OK, but overall we were let down. Mela is overrated by far. And overpriced.
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Reviewer hksokhi
22/05/2011
went there with a friend today and will not go back again. Ordered a salad which loOKed a day old.Lettuce leaves were brown and limp.the excuse we got was that they had been marinated in lemon juice,yet there was no taste of lemon. The bhajiyas were very overdone-literally chocolate brown in colour. Spinach corn mushroom subzi was actually ok but found a strand of hair in it. They kindly got me a fresh dish later,but by then my roti and rest of food had gone cold.the korma looked like it had curdled milk in it,was bland....wasn't impressed with the quality of food but the service provided was good and our waiter was very polite and helpful.they made fresh bhajiyas to account for the almost charred ones which we hadn't asked for and after we paid the bill,they gave us complimentary dessert as we were 'co-operative' customers despite the low quality of food provided and we got a 20% voucher for the nest visit,not that we will be going again!sorry!
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Reviewer PeterColada
02/04/2011
Mela proves that poor, over-priced restaurants can (sadly) do a brisk trade given a prime central London location. Bless those one-time-only tourists!
The food we had here really did plumb new depths of blandness; a navratan korma (think unimaginative veg mix swimming in warm milk) was almost totally devoid of flavour, and if there was any paneer present, I certainly didn't find it. Elaichi gosht korma was almost as bad - note to chef: "mild" and "flavourless" are two very different concepts.
A side of palak and corn mushroom masala tasted horribly processed, the overriding flavour being salt, not spice. And if "baby spinach" was the chief ingredient, it was either of the tinned variety, or had been simmered into a slimy, algae-esque pulp. The fact Mela have the nerve to charge nearly seven quid for this slop (even for a side dish, the serving was seriously mean) is little short of insulting.
Although the first offender was removed from our bill after we sent it back, handing over the cash at the end of the evening was a painful experience - and one that won't be repeated. Avoid.
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Reviewer robinson11
01/04/2011
Excellent food one of the best in the west end of London. The portions were large and price very reasonable. The Lamb chop was amazing. Its easily one of the best in West end without having to break the bank to eat in.
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Reviewer Ruthwhelen
29/08/2009
Mela does decent indian food its got really nice atmosphere and the decor is great. I had the meat with spinach dish and tandoori chicken.

The portions were small but taste was nice. Maybe they should increase portion size because meal was slightly steep in price. Service was ok.
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Reviewer partydave
21/08/2009
Went to mela with my other half and enjoyed a meal for two. Curries were good but the deserts was simply gorgeous.

It was some hot indian dumplings with home made vanilla ice cream. Yummy. One downside its bit expensive but worth a visit.
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Reviewer Anonymous
03/04/2009
Went to Mela in Covent Garden last night and thought the food was exceptional. Portion size generous and reasonable for west end.

I mean where can you find a three course meal for 10 quid. I've been to India numerous times and the food there is fantastic even in the cheapest restaurant, mela reminded me of that.

There were fresh spices used in the cooking and you can taste the difference. The food was full of flavor and you can even smell the assorted spices used. The naan was just out of this world

Decor very nice and service excellent. BUzzing atmosphere.I would go back there again and recommend this restaurant or any of their chains to my friends. Well done guys !!!
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