176-178 Petts Wood Rd, Petts Wood, BR5 1LG
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Deliciously-spiced food with friendly and attentive service” inspires very high and consistent praise for Atul Kochhar’s accomplished venue, which is one of the brighter sparks in this thinly provided area of SE London’s outer ’burbs. Breaking news: according to the restaurant’s website and Insta in October 2025, an upgrade is in progress – ‘We’re thrilled to announce that Indian Essence is about to embark on a bold new chapter, transforming your dining experience. We’re blending style, comfort, and innovation to create a space as unforgettable as the food we serve, so expect a fresh look, a reimagined interior, and a few surprises on the menu’.
Summary
“Proving you don‘t need to be central London for outstanding Indian food” – this extremely popular outpost in the SE London ’burbs is “part of Atul Kochhar’s growing empire, serving modern Indian menus of top quality”: “amazing food from an excellent tasting menu, alongside a regular à la carte offering”. None of the many reports we receive has a bad word to say about the place, also acknowledging the “really good staff” and “great choice of drinks”. Regular live music too.
Summary
TV chef Atul Kochhar’s smart subcontinental, in the SE London ‘burbs, is “still a joy” – the “delicious and succulent” cooking being “a far cry from the average Indian cuisine”. The two- or three-course weekend lunch attracted particular acclaim this year for its “excellent value” (“it was packed and I can see why!”).
Summary
“Crisp, fresh flavours and excellent presentation… Atul Kocchar's signature is everywhere” according to the numerous fans of this popular operation, whose high quality might be unexpected on a typical shopping street in the ’burbs. One gripe, though: “please bring back the peppered crab!”
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Indian Essence?
Owner's description
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £20.00 | £24.00 |  |
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| Lunch | £20.00 | £24.00 | |
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| Dinner | £30.00 | £34.00 | |
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| SundayLunch | £26.00 | £30.00 | |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 65.95 | Always available | 7 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £17.40 | £31.00 | £7.95 | £8.95 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £34.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.50 |
| Extras |
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| Bread | £4.75 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Restaurant details
Indian Essence Restaurant Diner Reviews
"What an amazing find. Unquestionably the second best Indian meal i have eaten after Opheem in Birmingham (2 michelin stars). We had the lunch menu not the a la Carte. Started with a lovely tandoori trio of prawn chicken and lamb (Tandoori Murg). Beautifully cooked and presented. Main was another prawn dish Chingri Malai curry, quite a subtle sauce but great flavours and presentation. Dessert was a less exciting chocolate fondant with orange curd Ice cream. Small functional clean toilets. Staff were nice service could have been slightly more attentive but I didnt care the food was superb!"
176-178 Petts Wood Rd, Petts Wood, BR5 1LG
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑3:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑9:30 pm |
