Choosing the perfect restaurant for a date night in London can often feel like a daunting challenge. With over twenty thousand dining establishments vying for attention across the capital, making a selection is rarely straightforward. When an invitation arrived to experience Colonel Saab, a venue famously frequented by Hollywood stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Jackie Chan, it presented an effortless decision for a Sunday evening outing.
A Romantic Ambiance for Valentine's Season
As Valentine's Day approaches, London's culinary scene shifts firmly into romantic gear, and Colonel Saab is embracing this sentiment wholeheartedly. With locations in both Holborn and Trafalgar Square, the restaurant has launched a specially crafted Valentine's set menu, conceived with affection at its core. This extends from the meticulously designed dishes to the handwritten love letters that adorn the walls, creating an atmosphere steeped in emotion.
Entering from the rain-drenched streets, the welcome is instantly warm and inviting, offering a stark contrast to the gloomy evening outside. The interior exudes a rich, romantic feel without veering into extravagance: it is opulent yet intimate, featuring softly illuminated rooms, nostalgic family photographs, and those evocative love letters that lend a quietly heartfelt vibe to the space.
An Exquisite Culinary Journey Begins
The meal commenced with a glass of rosé fizz and a delightful amuse-bouche: kadhi pakoda mousse, which consists of a crisp bhaji enveloped in a creamy, gently spiced yoghurt sauce. This initial offering was light, flavourful, and reassuringly indulgent, perfectly setting the stage and stimulating the appetite for the courses to follow.
Starters That Steal the Show
The starters truly emerged as the highlight of the evening. A kadak seekh kebab arrived succulent and imbued with a deep smokiness, its robust flavours elevated by a cool, lightly spiced mint sauce. Alongside it, the black pepper paneer tikka was thick-cut and expertly charred, served with sweet, smoky peppers and onions alongside a vibrant tomato salsa. Each dish confidently stood on its own merits, yet together they created a perfectly balanced mouthful—rich, salty, and acidic in all the right proportions.
Mains That Elevate Expectations
For the main courses, we shared the Malabar chicken curry and makhmali palak paneer, accompanied by layered parantha and rice. Both dishes were vibrant and complex, clearly a notch above the average takeaway offering. Each curry unveiled careful layers of flavour, beginning with a gentle charred smokiness from the clay oven before transitioning into creamy, subtly piquant sauces. The breads, meanwhile, were gloriously buttery and flaky, ideal for scooping up every last morsel.
Signature Drinks and a Standout Cocktail
We sampled a selection of beverages, from a saffron-infused creamy cocktail to a delicately perfumed lavender quaff. Both were enjoyable, but they were overshadowed by a syrupy-sweet lychee wine, which arrived in a perfect shade of pink and proved dangerously easy to drink. This cocktail is the kind that invites seconds, thirds, and more than a few gleeful giggles, becoming a memorable highlight of the evening.
A Sweet Finale to the Evening
Dessert was aptly named The Consummation of Love—a zesty rose and lemon tart paired with rich, red wine–poached figs. Served with smooth vanilla ice cream and a fragrant Thandai crumble, it struck a pleasing balance between indulgent and light, bringing the meal to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. The dinner ended on a high note with petit fours and a pot of spiced chai tea, which warmed both hearts and bellies.
Why Colonel Saab Shines for Date Night
Colonel Saab establishes itself as a polished and dependable choice, excelling in both atmosphere and flavour. The service is warm, upbeat, and genuinely attentive, while the food is consistently fresh and well-judged. The space itself brims with a romantic charm that feels authentic rather than contrived—a special mention goes to the playlist, which set the tone perfectly with sultry jazz covers of popular hits.
It is easy to understand why this restaurant has become a favourite among A-list celebrities. Priced at £140 per couple, the Valentine's Day set menu represents a safe and satisfying option for date night: it is glamorous without being intimidating, and indulgent without tipping into excess. Colonel Saab offers a dining experience that combines celebrity endorsement with culinary excellence, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a memorable romantic evening in London.
