Many of us who have lived or live in New York, know how fortunate we are to have a high-quality Indian bistro like Tamarind. But apparently that pales in front of London’s Tamarind, which despite its age is still the gold standard amongst Indian restaurants. In article of four best Asian restaurants in London, The New York Times was gushing in praise of the Tamarind, the old school version.

The excitement generated by Tamarind’s opening eight years ago cannot be overstated. Here was an Indian restaurant on a chic Mayfair street charging upscale prices and serving Indian food in glamorous style. It quickly became not only the talk of the town but, with Zaika, below, among the first Indian restaurants in Europe to receive a Michelin star.

Forget the food, for there is one more reason to go to England.

The men’s room is among the best-looking I’ve seen, with copper sinks and mosaic-tiled walls

However the Times is quite enamored with Zaika, (taste for those of you in need of translation), the new new thing among upscale Indian restaurants.

If Tamarind was the first big step in elevating Indian cuisine in London, Zaika very nearly trumps it; it is the experimental version of an upscale Indian restaurant, one of the few successful attempts I’ve experienced. The location, a former bank in Kensington, is wonderfully eccentric, and the décor is so understated that, in true contemporary fashion, it barely provides a clue to the kind of food you are about to eat.

Oh as a warning, dinner for two is going to set you back by about $175 at both places. Perhaps there is a price on Mom’s cooking!