Kingston upon Thames has plenty of dining options - chain restaurants along the Bentall Centre, gastropubs near the river, the usual mix of casual high-street places. What it does not have, surprisingly, is a serious Indian restaurant. For Kingston residents looking for proper Indian fine dining, the answer is a five-minute drive south to Surbiton - and specifically to Koyal.
How close Koyal is
Koyal sits at 59-63 Brighton Road in Surbiton, KT6 5LR. From Kingston town centre it is roughly 1.5 miles - five minutes by car, fifteen by bus, twenty by foot if you fancy the walk. The 281 and 71 buses both stop near the restaurant. Trains from Kingston to Surbiton take two minutes.
For diners coming from Kingston Hill, Norbiton, or the riverside, the drive is barely longer than getting to a town-centre restaurant - and the parking situation in Surbiton is significantly easier.
What makes the trip worth it
Three things. First, the kitchen: Chef Nand Kishor trained in Michelin-starred London restaurants and runs a 2 AA Rosette kitchen here. Second, the food: regional Indian cooking, not generic curry-house dishes. Third, the room: a calm, candlelit dining room that is set up for serious meals rather than rushed eating.
Standout dishes to try include the Lamb Shank Nihari, the Wild Tiger Prawns, and - if you have time - the full tasting menu.
When to go
Kingston diners tend to come to Koyal for two kinds of meal. Weekday lunches - particularly the £20 lunch set menu, which is the best fine-dining lunch value in the area. And weekend dinners - either a la carte or the tasting menu, often as a date night out.
Book ahead
Weekend evenings get busy. We recommend booking at least a week ahead. Reserve a table at Koyal or browse our full collection of menus before you visit.
Experience it in Surbiton
Reserve a table at Koyal - 2 AA Rosettes, Brighton Road, Surbiton
