The Cinnamon Club

Cinnamon club was on my to-do list for a long time. Recently saw Chetna Makan’s review, the food looked so tempting that I had to come! It was a fantastic experience, the vibes, the ambience and most importantly, the food was gorgeous. The restaurant doesn’t have a name outside as it is located inside the old Westminster library so no modifications are allowed. It was a heatwave and I think their A/C was not working but apart from that everything else was fine. I ordered a three course menu from the Lunch menu. All three courses were divine. Service by Jubo was lovely. All courses were well seasoned and presented. I thoroughly enjoyed the lamb Pasanda kebabs which had delicate smoky flavour. The lentil and lotus stem koftas were outstanding with a smooth as you get sauce. Spinach on the side was delicious too. The dessert of trutti fruity was so cute and delicious, it looked like a bee with meringue wings. What a great idea. I’ve been watching Chef Vivek Singh on Saturday Kitchen for a long time he seems to be such a humble and talented person very happy his restaurant has completed 25 years. I can’t visit to go back again.

I spotted their anniversary Retro Menu on Instagram and decided to book a table for myself, my husband and my step‑daughter (8). Even though the Retro Menu only offered a handful of choices across starters, mains and desserts, each of us found something we genuinely enjoyed. The service was wonderful from start to finish, and the atmosphere was amazing — being surrounded by shelves of books gave the whole place a cosy, characterful feel. Between the three of us we ordered starters and mains, plus a bottle of water, two beers and a double mango vodka, and the bill still came to under £105. For the quality of the food and the location, I found that incredibly reasonable. Every dish had just the right level of spice, too. A lovely experience all round. I’d happily recommend this place.

A Beautiful Venue, but a Mixed Bag Overall I booked The Cinnamon Club three weeks in advance, replacing Gymkhana on our itinerary under the assumption they would be on the same level. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and the experience turned out to be quite average. The venue itself is beautiful, but we were disappointed that despite our early booking, we were sat right near the entrance instead of in the heart of the library. Additionally, the papadams arrived with no chutney for the table. Service was also a mixed bag; the lady who initially took our order was quite short with us, though the gentleman who took over for the rest of the meal was much better and took great care of us. The food and drinks had some highs and lows: Drinks: The mango lassi was a massive hit—perfectly stirred with a great mango pulp mix. On the other hand, the non-alcoholic "lively" drink was a miss, tasting mostly like plain soda. Pav Bhaji with Burrata: A very interesting and successful fusion take with a good amount of spice and beans, though we wished the buns were slightly larger. Kadhai Paneer: This was a letdown. We asked for it to be extra spicy, but it was heavily lacking in heat, and there was barely any gravy. The accompanying rice was great, though, especially with the onion topping. Sides: The bread was mediocre—a bit too doughy, not very airy, and lacking in flavor. The seasonal vegetables were also disappointing, as they were simply boiled and served with a bit of chili and garlic; they would have been much better sautéed with a nice glaze. Desserts: Easily the best part of the meal. Both the crème brûlée and the barfi were exceptional. Overall, it’s a stunning space, but the inconsistent service and food prep mean it doesn't quite live up to its reputation.

*The Cinnamon Club – Mixed Experience Near Westminster Abbey* Dined at The Cinnamon Club hoping for elevated Indian food, but it was hit-or-miss. The *chicken starter* was the low point — had a strange, chemical aftertaste that honestly reminded me of Dettol. Couldn’t finish it. The *bread basket* was okay, came with 3 chutneys but all felt mediocre and lacked freshness. The *paneer entrée* was below average too. Rubbery paneer and a flat gravy that needed more depth and seasoning. Bright spot was the *Pav Bhaji* — actually really good. Buttery, flavorful, and the pav was soft and toasted well. We finished with *Kulfi ice cream* which was decent, nothing special but a nice end to the meal. Ambiance and service were fine, but for the price and location near Westminster Abbey, we expected more consistency. A few dishes worked, others really didn’t. #TheCinnamonClub #LondonEats #IndianFoodLondon #Westminster #PavBhaji #Kulfi #FoodReview #HonestReview #LondonRestaurants #MixedReviews

If I said it once I've said it a hundred times this is a banging restaurant! We had the taster menu, 5 courses with palate cleansers in-between, each dish created by Chef Vivek Singh was paired with a wine/liquor by Giovanni Deluca - Head Sommelier. Each dish was infused with flavour and each wine accompaniment was a perfect match. The service is on point, from the reception welcome to the waiting staff. FYI, Giovanni Deluca, tells you all about the wines at your table so you don't have to be an expert in wine, just ask the man what would be good he clearly knows he's stuff. The resturant atmosphere and general presentation is clean and inviting. Toilets were clean, with scented handles towels, I mean this could have been the diffuser next to the hand towels but still. This is a class restaurant and it is definitely a special occasion type place because its not in expensive, but it is worth every penny. NB: pics not necessarily in the correct order of eating.