History

Masala World started in 1990 with the missionary objective of creating Indian restaurants in the UK serving the exciting taste of the many regions of India, combined with style, flair, and presentation.

The best Indian food is not found in conventional restaurants in India, but in peoples' homes, Maharajas' palaces, and humble wayside stalls. Camellia and Namita Panjabi have had a lifelong passion for real Indian food, and have travelled throughout the length and breadth of India to find it.

Chutney Mary

Chutney Mary, located in Chelsea, London which was the first restaurant of the Group was created in 1990. It won the Award of the Best Indian Restaurant in the UK shortly afterwards. Chutney Mary has won numerous other awards and accolades for serving gourmet Indian cuisine of the highest quality.

Veeraswamy

Veeraswamy, UK's oldest Indian restaurant, was acquired in 1997 and transformed twice since its purchase to much acclaim. As a result Veeraswamy has regained the iconic position it held for many years.

Masala Zone

Having succeeded in the objectives in relation to the fine dining restaurants, the next objective was to create a group of casual dining Indian restaurants serving real Indian food at mid-market prices.

Until then this section of the market was populated by the inexpensive neighborhood curry house restaurants. These curry houses started by non-Indian entrepreneurs developed their own brand of curry which was not authentic.

Out of this, Masala Zone was created in 2001. The first restaurant in Soho rapidly became one of the most popular restaurants in the London. There are now seven restaurants Masala Zone restaurants display the passion to give real Indian cuisines, friendly service, good value and strong design. They are ground-breaking, casually stylish and fun Indian restaurants. They combine contemporary design with Indian popular art.

Amaya

Amaya, their latest top-end restaurant was launched in October 2004 out of a desire to focus uniquely sophisticated Indian grills, seasoned with subtle complex marinades using time honored Indian grilling methods.

It achieved the rare distinction of winning the two most prestigious restaurant awards in the UK in the same year - The Tio Pepe ITV 2005 Awards for the Best Restaurant of the Year as well as the Best New Restaurant of the Year. This achievement is more remarkable for the fact that this is the first time either award, let alone both, has been awarded to a restaurant serving non - European food.

Key culinary features

These restaurants have the following key features:


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Masala Zone