TH@51 Restaurant Review: A Global Fine Dining Experience Near Buckingham Palace
We were invited to a tasting of the à la carte menu at , the signature restaurant at just a stone’s throw from There are surprisingly few hotel restaurants in London that manage to feel both genuinely luxurious and genuinely relaxed. Too often, they lean too heavily in one direction: either all polished formality with little atmosphere, or trendy but forgettable. TH@51, tucked inside St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, near Buckingham Palace, manages to strike a far rarer balance.
Located moments from Westminster, St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace, TH@51 has quietly become one of the more interesting restaurants in central London for travellers and locals looking for refined global dining without the stiffness often associated with five-star hotels.
We were invited to experience the à la carte menu and quickly understood why the restaurant has built a loyal following. From Indian-inspired comfort dishes to Mediterranean seafood and British classics reimagined with spice and texture, TH@51 feels less like a conventional hotel restaurant and more like a carefully curated culinary passport.
The Setting at TH@51, St. James’ Court
Before the food even arrives, the setting does a considerable amount of work.
We chose to sit in the restaurant’s conservatory space, a glass-framed dining area overlooking the hotel’s hidden courtyard garden. It is difficult to overstate how peaceful it feels considering the location. Just outside sits one of the busiest parts of London, yet inside there is only the sound of low conversation, softly moving water from the courtyard fountain, and the occasional clink of wine glasses.
The interiors strike that polished middle ground modern luxury hotels often chase but rarely achieve: elegant without feeling intimidating. Warm lighting, plush seating, natural greenery and soft neutral tones make the entire restaurant feel calm and quietly sophisticated.
For anyone searching for restaurants near Buckingham Palace that feel removed from the crowds, TH@51 offers exactly that.
What Type of Food Does TH@51 Serve?
TH@51 describes its menu as global dining, but the strongest influence throughout is clearly Indian cuisine fused with British and Mediterranean elements.
Rather than forcing together cuisines for novelty, the kitchen focuses on balance. You see Indian spices used to elevate familiar European dishes, Mediterranean textures paired with South Asian flavours, and British comfort food subtly reworked with international ingredients.
The result is a menu that works particularly well for groups, because the dishes naturally encourage sharing.
Starters
The meal began with several seafood and sharing plates, each showcasing a different side of the kitchen’s personality.
Salt & Pepper Squid
The squid arrived crisp and golden, layered with chilli, peppers and onions alongside a smooth lemon hummus dip. What could have been a predictable starter instead felt surprisingly refined. The hummus added creaminess and citrus freshness that balanced the crunch perfectly.
Sumac Garlic Prawns
One of the standout dishes of the evening.
The prawns were delicately fried until light and crisp, topped with garlic flakes and paired with beetroot tzatziki that added earthiness and acidity. It is easy to see why this dish appears so frequently in TH@51 reviews online. The combination is distinctive without becoming overly complicated.
Mesclun Salad
A colourful combination of beetroot, feta, olives, caramelised walnuts and sun-dried tomatoes dressed in French vinaigrette. The textures carried the dish: crunchy walnuts against creamy feta and chewy tomato created a genuinely memorable salad rather than an obligatory healthy addition.
Chaat Sketches: TH@51’s Indian Street Food Influence
One of the more interesting sections of the menu is the “Chaat Sketches” offering - refined interpretations of Indian street food classics.
Our pick was the
Samosa Chaat
Served with Granny Smith apple, tamarind relish, mint chutney and pomegranate seeds, this dish perfectly captured what TH@51 does well.
The richness of the samosa was lifted by sweetness, acidity and herbs, creating something layered and vibrant rather than heavy. Every bite tasted slightly different.
The Wine
We paired the starters with a Chablis Louis Moreau 2020, whose minerality and citrus notes worked beautifully alongside the seafood dishes and the sharper flavours within the chaat.
The pairing felt thoughtful rather than incidental, particularly with the prawns and salmon dishes later in the evening.
Main Courses
Jumbo Prawn
Large grilled prawns arrived lightly charred with burnt garlic, lemon and pepper, served alongside chunky chips, broccoli and grilled tomato.
The smokiness from the open flame cooking gave the dish depth while still allowing the sweetness of the prawns to remain the focus.
Double Fish & Chips
Possibly the most clever example of TH@51’s fusion concept.
The dish combined classic haddock in traditional batter with tilapia fried in chickpea flour batter inspired by Indian pakora techniques. Served with tartare sauce and mint chutney, it felt simultaneously familiar and completely new.
Importantly, the batter remained crisp and light rather than oily — something many restaurants fail to achieve.
Masala Salmon with Edamame Risotto
This was arguably the strongest main course.
The salmon carried warm masala spices and arrived beautifully charred on the outside while remaining tender within. Beneath it sat a creamy edamame risotto scattered with tobiko, whose subtle bursts of salinity cut through the richness perfectly.
The naan served alongside deserves mention too: lightly buttered, soft in the centre, crisp at the edges and free from the greasiness that often overwhelms restaurant naan breads.
Desserts
Paneer Gulab Jamun
Warm syrup-soaked dumplings that were rich, soft and deeply comforting without becoming overly sweet.
Rasgulla
Served chilled in sweetened milk, the rasgulla provided a lighter, fresher contrast to the warmth and richness of the gulab jamun.
Final Verdict: Is TH@51 Worth Visiting?
In a city full of luxury hotel restaurants competing for attention, TH@51 succeeds because it avoids trying too hard.
The food is refined but approachable. The service is polished without becoming stiff. Most importantly, the restaurant has a clear identity. Rather than copying trendy Mayfair concepts or leaning entirely on hotel dining convenience, TH@51 offers something genuinely distinctive in central London.
For visitors searching for:
the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace,
luxury dining in Westminster,
Indian fusion restaurants in London,
or elegant hotel restaurants with outdoor courtyard seating,
TH@51 deserves considerably more attention than it currently receives.