Berkshire

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="660" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham.png" alt="Review: Bombay Story Indian restaurant Wokingham Berkshire" class="wp-image-56044" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham-800x528.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham-400x264.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham-768x507.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/bombay-kitchen-wokingham-795x525.png 795w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://bombaystory.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bombay Story Indian Kitchen</a> is a super trendy, modern Indian restaurant with locations in Wokingham and Maidenhead that goes well beyond your standard takeaway variety. Serving home cooked and unique Indian nosh inspired by the lively Mumbai street food scene, it&#8217;s an all-day dining type situation. They&#8217;re open breakfast, lunch, and dinner,&nbsp;seven days a week, plus they offer bottomless brunch, takeaways, and one stonking lunchtime dining deal. The restaurant caters well to plant-based eaters too, offering an extensive and dedicated menu of vegan dishes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1073" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey.png" alt="Review: Bombay Story Indian restaurant Wokingham Berkshire" class="wp-image-67351" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey-746x800.png 746w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey-932x1000.png 932w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey-373x400.png 373w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/bombay-story-jey-768x824.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The brainchild of Wokingham locals Jey and Anita, the couple sought to create a pillar in the community for people to enjoy good, honest, home cooked Indian food with a pinpoint focus on service and family. They only very recently opened a second branch in Maidenhead this year (which may I add, is totally brilliant too). In both locations, every diner is welcomed with open arms. The love and passion that goes into every detail, from the food to the décor is so palpable, it&#8217;s infectious.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-.jpg" alt="Bombay Story Wokingham" class="wp-image-67042" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story--800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story--400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story--768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It&#8217;s cool. Inside find a pleasing colour palette of terracottas, teals, and golds. There&#8217;s open shelving stacked with spices in glass jars, wooden trellises adorned with greenery hanging from the ceiling, and statement wallpapers. The bar area is snug and trendy. Plus, there&#8217;s three separate eating spaces, including an upstairs. 



That&#8217;s not forgetting the inviting outside terrace situated on the gorgeous square of Peach Place. A people watching hotspot across the neighbouring bars and restaurants. On a sunny day, I can only imagine the bliss of sinking poppadom after poppadom with some rays on your face. It&#8217;s a sociable area that&#8217;s pretty, inviting, and very Instagrammable.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-4.jpg" alt="Review: Bombay Story Indian restaurant Wokingham Berkshire" class="wp-image-67053" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-4-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-4-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-4-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



On the Friday lunchtime we visited, the place was alive and kicking with a range of people who&#8217;d opted to make the most of Bombay Story&#8217;s fab lunch time offer. The deal includes two dishes for £23 or three for £28 &#8211; such a steal, it&#8217;s practically criminal. Friends, families, and children all happily tucked into their feasts, and the place had a real warm, chill vibe about it.



The waiters were incredibly welcoming and went out of their way throughout the meal to be warm, attentive, and friendly. One lady on a nearby table was celebrating her birthday and staff presented her with a personalized pud and glass of fizz. It&#8217;s these little touches that make people feel special and want to come back time and time again. Clearly, Bombay Story&#8217;s got that down to a tee.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-and-quaff">SCOFF AND QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6.jpg" alt="Review: Bombay Story Indian restaurant Wokingham Berkshire" class="wp-image-67046" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-6-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Oh, what to choose? Always the dilemma when it comes to an Indian restaurant of this calibre. It would be a crime not to nibble on some poppadoms, or papads as they are called here, with dips while we decided. They were very tasty, and nicely presented on a platter with an assortment of homemade sauces to dip into. With that, the taste buds were well and truly fired up.



At the waiters recommendation, for starters we opted for two of their street food dishes. First &#8211; the avocado dumplings chaat. Deeeeelicious. The presentation was appetising in itself, but the flavour really packed a punch. The crispy avocado balls are served with dainty beetroot pastries and flavoured with yogurt, tamarind and fresh coriander chutney. 



Our second dish was chicken papdi chaat &#8211; a traditional street snack found all over India. It contained small, tangy, chicken tikka pieces with fresh coriander, date and tamarind chutney, plus beetroot yoghurt and onions. My mouth was a riot of flavour. Slightly spicy, slightly sweet, totally yummy. Tapas-style grazing would be a totally sound option here if you just wanted work your way through the street food dishes to be honest. Gorgeous.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-12.jpg" alt="Review: Bombay Story Indian restaurant Wokingham Berkshire" class="wp-image-67050" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-12.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-12-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-12-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-12-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



I quietly loosened my belt a notch as I got ready for the main act. The beef nihari had my name all over it &#8211; a slow-cooked beef in a rich gravy. One word: yum. The curry came in a nice thick sauce and the aromatic spices packed just that little punch I needed. I must admit, I&#8217;m a little bit of a weakling when it comes to spice, but this was the perfect sprinkling for me. The flavour was divine and the beef so tender, it simply fell apart. With it I ordered pilau rice, peshwari naan, roti, and a potato dish to share with my fellow foodie critic. 



All the food was presented gorgeously in complementary copper dishes and tins. A nice little touch that again, takes it just that level higher than your regular local Indian restaurant.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-13.jpg" alt="Bombay Story Wokingham" class="wp-image-67051" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-13.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-13-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-13-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-13-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Accompanying me today on the tough task of grazing through a convoyeur of mouth-watering food was my dad. There was no hesitation when it came to him ordering the spiced monkfish in green mango. He loves his fish so when he said the curry was excellent, it isn&#8217;t a compliment he throws around readily. I tasted it for myself and it was stunning. So creamy, and the fish melted in your mouth. I can confirm, he&#8217;d order it again in a heartbeat.



The happiness only continued upon discovering the restaurant had Cobra on draught. The rest of the drinks menu had something for everyone from wines to soft drinks, and some excellent cocktails &#8211; all hand shaken and stirred.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-14.jpg" alt="Bombay Story Wokingham" class="wp-image-67052" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-14.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-14-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-14-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-14-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Full? Yes I was. But a belly full of carbs couldn&#8217;t stop this train. The pistachio tiramisu was a complete no brainer. We opted to share, and thankfully we did because the portion size was super generous. The dessert itself is homemade on site. And the proof was in the pudding. SO heavenly. It was creamy with just that little kick of Tia Maria you want. I&#8217;ll take seven.



Overall, what a fabulous meal! It was enjoyable from start to finish and totally different from anything you normally find on the high street. I would never ordinarily go for three courses at an Indian, mostly because I&#8217;d feel like the diameter of a mountain afterwards, but this felt like a total treat. The flavours? Sublime and way too hard to resist. A total gem of an Indian restaurant in Berkshire. My advice? Run, don&#8217;t walk, and get yourself terrace-side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-3.jpg" alt="Bombay Story Wokingham" class="wp-image-67045" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-3-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-3-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Bombay-story-3-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The restaurant is all on one level upon entry and the tables are well spaced which allow for both wheelchairs and pushchairs to maneuver easily. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-verdict">THE VERDICT</h2>



Good for: Families, friends, and just about anyone. The space is super sociable and it&#8217;s hard to imagine having a bad meal here. 



Not for: Traditionalists. Bombay Story isn&#8217;t your standard Indian so if Chicken Tikka is all you&#8217;re after, it might not be for you. They do, however, have Butter Chicken and curries similar if you&#8217;re willing to try something oh so slightly different.



The damage: Very reasonable for the generous portion sizes. Starters from £6.95, mains from £11.95, sides from £7.50, and puds from £6.50.



Words by Ellie Ball



<a href="https://bombaystory.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bombay Story Indian Kitchen</a>, 2 Peach Pl, Wokingham RG40 1LY. Phone: 0118 304 7788

Review: Bombay Story Indian Kitchen, Wokingham

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