THE LOWDOWN

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead indians near me

Milaanj at The Beehive is the latest high-end restaurant to moor up on Berkshire’s culinary shore, offering a funfair fusion of global and British gastropub classics, masterfully elevated with rich Indian flavours. Officially opening for business under its fresh new rebrand at the tail end of June, owner and chef Ruchi Mehrotra brought the pub (previously just The Beehive) located in fairytale White Waltham off Michelin-lauded chef Dominic Chapman. And her vision for the place has me positively fluttering with excitement.

In fact, the place has already attracted a star-studded line up of punters hoping to cop a taste of the gastro magic. Ross Kemp recently dropped by for a special birthday celebration. Oh la la.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Taking a detour from its traditional gastropub roots, the menu masterfully utilises only the best seasonal, locally-sourced and fresh produce, creating a tempting array of beautifully constructed, avant garde dishes. Sold yet? You should be. While The Beehive has previously earned a gamut of awards and accolades, sitting pretty in the Michelin Guide and Estrella Damm Top 50 list, watch this space. Its reputation as a proper foodie destination is something Ruchi and her team certainly have their sights set on maintaining, and more.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead ruchi chef

As for Ruchi herself, well, she’s certainly no stranger to the foodie metaverse. Having amassed a wealth of experience over the past 10 years, from working as a chef at a renowned luxury spa resort to starting an events and catering business, the purchase of The Beehive marked her lifelong dream to own her own bricks-and-mortar restaurant.

So what can you expect? There truly is something for everyone. An à la carte menu, roast dinners with an Indian twist, a simple kids offering, seven course tasting option, fabulous vegan menu, plus a stonking set lunch deal (two courses for £20 or three for £25). Throughout the year, don’t miss their excellent line-up of special foodie events too.

THE VIBE

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Press pause! Nestled away in the quaint rural idyll of White Waltham, when cruising past Milaanj at The Beehive, it would be difficult to resist the siren call of this chocolate box village pub. Bucolic, pretty, and deliciously British, the building overlooks a verdant cricket green with a front-facing garden to enjoy the views. Settle in on sunny days and grab a bench to while away the hours. It’s incredibly peaceful and not hard to see why it attracts a passing crowd of dog walkers and cyclists alike.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Inside, the interiors have enjoyed a delicious face lift, outfitted with pistachio and forest green hues, new carpets, wood panelling, and statement lighting. When designing the space, Ruchi tells me sustainability was placed front and centre – recycling old furniture and reusing materials where possible. I absolutely love the use of the linseed-based recycled statement wallpaper. The 3D texture creates such a unique feature, knitting the room together beautifully.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

The main dining area is flooded with light, truly coming to life in the summer when the retracting bifold doors are flung open to the surrounding countryside. Whether watching cyclists pootle past or the stream of vintage planes flying overhead, it’s true bliss. To the left of the main dining space, there’s a cosy bar area fit for casual drinkers and accompanying pooches too.

At the time of my visit, a stonkingly hot day in July, the crowd was a diverse mix of families, friends, young children, and casual punters. The atmosphere was chilled yet buzzy, and incredibly easy-going. From the moment I pulled up, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. The waiting staff were so welcoming and warm, and their professional approach and attention to detail continued throughout the meal. It’s casual, but has that kind of je ne sais quoi in equal measure.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Milaanj promised an expert demonstration of imagination, artistry, and flair in its culinary offering. No pressure. So how did it weigh up? Kicking off the proceedings – bread! A Masala Bun with Sundried Tomato Butter to be exact which was served warm and quite frankly, melted in your mouth. I loved the slick but simple presentation of the wooden slab. I was officially in the foodie groove.

As for drinks, the menu is a thirst-quenching list stacked with wines, beers, mocktails, spirits, softies, and teas. I, of course, couldn’t resist the lull of their beautiful hand-crafted cocktails, so I went for the fizzy and fabulous Drunken Strawberries made up of Strawberry Shrub, Vodka, and Prosecco. It was summer in a glass. Later on, I also tried the Indian Summer mocktail (Seedlip Spice, Pineapple, Lemon, and Ginger Beer) which was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Meanwhile, my partner in foodie crime got the Rani & Romeo mocktail – Mango, Raspberry, Lime, and Ginger Ale – which went down a treat.

Insta-ready? Yes they are. All Milaanj’s cocktails and mocktails are gorgeously presented, garnished with little treats and fruits. They start at £7.50 so don’t shatter the bank balance either. Stay hydrated and stay classy, people. We ordered a bottle of sparkling water and I loved the fact it was brought out with a little glass of ice and limes. It just felt that little more special and high-end.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Starters were next. And there were two items I was shamelessly salivating over. Not being able to decipher between them, me and my fellow critic grabbed one of each to share: the Lamb Kebab, Mint & Coriander Emulsion, Saffron Yoghurt, Sago Crackers and Garlic Aioli, and the Hand-Dived Orkney Scallops, Curry Butter, Celeriac and Horseradish Cream.

Both were presented beautifully – a riot of colour, texture, and pattern. I died and went to foodie heaven when I popped in the first morsel of kebab. The flavour was rich and oh-so tender. Everything on the plate married together perfectly. I was blown away.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead indians near me

After finishing my half of the kebab, I practically had to have the plate prised from my fingers. It would be a tough act to follow. But any preconceived notions of disappointment soon flew out the window. The scallop was cooked to perfection, and the spicy kick of the horseradish cream was soft enough not to entirely overpower the dish. It’s always a difficult act trying to balance the delicacy of scallops with a flavouring, but there was no faltering here. The chefs totally nailed it.

In addition, we sampled the Khandvi (Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese Rolls), Confit Beetroot, and Indian Summer Salad – a vegetarian dish which is fresh, light, and would make for a perfect starter or sharing plate with your mains.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

The taste buds were revved up and I was yearning for more. For mains, the Turmeric Scented Kale Wrapped Monkfish, Mango Chutney, Onion Bhajia Crisp, Moilee Sauce, and Appam made its way to the diner across from me. It’s an item from the Chef Specials section of the menu where the Indian fusion really sings. I was told the fish was utterly delicious. From the crispy kale to the light, flakiness of the monkfish, the textures together were beautiful. This was a winner.

We also had a side order of the Sweet & Sour Sesame Green Beans which packed a punch. However, it paired with both our dishes very well. Flavour is what Milaanj truly excels at, and this was a prime example.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Also from the Chef Specials, I got the 24 Hours Marinated Honey Spiced Lamb Rump, Olive Potato Mousseline, Carrot and Orange Puree, Roasting Jus, and Charred Peppers. My god was it good. The lamb was incredibly succulent and practically fell apart. Everything on the plate really pulled its weight. From the charred peppers to the olive potato mousseline, every aspect had clearly been thought out meticulously. I could live off this dish.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Shockingly, zero belt adjustments were made at this point. Because of the quality level of ingredients used here, I was in that perfect, liminal space of complete and utter satisfaction. There was no bloating and the thought of pudding felt anything but a chore. Everything is ultra fresh, and it shows.

For dessert, due to my inherent lack of decisiveness, it was another of those sharing type situations. First up, we got the Strawberry Tart, Fresh English Strawberries, Yuzu Gel, and Basil & Pistachio Ice-Cream. Obsesssssed. It creamy, fruity, and just delightful.

Milaanj at The Beehive White Waltham Indian Fusion restaurant berkshire near maidenhead

Our second selection was the Saffron Rasmalai Soufflé, Pistashio Sablé, and Mango Ice Cream. You’ll need to leave 15 minutes for the kitchen to whip this baby up. But it’s well-worth the wait. Again, very light, and the Indian fusion flavours were strongly at play here. I loved the mango ice cream and was so glad they’d opted for the creamy pairing as opposed to a tart sorbet. I honestly can’t fault it.

Overall, Milaanj at The Beehive truly defines what destination dining is all about. This is the kind of place you’d happily burn some rubber for a considerable distance just to cop a taste. I’m struggling to think of somewhere quite like it for miles around – it’s unique and just pretty darn exceptional. And as you can probably tell, I haven’t stopped rabbiting on about it since. If you enjoy seeking out high-end, hidden gems that offer something a little different from your usual fare, you won’t go wrong here.

OUT & ABOUT

Gorgeous country walks are in abundance on the doorstep – loved by cyclists and dog walkers alike. Venture out to Windsor just 8 miles down the road for a right royal day out. See the King’s pad, the famous wonky house, and England’s shortest street before working up an appetite on the Long Walk to The Copper Horse statue. White Waltham is on the fringe of Maidenhead, head to National Trust gem Cliveden House for stunning gardens, and Ascot Racecourse is in striking distance.

THE VERDICT

Good for: Foodies! Milaanj takes no prisoners when it comes to wowing its culinary crowd. The quality bar is seriously high, making it the perfect spot for special occasion dining.

Not for: Traditionalists. Chefs here like to play with flavour, put its stamp on the classics, and offer its diners something different. Those with simple and straightforward palates may be best swerving.

The damage: Very reasonable for this calibre of restaurant. Starters from £9.50, mains from £18, grab a side for £4, and puds start at £9.50.

Words by Ellie Ball

Milaanj at The Beehive, Waltham Road, White Waltham, Maidenhead, SL6 3SH. Telephone: 01628 822877.

Review: Milaanj at The Beehive, White Waltham

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