How to plan a shared Indian meal

Indian food is often served as several dishes for the table rather than one plate per person. That makes it flexible for a family meal, a catch-up with friends or a table that wants to try more than one thing. The exact dishes and portions come from our live menu; this is a way to plan around them.

Build the table in layers

A straightforward plan is to choose a small number of starters, one or two mains per group, and rice or bread to share. Add a side or a second vegetable dish if the table wants more variety. The menu descriptions and the team can help you judge what is enough.

• Agree on the number of dishes before anyone starts ordering.
• Mix richer and lighter dishes so the table does not feel heavy.
• Include a rice or bread choice for the table.
• Leave room for one extra dish if the group is hungry.

Talk about spice before you order

Spice is not the same as heat. A dish can be aromatic without being hot, and a mild dish can still contain whole spices. Tell the team what you enjoy and what you want to avoid. They will tell you what the kitchen can confirm for the dish on the menu.

Check dietary needs early

If someone at the table has an allergy, intolerance or medical dietary requirement, raise it before the order is placed. Menu descriptions are not complete ingredient lists, and recipes can change. Read the allergen guidance and speak with the team so the right questions are asked before the kitchen starts.

Dine in or collect

A shared meal works for a table in the dining room or for pickup. If you are collecting, place one order for the group, check the quantities before checkout and choose a collection time that suits the table. Pickup is the only ordering service on this website; there is no delivery through the site.