Malik’s

Lovely atmosphere, great food, great service. The papadums were very well spiced, not too hot, and flavorful. The chicken tandoori was tender and not dry. The aloo gobi potatoes were tasty properly textured. The cauliflower bhaji was quite unexpected in that it wasn’t deep fried and was also well spiced. Careful not to order too much!

Came here today for lunch. I agree with the other reviewers that the setting is fantastic and a really lovely place to eat. We were a table of 8 and I’m sure presented a challenge. The food, as was the service, was mixed, which accounts for the three stars. We had a range of dishes; meat and veg samosas: former good, latter not up to much, chana masala: ok, mushroom bhaji (which was mushrooms in a sauce and not a pakora): ok, chicken jalfrezi and rehana: both very spicy and good as was the aloo gobi, sag paneer: sweet and horrible, and paneer shashlik: burnt and tasteless. The naans were fresh and good, the puris oily and doughy. I didn’t try the rice but it looked as it should.
Moving on to pudding, unless you want something that doesn’t taste at all like Eton Mess, don’t have the Eton Mess. The ‘kulfi’ was simply ice cream, creamy and lovely but not kulfi. The gulab jamun was a bit mean in portion size but quite tasty. Coffee was good and strong.
Service only really got going when we had a slightly older gentleman; the younger ones seemed to have trouble with English and got our order wrong in a couple of respects.
Overall it was an enjoyable experience and I’ll definitely come again. It’s not too dissimilar to Bina Tandoori in Caversham or Spice Merchant in Henley, but it makes a change to go elsewhere.

I had been to this restaurant during my visits to Maidenhead. It is actually a very short taxi ride to Cochem. Great ambiance, plenty of choices to pick from and at reasonable price. I probably had one of the best lamb dishes here. Couldn’t check in from here coz this place has none to 0 mobile signal, nor any wifi option.
Would defo go back!

First off, please ignore the location information above which implies that the restaurant is in Maidenhead. It is not it is in Cookham. Other than that, I can only echo what tobypotter says: Malik’s is an absolute gem. Everything is superbly cooked and the menu is much broader and more adventurous than most Indian restaurants. Luckily, the eponymous Malik has opened two more branches of the restaurant, in Marlow and Gerrards Cross respectively. I haven’t tried the one in GX, but the Marlow restaurant is fabulous! Smaller than ‘head office’ but the food is equally exquisite.

Best Indian food outside of London, and best ambience in an Indian restaurant anywhere in England. Service could be more charming, but the dining room is cozy and attractive in the evening, with fireplaces in every room and white tablecloths on the tables. Lamb bhuna is fantastic. Tandoori is quite good. I can’t wait to visit again.

Quite simply, fantastic food. Just voted best Indian restaurant in the South East (ahead of London restaurants), Malik’s provides a great setting in a converted old cottage in Cookham. The low, beamed ceilings, together with open fires provide a traditional english feel and great contrast to the perfect Indian food.
Book ahead and I highly recommend the Pomfret!