When Koyal opened, we set ourselves a deliberate goal: to be the first restaurant in Surbiton to hold AA Rosettes. We hit one Rosette in year one. We held two by year two. Now, in 2026, we hold them again. Here is what that recognition actually means - and why holding it twice in a row matters more than holding it once.
What the AA Rosette award is
The AA Rosette award is one of the longest-running independent recognitions of cooking quality in the UK. It is awarded across five tiers - one Rosette through to five - and is graded by anonymous inspectors who visit restaurants unannounced, sometimes multiple times across a year. The award covers food specifically - service, ambience, and value are not part of the grading.
One Rosette recognises careful, accurate cooking. Two Rosettes - the level Koyal holds - is awarded to restaurants where the kitchen shows a higher level of skill, more ambitious sourcing, and clear consistency across the menu. The AA describes two Rosettes as cooking that "goes the extra mile."
Why holding it twice matters
Earning a Rosette is hard. Holding it is harder. The award is reviewed every year, and inspectors return - any drop in standard means the award is withdrawn. To hold 2 Rosettes for both 2025 and 2026 means the kitchen has been judged twice, in different visits, against the same standard, and met it both times.
For an Indian restaurant - and particularly a neighbourhood Indian restaurant outside central London - this is uncommon. Most Rosette-holding Indian restaurants are in Mayfair, Soho, or Marylebone. Holding two in Surbiton speaks to the kitchen team, the suppliers, and the consistency of the cooking week to week.
What it changes for diners
Practically: not very much. The same kitchen produces the £20 lunch set menu, the a la carte, the tasting menu, and the private dining menus. The Rosettes are recognition of a standard that was already in place - they are not a reason for prices to climb.
What is next
The team has its sights set higher. To experience the kitchen for yourself, book a table at Koyal Surbiton - the best way to understand what two Rosettes actually looks like on a plate.
Experience it in Surbiton
Reserve a table at Koyal - 2 AA Rosettes, Brighton Road, Surbiton
