It's the £45,000 curry

Most people would consider it quite a generous gesture to pick up the bill after going for a curry with friends.

But what if that bill is more eyewatering than the food?

A wealthy American has just picked up a £45,000 tab for an eight-course feast for friends at one of Britain's finest Indian restaurants, the fourtimes Michelin-starred Tamarind.

The Mayfair restaurant's manager, Rajesh Suri, told the Standard: "This is definitely the largest single tab we have had here.

"One of our regular customers, a member of a wealthy Manhattan family, hosted a celebration meal to celebrate a show of his watercolours here in London. He flew 90 of his friends over from America by private jet to attend."

Of course the party-goers got far more than a normal night of Indian cuisine for the £45,000.

"Everything they dreamed of we provided for them," said Mr Suri.

"Guests arrived in cars from Karma Cabs, which uses vehicles decorated with exotic Indian silks, and there were fire jugglers outside to greet them.

"There were Bollywood dancers too, and the room itself was transformed into a Rajasthani tent, where we had a champagne reception and then an eight-course royal feast, along with a selection of top wines from our list."

This ultimate curry night cost £500 a head.

Mr Suri said: "The whole event was a new experience for us - it was a sensational night."

Tamarind has seen many lavish orders in the past - including one from the Sultan of Brunei, who called to order his favourite dishes and had them delivered by private jet.

The Americans' extravagant night out exceeds the famous £44,000 spent at Gordon Ramsay's Pétrus restaurant three years ago. Six bankers were out celebrating a deal and marked the occasion by raiding the finest vintages on the wine list.

Earlier this year seven wine-lovers spent £42,000 at the same restaurant. The tab was picked up by a wealthy regular customer.

Afterwards Ramsay said: "I hope he's back. Trust me, I'll cook for him personally."