Holborn, London – If you happen to’re in (or round) London’s ‘Museum District’, we suggest including Colonel Saab, one in every of London’s latest Indian eating places to your itinerary. Serving progressive but conventional dishes in a spectacular setting, Colonel Saab stokes the British capital’s love affair with Indian delicacies.
Our go to to Colonel Saab was by invitation in December 2021. Nonetheless, this text expresses our trustworthy opinions based mostly on our expertise
Holborn, London
We wish to name Holborn, London’s ‘Museum District’. You will discover a number of of them inside strolling distance of one another together with the British Museum, the London Transport Museum, and the Postal Museum. On the south facet of Excessive Holborn Avenue, close to Chancery Lane tube station, you’ll find Staple Inn, one in every of London’s best-preserved examples of Tudor structure (sixteenth century), with its crooked black and white façade.
Located on this western a part of the Metropolis of London the place historical past is preserved in so some ways, is Colonel Saab, one in every of London’s latest Indian eating places. Mixing into the historic material of the encompassing space, the restaurant itself is housed within the previous public library of what was as soon as Holborn City Corridor (constructed in 1894).
London’s centuries-old fascination with Indian delicacies goes up a number of gears the second you step into Colonel Saab. Guests out for the day and locals searching for one thing new and thrilling will discover this restaurant addition to their itinerary.
Colonel Saab – the heritage
This contemporary eating idea, based by second-generation hotelier and entrepreneur Roop Partap Choudhary, debuted in Holborn, London in November 2021. Already attracting well-known company, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and training activist Malala Yousafzai and her household celebrated her commencement from Oxford College at Colonel Saab quickly after its opening.
Steeped in proud household historical past, the restaurant takes its identify from the proprietor’s father, Colonel Manbeer who was nicknamed ‘Colonel Saab’ throughout his illustrious profession within the Indian Military.
The restaurant is the most recent expression of a household heritage of hospitality (Roop is Government Director of the Jewel Group of Accommodations which incorporates the luxurious Noor Mahal Palace Resort in Karnal, India).
Earlier than we had even taken our first chew, we had been enthralled by Colonel Saab’s inside decor. Designed in collaboration with Binny Choudhary, the founder’s mom, the decor showcases Manbeer and Binny’s eclectic assortment of Indian artwork and crafts – a lot of it collected on their travels throughout India throughout Manbeer’s energetic years of service.
Strolling into Colonel Saab is to step into an beautiful dwelling the place hand-woven Persian carpets, seventeenth and 18th Tanjore work from South India, and luxurious temple doorways from Gujarat catch your eye. Massive household portraits surrounded by vibrant ceramic equipment and discreetly positioned however nostalgic little souvenirs sparked our curiosity.
Matching our personal private color palette, terracotta partitions create a heat and comforting ambiance helped by comfortable lighting from huge chandeliers which dominate the house.
That is the kind of inside decor that makes you wish to sit down over a cup of tea with the designer and say to them, “Inform me your story….”
The meals – conventional dishes with a contemporary twist
After being awed by the decor, it was time to style this explicit incarnation of India.
The meals idea is conventional Indian delicacies with a contemporary twist; Indian dwelling cooking crafted for a up to date viewers. Meals is served street-food model in superbly offered small plates which can be good for sharing. Based on their social media, the menu is solely Halal.
Colonel Saab’s menu consists of conventional staples of Indian delicacies – meat, seafood, greens, curries, and rice dishes. Nonetheless, their masterful mixture of substances produces distinctive flavours which can be designed to take you on a style journey from north to south India.
Highlights of our meal included starters of “Cauliflower 65”, Jaipur Child Aloo, pear and roasted candy potatoes, and a choice of barely candy chutneys that balanced the savoury flavours nicely.
For our essential dishes, we sampled Gutti Vankaya (an Andhra-style child aubergine curry), large chickpeas (Pindi Chole) specifically imported from India, and lamb curry with roti (we had a gluten-free model specifically created from gram flour).
Our dessert was figs soaked in Assam tea Cognac and star anise and a succulent Rasmalai milk cake topped with cardamom cream.
Our host, Atul Joshi, a seasoned veteran within the hospitality business, advisable a notable choice of candy and smoky signature cocktails for us that not solely appeared to match our personalities but additionally complimented the flavours of the meal.
It’s no surprise that Colonel Saab is already listed by Forbes (January 2022) as “among the best new Indian eating places in London“.
The decision?
Colonel Saab left a big impression on our tastebuds. We particularly favored the idea of inexpensive fantastic eating utilizing high-quality substances and leading to dishes crammed with wholesomeness and flavour. Mixed with wonderful hospitality and stylish and story-filled decor, Colonel Saab appeals to our want for accessible and memorable eating experiences.
The general feeling we had was one in every of visiting a maharaja, kicking again on a snug couch and, over a cocktail and luxury meals saying to them, “Inform me your story…!”
Colonel Saab, Holborn City Corridor, 193-197 Excessive Holborn, London, WC1V 7BD.
For reservations and details about particular occasions, name 020 8016 6800 or electronic mail reservations@colonelsaab.co.uk
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