Ismat Tahseen
It has played host to Hollywood stars like Mila Kunis to political bigwigs, and is UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s fave place to dine at. And now, the Chutney Mary has another feather to add its name – it has has bagged the title of London’s Best Restaurant at the recent AA Hospitality Awards. The 33-year-old fine-dine Indian eatery that was opened in 1990 by sisters Camellia and Namita Panjabi and Namita’s husband Ranjit Mathrani, went on to become one of London’s scene-stealing diners, soon after it was established.
Photo courtesy: Instagram/@chutneymary.london
It was originally started in Chelsea, London. In 2015, then moved moved to a new address – St. James’ Street near London’s Ritz Hotel, where it currently serves Indian fare with a savoir faire!
‘Sustained commitment, teamwork and skills’
The elated team took to Instagram to post about their success as they said: “It is unparalleled that a restaurant of Chutney Mary’s vintage has received this award. It is recognition of our constant desire to remain at the top of the restaurant scene, embrace new trends and sustain quality.” Another post also paid tribute to the Chutney Mary team as it read: “Many thanks to the Chutney Mary team for the sustained commitment, teamwork and skills in securing the AA Best Restaurant of the Year Award. The top/ skilled Chutney Mary team between them have been with us for over 100 years!”
Indian cuisine with a delicious twist
The tastefully-done restaurant with artworks on the wall serves up a Indian fare with a delectable twist. When it had oened in Chelsea in 1990, it specialised in Anglo-Indian cuisine and in the present day it is pan-Indian cuisine, reinvented. Several of Chutney Mary’s dishes have become so well-known from the Jackfruit (kathal) Biryani to Kofta Curry of Dried fruits and Clotted cream (Mewa Mawa), baked venison samosas, Kerala roast duck, a range of slow-cooked curries and Surprise Wavy Sangam Kebab. It also sees a busy lunge space in the evening with people enjoying cocktails and dinner at the Pukka Bar.
On its website, the Michelin guide says of the long-standing restaurant, “It would be fair to say Chutney Mary was one of the pioneers of Indian cuisine in London”. It adds, “The appealing menu offers lots of choice and the well-judged, flavourful dishes have been subtly updated, whilst still respecting the foundations of Indian cooking.”
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