COLONEL SAAB TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Following the success of Holborn’s multi-award-winning Indian restaurant, Colonel Saab, restaurateur Roop Partap Choudhary will launch the second, larger Colonel Saab in Trafalgar Square on 2 November.
The new, luxury destination will open around the second anniversary of the first, flagship dining concept and like the original, it will have a meticulously curated menu and art, with recipes and artefacts collected by the Choudhary family on their travels across the continent.
The second restaurant will also feature a sleek bar, lounge area, opulent dining room bathed in light by a canopy of ornate chandeliers from Firozabad with a mezzanine area, plus two private dining rooms. Executive Chef Sohan Bhandari will oversee both restaurants.
Roop Partap Choudhary created Colonel Saab as a “love letter” to his family and India. And in the past year it has been named one of the top Indian restaurants by Forbes, won Newcomer of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards, Best Newcomer at British Curry Awards, Best Restaurant in Feed the Lion awards and was awarded Harden’s Certificate of Achievement. It welcomes regulars from Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai - who says “it is the only place which serves the authentic flavours from home” to pop icons, TV stars and presidents.
The modern Indian restaurant at the grand, former Holborn Town Hall and the forthcoming restaurant on William IV Street are a homage to Choudhary's travels across India with his mother, Mrs Binny Choudhary and father, Colonel Manbeer, who was given the honorific name ‘Colonel Saab’ - shared by the restaurants - while serving in the Indian Army. The postings across India enabled them to experience the continent's rich diversity of food from traditional local lunches in the tents of Rajasthan to British-inspired Indian breakfasts in the Officer’s Mess and banquets hosted by Indian nobility and Maharajas.
Choudhary spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India by train, bus and car to curate contemporary twists on dishes passed down through the generations of people they met, with many regional specialities appearing for the first time on a London menu.
Roop Partap Choudhary says: “We opened Colonel Saab two years ago to celebrate India’s diverse cultures and introduce the capital to the authentic flavours and textures, which are lovingly prepared at homes, street markets and royal kitchens across India
“And we are humbled that our Holborn restaurant was welcomed so enthusiastically by the capital, that we are now able to open a second Colonel Saab, near Trafalgar Square.”
The exciting, all-day dining menu introduces diners to progressive takes on nostalgic dishes, from British and Indian fusion afternoon high tea, regional favourites rarely served in the UK, like the Sunday Lamb Curry, signature dishes, like the Falahari Curry Kofta, their popular Gutti Vankaya - Andhra curry, baby aubergines in tangy tamarind gravy - and the restaurant’s outstanding desserts, including signatures like the Rasmalai Milk Cake in cardamom cream and Boondi Caviar or the Bengali, Mishti Doi Cheesecake in jaggery syrup.
Dining at Colonel Saab is also a feast for the eyes, and both restaurants feature a treasure trove of eclectic Indian art and artefacts collected by his family on their travels, lovingly brought to the space under challenging conditions.
The Colonel Saab staff bring the decadent surroundings to life, happily regaling diners with the rich stories and histories of the sumptuous artwork.
Every element of Colonel Saab has been lovingly and imaginatively crafted to create a multi-sensory experience of India, including the drinks. A Masala Dabba - or spice box - of artisanal gins, whiskies and rums based on Indian botanicals has been created with the Diageo mixology team, along with innovative cocktails, designed to complement the food and named after Choudhary's family members.
When Colonel Saab and his wife returned home, they channeled their unique experiences into serving the community, starting with a modest hotel and continuing their journey with boutique and palace hotels, which are now managed by their proud son Roop. He began his work life in their hotel kitchens as a young man and continues the proud legacy of hospitality that spans more than three decades, with Colonel Saab.
Choudhary is on course to set a new benchmark in London, with the two restaurants continuing the family tradition of celebrating the vibrant and diverse culture of India’s food and history with humility, elegance and originality.
For further information, high-res images, review opportunities or interview requests, please contact charli@cultmediacollective.com / matt@cultmediacollective.com / 020 8355 7864
Notes to the Editor:
Website: www.colonelsaab.co.uk
Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: @colonelsaab
Address:
Colonel Saab Holborn: 193-197 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7BD
Colonel Saab Trafalgar Square: 40-42 William IV Street, London, WC2N 4DD
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