‘This is what Indian fine dining is all about’, raves one besotted fan of Vineet Bhatia’s exclusive restaurant; another puts it on her ‘last-meal wish list’. Glowing endorsements indeed for a
lovely little Chelsea townhouse where you have to ring the doorbell to gain entry. Once seated in one of the richly coloured, heavily draped dining rooms, the experience begins: transparent cloches
infused with ‘home smoke’ accompany an ‘incredible’ tandoori salmon starter, sea bass comes with raw mango & wasabi ice cream, while meat fans might relish lamb biryani under a flaky crust or
‘sublime’ lemongrass-crusted foie gras ‘coins’ with green apple chutney from the heavyweight tasting menu (£85). If prices seem unkind, you can always take the cheap option by dropping in for lunch
(£27 for three courses). Service matches the food for style & attention to detail.
WINE LIST: Rasoi has the unenviable task of persuading its guests that wine can be paired with Indian food. Sensibly, it does not complicate the matter with a long list. The concise,
international selection has much to offer below £40. BEST BUY WHITE 2008 Domaine Ostertag, ‘Vignoble d’E’ Gewürztraminer, Alsace, France, £55. BEST BUY RED 2002 Couly-Dutheil, ‘Clos
de l’Echo’, Chinon, Loire Valley, France, £50.
Born in Mumbai, Vineet Bhatia joined the Oberoi Hotel group in 1988, then moved to London in 1993. He worked at the Star of India in South Kensington, before helping Claudio Pulze to launch Zaika. In 2001 he became one of the first Indian chefs to gain a Michelin star, but left in 2004 to set up his own restaurant, Rasoi Vineet Bhatia, which also acquired a Michelin star two years later. To counter-balance his sophisticated take on Indian dining, Bhatia launched Urban Turban in Westbourne Grove, where the food is inspired by the no-frills street eateries of his native city. Travel to Rasoi Vineet Bhatia in style with London's leading minicab firm Addison Lee.
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