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Urban
Turban may soon be coming to a High Street near you courtesy of super
chef Vineet Bhatia who has just opened his first unit in Notting Hill.
Bhatia moved to Britain in 1993,
at the age of 26and worked first at Star of India, in South
Kensington, and was then appointed head chef at Zaika, where he
became one of the first Indian chefs to gain a Michelin star in Britain.
Since then he has worked for
British Airways, for whom he is a consultant and establishments
around the world..
Three years ago, he opened Rasoi
Vineet Bhatia, near Sloane Square, taking the Indian cuisine to new
heights and winning rave notices. Urban Turban is very much a move
away from this to a much more cost conscious market and Bhatia
undoubtedly hopes it will do for him what Masala Zone did for Chutney
Mary's owners.
The menu says that India's
"street eateries" are places where "friends and family
share and indulge in fun and exciting" food and "enjoy
their meals in various combinations".
It suggests that customers order
two dishes either from the Tak-A-Tak Grill or the Desi Tapas section,
plus a "Classic Main". An alternative is to "graze
with four selections from the Tak-A-Tak or the Desi Tapas along with
some bread/accompaniment".
And there's a line about how all
dishes will be served "as they are prepared, in no formal sequence".
Despite the lower target market a
lamb biryani will still cost you £12, and early reviews suggest
that service and, surprisingly the food, could be better. A meal for
two with wine and service will be in the range of £75-85.
All new projects have their
teething problems so perhaps it should be a question of Urban Turban
revisited before any real conclusions are decided on.
Urban
Turban, 98 Westbourne Grove, London W2 (020 7243 4200).
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