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Head chef Rohit Ghai leaves the group in late January 2018. In light of his departure, Jamavar will welcome Surender Mohan, the restaurant group's Culinary Director to London.
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Summary
Leela Palace’s “stunning” newcomer in Mayfair’s most fashionable restaurant row has immediately established itself as “the best Indian restaurant in town, indeed it’s amongst the best restaurants of any cuisine”. Ex Gymkhana chef, Rohit Ghai’s “expert” and “exquisite” dishes are “genuinely top class” (while “still remaining properly authentic to the flavours you might find in New Delhi or Mumbai”) and the interior (modelled, apparently, on the Viceroy’s House of New Delhi) is a picture of “elegance and sophistication”. STOP PRESS: In December 2017 a sequel, Dabbawala is to open at 29 Maddox Street (formerly Hibiscus, RIP).
Summary
‘Jewel in the crown’ of the Leela Palaces Indian hotel chain, Jamavar London will open in November 2016, under executive chef Rohit Ghai (Gymkhana, Benares).
Owner's description
Jamavar was first conceived in the late nineties by Dinesh Nair, co-chairman and managing director of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
Responding to a close friend’s lament, that diners could not get a fine north Indian dining experience when living in the South, Nair decided to give his friends the real deal. He brought master chefs from New Delhi, the capital city, to oversee the North Indian cuisine, and from Chennai, located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, to look after the South Indian menu. Secret recipes of his mother Leela, after whom the luxury hospitality chain is named, were included in the menu.
Jamavar opened in 2001 at The Leela Palace Bengaluru to rave reviews. Garnering almost as many accolades for its lavish design as for its menu, it was named among the World’s Top 10 Power Dining Spots by Forbes USA. Over the next few years, it expanded to other internationally acclaimed Leela properties in New Delhi, Chennai, Goa and Mumbai.
Inspired by his travels and love for food, Nair went on to successfully bring iconic international restaurant concepts to The Leela, including the first Asian outposts of legendary New York restaurants Le Cirque and MEGU. Jamavar London, however, is his first foray overseas. He, along with his daughter Samyukta Nair, will play an integral role in driving the latest addition to the portfolio towards excellence in every aspect.
Jamavar London will showcase a wide array of flavours from across India. On the menu are dishes from the Royal Kitchens of the North along with succulent options from the shores of the South. The kitchen team is led by Executive Chef Rohit Ghai who is of revered culinary pedigree having lead several Indian Michelin starred kitchens, including most recently Gymkhana, Trishna and prior to that, Benares. The menu tasting plates are inspired by his travels to India, and the signature Jamavar dishes, are based on his deep dive into the culinary wealth of The Leela, with its Corporate Chefs de Cuisine.
Jamavar London is the culinary jewel of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. It is the sixth restaurant within its family and the first outside the majestic sub-continent.
Jamavar Restaurant Diner Reviews
"My partner and I both found that whilst we enjoyed our mains - especially a beautifully soft and delicately spiced stone bass - both our starters were underwhelming: his lobster was buried in a bland sauce, whilst the delicate flavour of my beautifully cooked scallops was utterly overwhelmed by a powerfully over-hot chutney. Dessert was a pleasant, if bland, milk pudding. As for service, whilst our waiter was friendly and efficient, he disappeared halfway through our dinner and after that, we were left for long periods with no service at all and were reduced to waving across the restaurant to attract the attention of staff more concerned with winding up for the day, or serving Sarah Ferguson and her party.....The ground floor dining room is modishly attractive, but loud when busy. All in all, disappointing and not worth the three figure price tag."
"The food here was very good and the early evening menu brilliant value"
"Great new addition with excellent early evening offer. Service very good indeed."
