Former Pahli Hill head chef Avinash Shashidhara is opening his first pub next week – the Talli Queen, formerly known as the Queen Adelaide, on the Uxbridge Road in Shepherd’s Bush.
Taking inspiration from “Kerala’s toddy shops, Bangalore’s neighbourhood pubs and bars, the military canteens of southern India and the chai stalls and kebab joints of Lucknow”, the pub will offer snacks at the bar and fuller meals in a large dining room with an open kitchen and outdoor seating.
Avinash’s papadi chat starter was served at the banquet of the Great British Menu in 2023. He previously worked at the River Cafe and Claude Bosi’s Hibiscus, and has teamed up for this project with business partner James McLean of the Oarsman pub in Marlow.
Avinash says: “Talli means tipsy in Hindi and everyone calls [the pub] the Queen, so we knew we couldn’t change the name completely. We’ve picked a fun and quirky name that fits a pub serving Indian food.
“Toddy shops, military canteens and neighbourhood bars are where eating and drinking naturally go hand in hand, and where some of the country’s most memorable food is found. We’ve taken that spirit and brought it into a proper London pub.
“In terms of the economy right now, I feel people are turning to pubs to socialise. We’re going to focus on quality and seasonality, but we’re a pub so it will be less formal and less intimidating – I don’t want people to feel it’s too niche.””
The Talli Queen’s bar will offer a wide range of craft beers and cask ales, as well as cocktails using spirits from India including mahua, which is distilled from fermented flowers. Bar snacks will include small plates such as chilli beef, mussel skewers, spicy carrot toasties, crab buns and papadi chat, while the menu in the dining room will centre around a charcoal-fired grill and tandoor. Sunday lunch will feature large cuts of meat cooked on the grill, such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder, Indian-style porchetta and tandoori chicken.
