Roti Chai owner to launch Chai Ki this month
The venue's bar and kitchen - The Toddy Shop - has been trading within the venue at the Crossrail Place development since the end of May, but its 80-cover restaurant is yet to open.
Chugh told BigHospitality he'd decided to create a totally different concept for his second site, rather than replicate that of Roti Chai which opened near Oxford Street in 2011.
"Chai Ki is an opportunity for us to create something new. That’s what drives and motivates us and why we wanted to open a second restaurant in London," he said.
"For the Street Kitchen at Roti Chai, the inspiration is street and cafe childhood favourites. At Chai Ki, our inspiration is a combination of nostalgia and innovation. That means us having fun working with bold flavours and ingredients from across the Sub-Continent to create two distinctly Modern Indian menus – one for our casual Toddy Shop bar and one for our more formal restaurant."
The Toddy Shop at Chai Ki opened on 25 May. The 70-cover space, inspired by the coastal drinking dens of Southern India, is open for all-day dining (7am to 11pm) and drinking, serving Indian soul food alongside spiced cocktails and craft beers.
Breakfast and weekend brunch dishes options include Kedgeree, Indian Chaas Buttermilk Pancakes and Idli Sambar (steamed rice cakes with spiced lentil stew) while the all day bar menu, available from midday is a combination of sharing plates, buns (available to eat in or for takeaway) and kari including Koliwada Calamari (curry leaf, pickling spices, jaggery and roasted cumin) and Dahi Puri (semolina shells, potato, sweet yoghurt and tamarind).
The Dining Room, when it opens will feature regional specialties served within a more formal setting.
"What is central to all our menus are dishes with confident flavours, which at the same time have a lighter touch than people often associate with traditional Indian cuisine," said Chugh.
