Indian restaurant group Azure Hospitality take on former Gaylord site for London debut

Inspired by India’s diverse culinary heritage, the ground floor restaurant, Pali Hill, will offer an 'eclectic' menu of regional sharing plates; while Bandra Bhai will be an underground cocktail bar that's accessible through a hidden doorway in the basement of the restaurant, and will serve as a 'playful' tribute to the illicit hangouts of India’s smuggling era.

The opening will be overseen by restaurateurs Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri, who founded Azure Hospitality in New Delhi in 2009 and operate several restaurant brands across India.

Named after one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Mumbai, Pali Hill will take its cue from the melting pot of regional flavours found in India's largest city

Former Hibiscus and The River Café chef Avinash Shashidhara will lead the kitchen, serving a menu of seasonally-changing small plates such as girolle and potato stuffed paratha with ghee and lime preserve; and pan-fried lamb sweet breads with black pepper, cumin, crispy curry leaves and mint.

There will also be large sharing dishes including grilled venison lal maas marinated with ginger, herbs and sweet spices; and stuffed aubergine, green tomato chutney and hung curd with rice flour. 

Other dishes include a selection of regional classic curries, chaats, home-style dals, fried fish and slow cooked meats; as well as 'lesser-known' gluten-free flatbreads made using rice, jowar and ragi flour.

Led by CADA Design, the 60-cover restaurant will feature an open kitchen and have a 'contemporary feel'.

The interiors will take inspiration from the terrazzo floors of art deco apartments in Mumbai; the yellow pillars and furnishings of the coastal city of Pondicherry; and Le Corbusier's Chandigarh.

North Indian restaurant Gaylord was reported by Eater London​​ to have closed last September after 53 Years in the capital.