The takeaway has taken over the community pub space on Marlborough Road to open The Great Indian (TGI), which showcases ‘the wealth of regional variations across the Indian subcontinent’, with nods to classic pub dishes.
The Great Indian started life in entrepreneur Aman Dhir’s home kitchen and quickly evolved into a successful takeaway in Hackney. For his new gastropub, Dhir has brought in chef Surjan Singh – known as chef Jolly – who has created a menu of small plates for sharing, as well as larger dishes.
Menu highlights include a lamb ghee roast on malabar bread Taco; cafreal tiger prawns cooked in the tandoor with cloves, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar; chargrilled chicken liver served on a naan; TGI butter chicken; slow-cooked short rib topped with curried mashed potato; and a lamb shank pie.
The menu also features ‘beer bites’ and small plates such as coastal prawn mini dosas; and jackfruit croquettes.
A separate section champions pao or pav, India’s answer to the slider, with fillings like Goan Portuguese confit pork belly with pickled cabbage; and tandoori fried chicken.
“With 28 years of hospitality expertise, I’ve drawn from my extensive travels across India, from North to South, East to West, and curated a menu inspired by the diversity of regional cuisines, fusing flavours with a gastropub feel while honouring my Indian roots,” says Singh.
True to the building’s pub roots, TGI has a wide range of beers on tap including Guinness, Cobra and Beavertown. A cocktail menu features the signature The Great Indian - kafir lime infused vodka, Sollasa, lime and curry leaves; and the Imli Margarita infused with tamarind and chilli.
The 100-cover interior is split into casual seating and a more intimate dining area, which is also available for private events. Design elements blend classic pub tiles and a statement green tiled bar with maximalist wallpaper and rattan lightshades and furniture to create a relaxed dining space.
An alfresco seating area will open in the summer months and in the coming weeks TGI will introduce weekend specials as well as tasting and bespoke event menus.