Trishna chef Karam Sethi is opening a second restaurant Gymkhana in Mayfair this summer and it sounds as if as much energy is being spent on the basement bar as the restaurant itself.
The lower ground floor is intended to be a modern day interpretation of a 17th Century East India punch house. On offer will be a range of spirits, tonics and mixers from the sub-continent including Old Monk rum, Amrut whiskey and arrack produced from coconut sap.
Sounding particularly interesting are the signature punches, derived from old recipes, which will be served in wax-sealed glass bottles. These will include the Regent’s Punch which contains arrack, cognac and Assam tea and is then served with a nutmeg, a grater and Champagne.
There'll also be an absinthe fountain which will be used to make the Absinthe Lassi with cucumber and dill - and a beer menu featuring Gymkhana’s own house pale ale on tap.
With all those enticing sounding drinks it's a good thing that there's a special bar menu planned including Masala cassava chips (£3.00), Grouse keema naan, Indian cucumber raita (£4.50), Amritsari shrimp, mooli chutney (£5.00) and Curry leaf chicken chops (£6.00). And if you're there with a larger group and fancy a bit more of a feast in one of their "secluded, sunken vaults" there will be group menus which will include game bird, Lucknawi raan and tandoori guinea fowl feasts. These will all come with nashtas, side dishes and desserts to share (starting price £60 per person).
Gymkhana opens at 42 Albemarle Street London W1S 4J in September. Find out more about the restaurant herehere.
