Gymkhana (restaurant) explained

Gymkhana
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Mapframe-Zoom:13
Food-Type:North Indian
Street-Address:42 Albemarle Street
City:Mayfair, London
Zip:-->
Country:United Kingdom
Coordinates:51.5086°N -0.1416°W
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Gymkhana (/'ʤɪmˈkɑːnə/) is a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Mayfair, London. Opened in 2013, the restaurant earned its first star one year later, followed by a second star in 2024.[1] The name is taken from the Indian social and sports clubs of the same name.[2] Known for its classic, largely North Indian cuisine,[3] the restaurant was named National Restaurant of the Year 2014[4] and has since launched a retail brand, Gymkhana Fine Foods,[5] and opened internationally.[6]

History

Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi founded JKS Restaurants with their first restaurant, Trishna, in 2008.[7] Gymkhana, their second restaurant, opened five years later. The Times critic Giles Coren cited it the "best restaurant I have ever been to" in December 2013,[8] giving Gymkhana his first 10/10 rating.[9]

In 2014, Gymkhana won the title of National Restaurant of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards and gained its first Michelin-star that same year.

The restaurant was forced to close after a fire, from 6 June 2019[10] to 18 February 2020, with the space redesigned by Samuel Hosker.[11] [12]

In 2022, JKS Restaurants opened Gymkhana's first international site in the Middle East

Gymkhana Fine Foods, the restaurant's range of cooking sauces, marinades and chutneys, came to market exclusively with Whole Foods Market UK in October 2023.[13]

The London restaurant celebrated its 10th birthday in September 2023.

Gymkhana was awarded its second Michelin star in 2024, becoming the first two-Michelin-star Indian restaurant in London[14] and one of only four Indian restaurants in the world to hold two Michelin stars.[15]

Food

Gymkhana serves classic Indian cuisine of largely Northern Indian origin.[16] The menu was described by The Independent restaurant critic Lisa Markwell as being "exemplary of the fine line between comforting and imaginative".[17] Nicholas Lander, Financial Times, wrote of co-founder Karam Sethi: "Sethi has created a restaurant that delivers highly labour intensive and flavourful dishes with style and wit".[18]

Dishes include Tandoori Masala Lamb Chops, Kid Goat Methi Keema and Wild Muntjac Biryani.[19]

International

In 2022, Gymkhana opened its first international site in the Middle East. It opened its second in Riyadh in June 2023.[20]

Retail

Gymkhana Fine Foods launched into retail exclusively with Whole Foods Market UK in October 2023, and is now also listed at major retailers Ocado, Selfridges and Harrods.[21] The business is backed by US venture capitalist, CAVU Consumer Partners.[22] Four of the nine products in the range won stars at The Great Taste Awards 2024 from The Guild of Fine Food.[23]

42 Cocktail Lounge

In November 2023, Gymkhana opened its first cocktail lounge above the restaurant. The "maximalist"[24] interiors have been shortlisted in the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.[25]

The cocktail lounge has been featured in British Vogue,.[26] Bloomberg,[27] the FT How To Spend It[28] and Conde Nast Traveller.[29] The drinks use Indian ingredients such as Banasura peppercorns and Chaprah chutney, made of weaver ants.

Awards

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Two-Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK & Ireland . 2024-08-13 . The Caterer . En . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://www.thecaterer.com/indepth/two-michelin-starred-restaurants-in-the-uk-ireland . live .
  2. Web site: restaurantonline.co.uk . 2013-05-29 . Trishna founder doubles up in London . 2024-08-13 . restaurantonline.co.uk . en-GB . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205730/https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2013/05/30/Gymkhana-Indian-restaurant-Mayfair-London . live .
  3. Web site: Gymkhana – London - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant . 2024-08-13 . MICHELIN Guide . en-GB . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/greater-london/london/restaurant/gymkhana . live .
  4. Web site: restaurantonline.co.uk . 2014-06-29 . National Restaurant Awards: Gymkhana takes 2014 title . 2024-08-13 . restaurantonline.co.uk . en-GB . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205731/https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2014/06/30/National-Restaurant-Awards-Gymkhana-takes-2014-title . live .
  5. Web site: 2023-04-25 . Gymkhana is now making 'restaurant-quality' home cooking sauces . 2024-08-13 . Hot Dinners . en-gb . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205735/https://www.hot-dinners.com/2023042512295/Gastroblog/Latest-news/gymkhana-fine-foods-sauces-chutney-delivery . live .
  6. 2024-01-15 . Restaurant Reviews: Gymkhana in Riyadh. Time Out Riyadh . 2024-08-13 . en-gb. 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205734/https://www.timeoutriyadh.com/restaurants/gymkhana . live .
  7. Web site: Indian restaurant Trishna to come to London's Marylebone . 5 August 2008. Kerstin. Kühn. The Caterer . En . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://www.thecaterer.com/news/indian-restaurant-trishna-to-come-to-londons-marylebone . live .
  8. Web site: Coren . Giles . 2024-08-07 . Giles Coren reviews Gymkhana, London W1 . 2024-08-13 . www.thetimes.com . en . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://www.thetimes.com/article/giles-coren-reviews-gymkhana-london-w1-5sw26379695 . live .
  9. News: Turnbull . Tony . 2024-08-13 . I tried the £8 curry sauce in a jar — by a Michelin-starred chef . 2024-08-13 . The Times. subscription. en . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/food-drink/article/i-tried-the-8-curry-sauce-in-a-jar-by-a-michelin-starred-chef-l5bmsfx3r . live .
  10. Web site: Hansen . James . 2019-06-13 . Fire Forces Michelin-Starred Indian Restaurant in Mayfair to Close Indefinitely . 2024-08-13 . Eater . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813132427/https://london.eater.com/2019/6/6/18655413/gymkhana-restaurant-fire-mayfair-michelin-starred . live .
  11. News: Restaurant review: Gymkhana, London: 'the exceptionally hot Indo-Chinese halibut is only for the brave'. Financial Times . Nicholas. Lander. 19 March 2020. 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://www.ft.com/content/b45d3ae8-67e0-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75 . live .
  12. Web site: Tucker . Emma . 2020-03-17 . London's Gymkhana harks back to the days of India's high society clubs . 2024-08-13 . The Spaces . en-US . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://thespaces.com/londons-gymkhana-harks-back-to-the-days-of-indias-high-society-clubs/ . live .
  13. Web site: 2023-10-20 . Gymkhana Fine Foods launches exclusively with Whole Foods Market in the UK to re-imagine Indian cooking at home . 2024-08-13 . en-GB . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205744/https://retailtimes.co.uk/gymkhana-fine-foods-launches-exclusively-with-whole-foods-market-in-the-uk-to-re-imagine-indian-cooking-at-home/ . live .
  14. Web site: Barrie . Josh . 2024-02-05 . Gymkhana becomes London's first Indian to win two stars as Ledbury takes three . 2024-08-13 . Evening Standard . en . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/michelin-guide-2024-stars-ledbury-gymkhana-trivet-b1137267.html . live .
  15. Web site: MICHELIN Restaurants – The MICHELIN Guide . 2024-08-13 . MICHELIN Guide . en-GB . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/restaurants/2-stars-michelin/indian . live .
  16. Web site: Gymkhana National Restaurant Awards . 2024-08-13 . NRA - National Restaurant Awards . en.
  17. Web site: 2013-10-18 . Restaurant review: Once you've dined at Gymkhana, you'll never pop out . 2024-08-13 . The Independent . en.
  18. News: Lander . Nicholas . 2013-10-25 . Gymkhana, London . 2024-08-13 . Financial Times . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112723/https://www.ft.com/content/c732466a-3b80-11e3-87fa-00144feab7de . live .
  19. Web site: Famurewa . Jimi . 2020-03-12 . Jimi Famurewa on Gymkhana: Well-oiled machine induces primal pleasure . 2024-08-13 . Evening Standard . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205745/https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/jimi-famurewa-restaurant-review-gymkhana-mayfair-a4384856.html . live .
  20. News: Tapley . David . 2023-12-04 . FACT Review: Culinary and cultural fusion at Gymkhana Riyadh . 2024-08-13 . Fact Magazines . en . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112726/https://www.factsaudi.com/saudi-arabia/riyadh-saudi-arabia/food-riyadh-saudi-arabia/restaurant-reviews-food-riyadh-saudi-arabia/fact-review-culinary-and-cultural-fusion-at-gymkhana-riyadh . live .
  21. Web site: JKS JKS Restaurants . 2024-08-13 . JKS . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205746/https://jksrestaurants.com/ . live .
  22. Web site: Yu . Douglas . CAVU Backed Gymkhana Fine Foods Raises $3 Million To Bring High-End Indian Recipes To Grocery . 2024-08-13 . Forbes . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822210359/https://www.forbes.com/sites/douglasyu/2024/04/08/cavu-backed-gymkhana-fine-foods-raises-3-million-to-bring-high-end-indian-recipes-to-grocery/ . live .
  23. Web site: Gymkhana Fine Foods - Producer . 2024-08-13 . Guild of Fine Food . en-GB.
  24. Web site: Kamath . Akanksha . 2023-12-20 . Inside 42, a maximalist Indian cocktail lounge in Mayfair by the owner of Gymkhana, London . 2024-08-13 . Architectural Digest India . en-IN . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822210321/https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/inside-londons-exclusive-42-cocktail-lounge-that-resurrects-an-old-world-indian-charm-gymkhana-london/ . live .
  25. Web site: Smith . Ellie . 2024-08-08 . 24 London Restaurants Named Among World's Most Beautiful . 2024-08-13 . Country and Town House . en-GB . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822210256/https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/food-and-drink/restaurant-bar-design-awards-2024/ . live .
  26. Web site: Mukhtar . Radhika Seth, Amel . 2019-02-06 . 10 Of The Best Cocktail Bars In London . 2024-08-13 . British Vogue . en-GB . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/best-cocktail-bars-london . live .
  27. News: London's Hot Indian Restaurant Serves Up Cool Cocktails . 2024-08-13 . Bloomberg.com . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822210325/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-30/london-s-hot-indian-restaurant-serves-up-cool-cocktails . live .
  28. News: Willingham . Marion . Cross . Inès . Tyndall . Alexander . Simons . Baya . Wise . Louis . 2024-03-07 . 12 things to see, buy and eat in March . 2024-08-13 . Financial Times . 2024-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813112722/https://www.ft.com/content/2678b905-ba2d-414e-9580-16c4d7e8f21b . live .
  29. Web site: James . Sarah . 2021-08-05 . The best bars in London right now . 2024-08-13 . CN Traveller . en-GB . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822210337/https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-bars-london . live .
  30. Web site: SquareMeal Gold Awards Restaurant Reviews, Prices & Menus . 2024-08-13 . www.squaremeal.co.uk . 2024-05-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508104347/https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best/squaremeal-gold-awards_226 . live .

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