Chef Aktar Islam makes his London debut with Oudh 1722, following his acclaimed Birmingham restaurant Opheem, which holds two Michelin stars. Located in a listed Victorian townhouse near Borough Market, this restaurant takes a solemn approach to Awadhi cooking.
Awadhi Tradition Meets Modern London
The Nawabi era began in 1722, inspiring the name. The cuisine is luxurious, defined by slow cooking, sealed pots, aromatic spice blends, and subtle notes. The menu opens with a lamb shorba, a traditional broth poured over finely chopped lamb tartare, followed by gol guppa filled with sprouting moong shoots and edible flowers, drizzled with jaljeera-spiced cumin water.
Street Snacks and Elegant Dishes
The naashta section offers refined street snacks like chaat with white peas, tempered yoghurt, and sev. Gilawat kebabs, Lucknowi classics, are a highlight. Meat dishes include gulnaar tandoori chicken in smoked tomato and cream, while the sabzi section features kaddu ki qorma (pumpkin and yoghurt) and gobi mussalam (whole cauliflower with cashew and poppy seed).
Two Stories Under One Roof
The restaurant blends ancient and modern: nihari (ox cheek in bone marrow sauce) cooked overnight, alongside a contemporary bar serving mango chutney margaritas and a brandy-based old fashioned. The layout is charmingly eccentric, with murals, tapestries, narrow staircases, and a bar in the attic, fitting seamlessly into the historic building.
Generous Portions and Precision
The food is labour-intensive and styled with precision, yet delicious and generously portioned. The dal Bukhara features urad lentils, butter, and cream in spectacular decadence. Lasooni jhinga (grilled king prawns) come with garlic and raw mango. The star is the mutanjan dam biryani: fragrant rice with slow-cooked oxtail and sweet carrot. Desserts include ras malai with pistachio and cardamom, and nimish, a milk soft-serve with saffron, mango, and rose petal.
Oudh 1722 combines ambition and sincerity with genuinely interesting cooking, destined to be one of the restaurant openings of 2026. It offers a blowout feast without the waiting list of Gymkhana. Located at 66 Union Street, London SE1, it's open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch (noon-2:30pm) and dinner (5:30-9:30pm), and Sunday lunch only (noon-5pm). À la carte from about £40 per head, plus drinks and service.
