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Gymkhana (restaurant)

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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

[edit]

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[4] at the National Restaurant Awards and gained its first Michelin-star[1] 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[6]

Gymkhana Fine Foods, the restaurant's range of cooking sauces, marinades and chutneys,[9] 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

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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

[edit]

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

Retail

[edit]

Gymkhana Fine Foods launched into retail exclusively with Whole Foods Market UK in October 2023,[13] 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

[edit]

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.[26]

Awards

[edit]
  • 2014: National Restaurant Awards – National Restaurant of the Year[4]
  • 2014-2023: Michelin Guide – one star[3]
  • 2018 SquareMeal Gold Awards[30]
  • 2024: Michelin Guide – two stars[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Two-Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK & Ireland". The Caterer. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  2. ^ restaurantonline.co.uk (2013-05-29). "Trishna founder doubles up in London". restaurantonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Gymkhana – London - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant". MICHELIN Guide. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  4. ^ a b c restaurantonline.co.uk (2014-06-29). "National Restaurant Awards: Gymkhana takes 2014 title". restaurantonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  5. ^ "Gymkhana is now making 'restaurant-quality' home cooking sauces". Hot Dinners. 2023-04-25. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  6. ^ a b "Restaurant Reviews: Gymkhana in Riyadh". Time Out Riyadh. 2024-01-15. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  7. ^ Kühn, Kerstin (5 August 2008). "Indian restaurant Trishna to come to London's Marylebone". The Caterer. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13.
  8. ^ Coren, Giles (2024-08-07). "Giles Coren reviews Gymkhana, London W1". www.thetimes.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  9. ^ a b Turnbull, Tony (2024-08-13). "I tried the £8 curry sauce in a jar — by a Michelin-starred chef". The Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  10. ^ Hansen, James (2019-06-13). "Fire Forces Michelin-Starred Indian Restaurant in Mayfair to Close Indefinitely". Eater. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  11. ^ Lander, Nicholas (19 March 2020). "Restaurant review: Gymkhana, London: 'the exceptionally hot Indo-Chinese halibut is only for the brave'". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13.
  12. ^ Tucker, Emma (2020-03-17). "London's Gymkhana harks back to the days of India's high society clubs". The Spaces. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  13. ^ a b "Gymkhana Fine Foods launches exclusively with Whole Foods Market in the UK to re-imagine Indian cooking at home". 2023-10-20. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  14. ^ Barrie, Josh (2024-02-05). "Gymkhana becomes London's first Indian to win two stars as Ledbury takes three". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  15. ^ "MICHELIN Restaurants – The MICHELIN Guide". MICHELIN Guide. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  16. ^ "Gymkhana | National Restaurant Awards". NRA - National Restaurant Awards. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  17. ^ "Restaurant review: Once you've dined at Gymkhana, you'll never pop out". The Independent. 2013-10-18. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  18. ^ Lander, Nicholas (2013-10-25). "Gymkhana, London". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  19. ^ Famurewa, Jimi (2020-03-12). "Jimi Famurewa on Gymkhana: Well-oiled machine induces primal pleasure". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  20. ^ Tapley, David (2023-12-04). "FACT Review: Culinary and cultural fusion at Gymkhana Riyadh". Fact Magazines. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  21. ^ "JKS JKS Restaurants". JKS. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  22. ^ Yu, Douglas. "CAVU Backed Gymkhana Fine Foods Raises $3 Million To Bring High-End Indian Recipes To Grocery". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  23. ^ "Gymkhana Fine Foods - Producer". Guild of Fine Food. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  24. ^ Kamath, Akanksha (2023-12-20). "Inside 42, a maximalist Indian cocktail lounge in Mayfair by the owner of Gymkhana, London". Architectural Digest India. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  25. ^ Smith, Ellie (2024-08-08). "24 London Restaurants Named Among World's Most Beautiful". Country and Town House. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  26. ^ a b Mukhtar, Radhika Seth,Amel (2019-02-06). "10 Of The Best Cocktail Bars In London". British Vogue. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "London's Hot Indian Restaurant Serves Up Cool Cocktails". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  28. ^ Willingham, Marion; Cross, Inès; Tyndall, Alexander; Simons, Baya; Wise, Louis (2024-03-07). "12 things to see, buy and eat in March". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  29. ^ James, Sarah (2021-08-05). "The best bars in London right now". CN Traveller. Archived from the original on 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  30. ^ "SquareMeal Gold Awards | Restaurant Reviews, Prices & Menus". www.squaremeal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
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