A pan-Asian concept illuminated with a rose gold interior is Nirvana Kitchen on Berkley Street. Recreating Eastern favourites for a dining experience that strikes a balance between the deliciously traditional and strikingly contemporary; head chef Anirudh Arora has formed a menu that amalgamates heritage with modern sophistication and intrigue.
Grasping hold of tradition whilst carefully reinventing dishes for today’s demanding dining scene, Nirvana Kitchen presents a culinary journey that eases diners eastwards to Asia’s most evocative corners with the most authentic ingredients to create flavours that sing. Faraway flavours that are woven throughout the menu, diners can expect to taste the rich intensity of the Indian sub-continent to the fresh flavours of Thailand and the unique cuisine of Japan and Korea. With an enlightened approach to cooking with dishes that let the excitement of their heritage and authentically aromatic ingredients speak for themselves, they believe that pure ingredients set the foundations for some of the finest generation-old dishes.
Inspired by the diversity of the Indian Ocean to the rich spices of the Far East, this loud menu is found on a quiet crescent in west London’s Marble Arch. Glamorous dishes to match the sleek surroundings include a crunchy softshell crab tempura with an indulgent and zingy truffle ponzu and sour mango dip whilst Nirvana Kitchen’s signature Korean dish, beef bulgogi with purple potatoes chokha and achari carrots and Guinea fowl kushi is marinated in soy, chilli and sesame served with grilled lemon and chopped chives. The shining light of luxury, the Lobster Curry Pot is filled with lobster, pineapple and fine beans in an oriental curry sauce.
An elegantly styled interior that mirrors the contemporary concept and smart, central postcode; Nirvana Kitchen is further complemented with stylish cocktails and an extensive wine selection to choose from. This with the all-encompassing Asian menu that adapts and flexes around the wide variety of tastes within the cosmos of London, small dishes available to start are ideal for sharing amongst pairs or groups. They jump between varieties of seafood such as crispy salted squid with cucumber, lemongrass and ginger to scallop ceviche with sweet potato, red onion, crispy sweet corn and citrus chili yuzu. Aside from the signature Korean Beef Bulgogi, other larger charcoal dishes include Jumbo Prawn served with shiso salsa, and Spiced Lamb Cutlets in a tamarind glaze pickled cucumber and caramelised cashew ‘Gajak’.
There’s beauty in the simplicity of the dishes here, they say, at Nirvana Kitchen. Pale leathers, warm woods and elegant sash windows create a setting that’s purpose is the foundation for Nirvana Kitchen’s menu to perform their Asian odyssey and showcase a culinary personality that is inventive yet never complicated.
Nirvana Kitchen: 61 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 7PP, 020 7958 3222, www.nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk
