You may know Chef Aktar Islam for his two-Michelin-starred Opheem in Birmingham - one of only two Indian restaurants in the UK (alongside Gymkhana) to hold such an accolade. It’s no secret that he’s incredible at what he does; Gordon Ramsay knew it back in 2009 when Aktar won The F Word (though don’t worry, I won’t keep making us all feel old with blasts from the past).
This year, he made his London debut with OUDH 1722, a restaurant dedicated to Awadhi dishes from Lucknow, a major city in Northern India. While he's stepped away from the world of tasting menus, his signature refinement and creativity still shine across an extensive à la carte menu, which spans everything from kebabs to curries using the very best of British produce.
Located in Borough, it sat in excellent company alongside other casual ventures from Michelin-starred chefs, like Bailey’s Heard and Tom Kemble’s Spring Street Pizza. Yet, looking at the chocolatey-brown exterior and a welcome desk manned by three beaming hosts, I had a feeling the hospitality here would still lean into the realm of chair-pulling and napkin-folding - and I was incredibly excited.
OUDH 1772's calming interiors (pictured left), and a meaty monkfish curry we enjoyed (right).
DesignMyNight's Review Of OUDH 1722 In Borough
Need To Know:
- Address: 66 Union Street, SE1 1TD
- Area: Borough, London Bridge
- Cuisine: contemporary Indian, Awadhu dishes from Lucknow
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: from the outset, the restaurant possessed a higgledy-piggledy charm, housed in a multi-story, Grade II-listed Victorian building that originally served as an 1850s hatter's shop. I was a big fan of the soft, muted interiors and plush green chairs, which, combined with the bespoke walnut joinery, created warm, earthy tones and an underlying sense of calm. The tranquillity of the dining room was mirrored in the open kitchen, which was so seamlessly integrated into the space that it felt like an intimate culinary theatre.
- Perfect for: group dining or a dinner date (with some cocktails upstairs before).
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £242 for two, excluding service charge.
A mango margarita (pictured left) and the pappad selection (right).
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Pappad selection with chutneys (£12) - a crisp and dip lover's dream. These addictive, crunchy puffs were served inside one giant, eye-catching poppadom. It came with a quartet of chutneys, including a smoky tomato version that built up a gradual heat the more you ate it. While we ordered this to share between two people, I’d say four grazers is the perfect number if you want to avoid spoiling your appetite for the rest of the meal (spoiler: ours remained intact).
- Lasooni jinga (king prawn, garlic, raw mango) (£25) - cooked to perfection, the prawns slid out of their shells effortlessly and were incredibly generous in portion. I loved their delicate, garlicky, buttery flavour and the striking presentation - splayed out on a silver plate and decorated with flowers. It was a beautiful, delicious meadow of crustaceans I could have happily have had at for a while.
The lasooni jinga (pictured left), and another cocktail I had, a Kewra Wino (right).
- Boti kebab: ex-dairy cow, brown onion masala (£24) - I began to notice a running theme: the sheer care and patience poured into Aktar’s dishes to create such tender, slow-cooked mouthfuls of bliss. Very apparent in the kebabs, this technique and texture really shone through in the boti, where the brown onion masala was brilliantly caramelised and comforting.
- Gulnaar: tandoori chicken, smoked tomato, cream (£32) - I loved how visually fun this curry was, with ripples of smoke rising from the pot the moment our beaming waiter lifted the lid. Not just for show, that smokiness ran beautifully through the sweet tomato sauce. Cooking the chicken on the bone extracted an incredible amount of depth and flavour.
- Chikki: chocolate ganache, peanut ice cream, sesame brittle (£15) - this has to be the sweet treat of the year so far - and it was brilliant enough to convert me into a dessert person. Reminiscent of a famous nutty chocolate bar, the peanut ice cream and slightly sweet sesame brittle married perfectly with the thick, rich, and creamy dark chocolate ganache. It created a brilliant dance between two contrasting flavour profiles that had me devouring the whole dish with glee. Another, please.
The chikki (pictured left), and ras malai, with pistachio and cardamom (right).
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Mango chutney margarita (£14) - this was like heaven to me. Two of my favourite things, tequila and mango chutney, the latter refined into a syrup, shaken together with lime to create a crisp, citrussy sweet drink with waves of heat and smokiness. Garnished with a dried mango, it was sublime.
- Itr-e-Aam (£14) - practically an alcoholic peach iced tea, with no tea but lots of alcohol in the form of brandy infused with curry leaf, sandalwood distillate, vetiver distillate, white peach, and red vermouth. You’d be forgiven for thinking this combination reads like a musky candle, but in fact it was a glorious smoky, caramel-coloured drink that went down an utter treat.
My Overall Experience At OUDH 1722
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OUDH 1722 was such a pleasant and playful experience, and a restaurant that did both food and cocktails very well. It’s a spectacular addition to London’s dining scene that beautifully honours the rich heritage of Awadhi cuisine through a modern, refined lens. From the theatrical smoke of the curries to the meticulous, slow-cooked tenderness of the kebabs, every dish reflected Chef Aktar Islam's signature patience, precision, and artistry.
