Pahli Hill achieves Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 award

Fitzrovia restaurant, Pahli Hill has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022.

Having opened in 2020 only to close immediately due to the pandemic, Pahli Hill was the first UK venture for owners Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri of Azure Hospitality in India.

According to the restaurant, the menu brings together the regional flavours of Mumbai’s “vast” culinary communities and ingredients sourced from local and high-quality suppliers, combining Avinash’s classical training and inspiration from his upbringing in Bangalore.

The restaurant features 60-covers and aims to mirror its interior design with India’s “eclecticism and diverse palates”.

Michelin’s Twitter announcement noted Pahli Hill’s use of “fresh, simple flavours’ and a ‘good quality, and good value restaurant”.

Michelin said: “A couple of minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus tube is this bright restaurant with an open kitchen and a fresh, fun vibe.

“The cooking has a lighter style than at most Indian restaurants: choose from dishes such as Mangalore bun with crab sukkha, fennel seeds, crushed chilli and ginger or sea bass stewed in banana leaf, accompanied by some delicious Tandoori sourdough roti with house ghee.”

It added: “Sharing is encouraged, staff are friendly and professional – and there’s an intimate bar in the basement.”

Avinash Shishahdara, head chef, added: “We opened Pahli Hill in the hardest of times and were very pleased to get this recognition from Michelin. I’m so very proud of the team; for their hard work and support, and look forward to welcoming both new guests who might discover us and old ones that have continued to support us since we have opened.”