Indian restaurant Oorja to open in London in February
Spread across two floors, the restaurant will hold 105 covers featuring a downstairs bar area, all decorated with splashes of terracotta panelling and beige furnishings
Gobind Chona is set to open its latest restaurant venture Oorja in London in February 2025, offering a new proposition of Indian food.
Following the success of his first restaurant Gura Gura, Chona’s latest venture which will be situated on Shaftesbury Avenue, sees guests go on a “food journey” through India.
Oorja – meaning energy in Hindi – will present “casual comfort” food with a focus on small plates inspired by Northern Indian recipes that have been handed down by generations.
Spread across two floors, the restaurant will hold 105 covers featuring a downstairs bar area, all decorated with splashes of terracotta panelling and beige furnishings.
The restaurant will offer an all-day dining experience including breakfast with dishes which include Egg Burji on Toast with three eggs on sourdough, Vegan Dalia Porridge with coconut cream and seasonal berries, and Oorja Sawera Kebab Platter with chicken tikka and lamb kebab with saffron rice, grilled tomato and fried egg.
Dinner dishes will include BBQ Butterfly Chicken, Railway Lamb Curry, Green mustard and Corn Roti, and Chickpeas Masala.
On Sundays’ Oorja will also be serving up its very own Indian-inspired Sunday Roast, bringing a unique take on the British tradition – Tandoori Spiced Roast Beef with Yorkshire puddings, roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables, topped with garam masala beef gravy.
The Speaking Tree cocktail menu will feature mixed beverages crafted with ingredients that embody the roots, stems, and fruits of Indian culture, such as the fruity Rum Indian Plum-Raspberry and Roses Jamun, the sweet and sour Basil-Indian masala-Mangosteen Kokum, or the zesty Tequila-vetiver-Indian Spices-lime Sherbet. All are accompanied by a selection of red and white wines, Champagne, and beers.
Oorja is the second restaurant from Starwins Group, founded by Chona. He grew up in India from an entrepreneurial background where his father owned restaurants. He took inspiration from his family’s passion for hospitality and moved to Switzerland to study for a diploma in hospitality at Les Roches. Moving on to a work placement in Tokyo to further his hospitality skills, he then travelled back to India to open his first restaurant in 2017.
Regarding the upcoming opening of Oorja, Chona said: “We are extremely excited to introduce Oorja to London’s exciting food scene. Oorja symbolises a journey through the diverse flavours and landscapes of India.”
