The All In One Ultimate Restaurant List: Gymkhana

After the success of the elegant Trishna, the team behind it opened Gymkhana, a similarly sophisticated Indian restaurant this time inspired by the exclusive gentlemen's clubs of the colonial era. Gymkhana enters our top 100 Ultimate Restaurant List at number 13 this year, and group executive chef Rohit Ghai tells us about the food he can't live without.

What does Gymkhana do that nowhere else does?
At Gymkhana we focus on creating food that people really enjoy. Our menus and the atmosphere of the restaurant create a sense of conviviality which we want people to enjoy themselves in.

Which London restaurants have excited you recently?
One of the restaurants that I’m really enjoying at the moment is Bao. I can go in for a quick lunch before service and their menu always inspires me. The daily menu at Bao’s is always a great thing to ask for as well.

What food can you not live without?
London is a great city as it offers almost every cuisine in the world to try. However, I would never be able to live without traditional home-style Indian food. Whether it’s at home or in a restaurant it is instantly comforting and brings me back to growing up in India.

What has your most stressful experience in the kitchen been?
Believe it or not I try to avoid as much stress in the kitchen as possible. Obviously it is a high pressure environment but I believe the key to keeping it as stress-free as possible for myself and our team is preparation. The more myself and the team prepare for the lunch or evening service the smoother it goes. This also helps when everyone on the team works together and helps each other out when possible.

Which is your signature dish?
One of my favourite recipes and one which I have recently added to our new menu is the Lamb Shank Nihari with Aloo Chokha. The lamb is cooked on the bone and the marrow melts as it cooks. Nihari masala, coriander, turmeric and ginger are then added and the lamb becomes incredibly tender and savoury.