By Kieran Hadfield
With its simple, fresh and aromatic north Indian creations, the Hankies brand has seduced Londoners and visitors alike. Now following in the footsteps of the Shaftesbury Avenue and Marble Arch restaurants, Ani Arora’s ground-breaking venture has a third home, this time in Westbourne Terrace.
Located in the heart of bustling Paddington, Westbourne Terrace has been described as the “most spacious and dignified avenue” in Bayswater and “unrivalled in its class in London or even Great Britain.” As such it provides the perfect setting for Hankies’ visually stunning fare.
The culinary ethos at Westbourne Terrace is similar to that of Hankies’ siblings, but with somewhat lighter flavours. Based on traditional street food recipes, the size of each dish gives diners free rein to indulge. And with the majority priced between £5.50 and £8.00, there is no excuse not to sample Ani’s creations in all their glory.
Showcasing relaxed north Indian cooking at its finest are small bites such as ‘Fruits de Mer’ popcorn - snow crab, shrimps, sago seeds & lemon ‘n’ coriander dip - and Wild Mushroom Kachori.
Fresh from the grill come succulent Skewers of Tiger Prawns with chives & garlic; Chilli Lamb Chops marinated in Kashmiri chillies & honey; Spicy Miso Salmon and Tandoori Spuds whilst other main courses include Ani’s legendary Butter Chicken.
Hankies aficionados will be delighted to learn that the menu still includes the brand’s iconic signature - the roomali roti. A thin flatbread, this is hand spun, cooked and then folded into ‘hankies’ to accompany - or enclose - these dishes or available folded and filled with such mouth-watering ingredients as Kale ‘n’ Haloumi, ‘Burford Brown’ Hen’s Egg and Pulled Lamb Spareribs.
For those wanting more privacy, Hankies Westbourne Terrace also features a delightful private dining room.
Guests can elect to enjoy a pre- or post-dinner drink in Hankies’ stylish bar. Here, they can take advantage of a carefully curated cocktail collection, all priced at an unbelievable £6.00 and spearheaded by the likes of Lychee Martini. Mocktails including Nimbu Shikanji (lemon, chat masala & soda water) are equally as creative and superb value for money at just £5.50 each.
The entire menu is also available for delivery or collection. To celebrate the opening, Hankies is offering diners 25% off food throughout the month of September at all three of its venues. What’s more, diners will receive this discount on any day of the week!
Hankies Westbourne Terrace is open Monday to Sunday 12pm-3pm and from 5.45pm-11pm.