Harneet Baweja to open new Notting Hill restaurant

Harneet Baweja of Gunpowder Restaurants will launch his latest venture, Empire Empire in Notting Hill this spring. 

Located at 16 All Saints Road, Empire Empire will place music and art at its heart. Fitted with a custom-made Marshall jukebox, Bollywood will be the score to service; while walls will be adorned with works by two of the 20th century’s most respected Indian artists, Jogen Chowdhury and Rabin Mondal.

The 40-cover restaurant will be lined with tables on one side. On the other side, guests will find a bar stocked with natural wines, beers and ciders from 40ft Brewery, alongside a concise selection of pre-batched cocktails and a wine list curated by Mattia Bianchi of Berber & Q and Carmel. 

The menu will be predominantly inspired by the northwestern cuisines stretching across the old Punjab Empire, from Bihar across to Afghanistan. Dishes such as the Lasooni Tangdi Kebab, Nizam Chicken Kebab and Bihari Boti Kebab will be made by slowly charring the meats over hot coals- some of which will then be combined with rich sauces, such as in the Chicken Malai Curry.

Other main dishes and sharing plates will include vegetarian options like Malai Methi Matar, made with whole garden peas; and the showpiece signature of Lobster Dum Biryani – complete with the crustacean’s head emerging from the pastry lid. Marking a shift from Gunpowder, which seldom serves breads, Empire Empire will offer perfectly-prepared naans and roti, as well as rice as a classic accompaniment.

"When disco became big in India, my dad would put on his silk floral shirt and bell-bottoms and hit the town – often eating, drinking and dancing all under one roof. This is my personal inspiration for Empire Empire," says Baweja. "We wanted to bring the golden age of Indian music, art and food together in one place – and hope this makes for a unique spot in Notting Hill."

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