Forget trekking to Mayfair for award-winning Indian food, Putney’s about to get its own Michelin-trained chef. RAAZ, which means “secret” in Hindi, is opening this autumn, bringing modern Indian cooking with Michelin-level precision to SW15 and making a strong case for the neighbourhood’s place on London’s dining map.

At the helm is Imran Mansuri, whose training at Michelin-starred Tamarind and Benares, leadership at Jamavar, and recent tenure as Executive Chef at Kolamba make him one of London’s most seasoned Indian chefs. “We’re serving the kind of modern Indian food you’d happily cross London for, only now it’s on your doorstep,” he says.

The Food
Chef Imran’s cooking moves from the tang and crunch of classic chaat to smoke-licked tandoor grills and rich, slow-cooked curries. Dishes include Cornish lamb chops with kadai mushrooms and a soft-yolk quail egg; wild garlic chicken chop with charred broccoli; and a coconut-rich Malabar fish curry with wild seabass. Essex farms supply much of the seasonal produce. Diners can drop in for happy-hour bites, make a night of it with à la carte, or gather for group feasts. A Christmas menu refresh is already underway.

The Drinks
A turmeric gin and tonic that glows gold in the glass. A jalapeno-guava margarita that hits sweet, tart and heat in a single sip. A Lychee 75 that’s as pretty as it is punchy. The wine list is short, smart and food friendly, with room for both midweek glasses and celebration bottles.

The Space
60 covers inside, 14 on the terrace. Warm wood panelling and leather banquettes, softened with floral details. Beautiful interiors and state-of-the-art sound system with a playlist designed for a “good mood all night” energy.

RAAZ is the latest in a wave of serious new openings south of the river. Opens this autumn.

RAAZ
113 Lower Richmond Rd, London SW15 1EX
Hours: Lunch & Dinner Tues – Sun (Closed Mondays)