Putney has gained a secret worth sharing. RAAZ, meaning “secret” in Hindi, has arrived on Lower Richmond Road, with modern Indian cooking from a chef whose career spans two decades in London’s most acclaimed restaurants.

Chef Patron Imran Mansuri has spent over twenty years in some of London’s most celebrated Indian restaurants, including Michelin-starred Benares and Jamavar, as well as Tamarind, Annabel’s, and, most recently, Kolamba. RAAZ is the first time he has stepped out on his own, bringing fine dining precision to food that carries the rigour of his training yet feels generous and distinctly his own.

For Imran, RAAZ isn’t about recreating Mayfair. It’s something more personal — shaped by the flavours of his childhood, sharpened by years in London’s top kitchens. He brings that fine-dining discipline into a neighbourhood setting, part of a new wave of Indian chefs bringing ambition and polish to local dining rooms.

On the Menu
The menus move between the colour and crunch of street-style chaat and the smoke of the tandoor.
Among the signatures is an overnight nihari rib- traditionally made with lamb, here reimagined with beef. Cooked until it falls from the bone and finished with marrow, it’s an unorthodox choice in an Indian restaurant, and a hint at the way tradition is reworked throughout the menu.

A Cornish lamb chop is served with kadai mushrooms and a soft-yolk quail egg, while wild garlic chicken is charred and paired with broccoli for a greener edge. Malabar fish curry is made with seabass simmered in a coconut broth that nods to Kerala.

Vegetable cooking is given equal attention. Essex pumpkin is stewed with southern spices in a coconut-rich moilee, while Malai broccoli comes with cauliflower purée and pickled onion in a dish that is as layered as any of the grills.

Alongside these signatures sit the classics that define Indian cooking at its most comforting and familiar: chicken tikka masala, prawn Chettinad, palak paneer and more. The balance at RAAZ is deliberate: food that feels both authentic and ambitious, never straying too far from the dishes diners love most.

In the Glass
At RAAZ, cocktails carry as much weight as the food. A turmeric gin and tonic arrives bright gold, sharp and earthy. The Guava Rani mixes tequila infused in-house with chillies; guava and a rim dusted with spice. A Lychee Royale is floral and light, finished with sparkling rosé. The Coastal Old-Fashioned is darker and richer, crafted from bourbon that has been fat-washed in-house with coconut and coffee, then stirred with a touch of maple.
The wine list is fantastic, yet compact, with mostly bottles that work with spice: crisp whites, structured reds, and a few celebratory pours. For those not drinking, there are spritzes, sodas, and the cooling sweetness of a mango lassi.

The Space
From the street, RAAZ stands out in bright blue, adding a flash of colour on Lower Richmond Road. Inside, the atmosphere softens: rich walnut panelling lines the walls, floral wallpaper adds pattern, and gold accents catch the light.

A long bar runs through the centre, with stools for both eating and drinking. At the back, a glass-roofed dining room feels airy in the day and glows with candlelight at night. Tucked away, a small six-seat nook offers something more private, a fitting nod to the restaurant’s name. A mix of heritage and modern touches makes the space feel both polished and relaxed, while a sharp sound system keeps the energy going well into the evening.
RAAZ gives Putney a restaurant that feels both exciting and authentic. It brings Mayfair refinement to a neighbourhood setting, delivered with care rather than formality. For Imran, it’s a debut that is personal and ambitious. For London, it’s part of a new wave of refined Indian restaurants thriving beyond Mayfair and Soho.

This autumn, RAAZ is shaping up to be Putney’s worst-kept secret.

RAAZ
113 Lower Richmond Rd, London SW15 1EX
Monday Closed
Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday 5pm-11pm
Sunday 5pm-10pm