Darjeeling Express finds larger home in Covent Garden

I am happy I can finally cook on 16 flames in the kitchen as opposed to four — the walk-in fridge in Covent Garden is the size of our entire Kingly Court kitchen.

Asma Khan’s critically acclaimed restaurant Darjeeling Express has found a new home in Covent Garden, renowned food critic Richard Vines tweeted last week.

Asma told Hot Dinners that her new 120-cover restaurant is schedueld to open in a few weeks on Garrick Street “with a Deli all day from 10-6 with three lunchtime specials”.

“We hope the deli will allow people to try our food, as we know there were long waiting lists in our last restaurant,” she was quoted as saying.

Asma made history last year by becoming the first British chef to appear on the award-winning Netflix series, Chef’s Table, made the announcement on her Instagram account.

The restaurateur announced in July that she would not be reopening in Carnaby since “it was getting too difficult doing 200 covers in 55 seat restaurants”.

She told Instagram’s Eater London: “I am happy I can finally cook on 16 flames in the kitchen as opposed to four — the walk-in fridge in Covent Garden is the size of our entire Kingly Court kitchen.”

She added: “Capco, thelandlords, showed great courage in not picking oneof the ‘usual suspects’ for their flagship site. I hopemore landlords will show the same vision — opentheir portfolio to more diverse restaurateurs.”

According to Hot Dinners, Asma’s new menu will “include Hyderabadi Haleem, Roti and sabzi, egg curry and prawn Malaikari and rice.

“The lunchtime specials will be rotated. The lunch specials can be collected all day or eaten on the outside tables. Wednesday to Saturday we will have tasting menu dinners. Sunday brunch will include the south Asian classic combination of Halwa, Channa & Puri.”