In 2024, Opheem became the first Indian restaurant in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars (followed only a few minutes later by Gymkhana). The restaurant is one of Birmingham's best and is its only two-starred venue. Now the man behind it, chef Aktar Islam, is coming to London for his first opening in this city.
Aktar is opening Oudh 1722 in Borough in a three-storey listed Victorian building (it looks like it's taking over from Lupins). It's named after the Awadhi region, and that year refers to the roots of the local cuisine there, which originated in Lucknow, one of the rare cities to be listed by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy. The restaurant will focus on Awadhi cooking, and while we don't have details of the menu yet, we're told to expect "silken kebabs, intricately layered biryanis and richly aromatic curries". There's also a specific focus on slow cooking methods like dum pukht, where dishes are "slow-cooked over a low flame to gently build depth and flavour".
Orpheem is a very big deal, so Islam opening in Borough is 100% one to watch. We'll have more details closer to the opening date.
More about Oudh 1722
Where is it? 66 Union St, London SE1 1TD
When does it open? March 2026
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @oudh1722.
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