Inside Chatora City, Where Wine Meets Spice
For the last five years, Chatora City has been working on proving to Londoners that great Indian food and great wine belong in the same conversation. Tucked away near Bank and Mansion House, the family-run restaurant has built a loyal following for its modern Indian cooking, exceptional hospitality and one of the City's most thoughtfully curated wine lists.
Now entering a new chapter with the appointment of Executive Chef Imamuddin Khan, formerly of The Cinnamon Club, Kahani, Dum-Pukht and Baluchi, Chatora City is refreshing its menu while staying true to the philosophy that has made it one of the Square Mile's most underrated dining destinations.
Next Chapter
Some restaurants arrive with fanfare, while others earn their reputation over time. For the past five years, Chatora City has been building one of the City's most loyal followings. Family-run from the very beginning, Chatora City has focused on consistency, quality and creating the sort of dining experience that encourages guests to return time and again, rather than chasing trends or reinventing itself with every season.
It's a formula that has served the restaurant well, establishing it as something of a hidden gem among office workers, local residents and those looking for Indian food that feels both familiar and refreshingly contemporary.
Now, that story enters its next chapter.
Fresh Perspective
The arrival of Executive Chef Imamuddin Khan marks an exciting evolution for Chatora City, bringing one of London's most experienced Indian chefs into the kitchen.
Originally from Delhi, Khan has spent his career refining his craft in some of India's and the UK's most respected restaurants, including The Great Kebab Factory in New Delhi and a handful of London's most respected Indian restaurants mentioned in our intro. Across each kitchen, he has developed a style planted in traditional Indian cooking techniques while embracing a more contemporary approach to presentation and flavour.
Rather than reinventing Chatora City, Khan's cooking feels like a natural extension of what the restaurant has always stood for: regional Indian cuisine prepared with care, precision and respect for its ingredients.
Summer Flavours
That philosophy is already evident across the restaurant's newly launched summer menu. Seafood takes centre stage in dishes such as Tellicherry Crab, Alleppey Halibut and the highly recommended Malabar Prawn, showcasing the lighter, brighter flavours of India's southern coastline. Alongside them sit Chatora City's favourites including Lamb Roghanjosh, Palak Kofta and Butter Chicken, creating a menu that comfortably balances seasonal additions with the dishes that have helped build the restaurant's reputation.
Everything continues to be prepared fresh in-house, from breads and chutneys to sauces and yoghurt, using carefully sourced ingredients including organic vegetables and Launceston lamb. Guests can choose between an à la carte menu and tasting experience, offering plenty of opportunity to explore the breadth of Khan's cooking.
The Wine List
What truly sets Chatora City apart, however, isn't found solely on the food menu. With more than 120 wines, the restaurant has quietly assembled one of the Square Mile's most impressive wine programmes, with every bottle chosen specifically to complement the complexity of Indian flavours and spice.
It's an approach that remains surprisingly rare. While many Indian restaurants continue to treat wine as a secondary consideration, Chatora City has embraced it as an essential part of the dining experience, encouraging guests to discover how carefully selected whites, reds and sparkling wines can elevate everything from delicate seafood to smoky tandoor dishes and fragrant curries.
It gives the restaurant an identity that extends beyond simply being another excellent Indian restaurant; Chatora City has become a genuine destination for wine lovers, too.
The Family Touch
Despite its premium cooking and ambitious wine list, accessibility remains central to Chatora City's philosophy. Its weekday lunch menu offers two courses for £19.95 or three for £24.95, providing exceptional value in one of London's busiest business districts, while a private dining room seating up to 16 guests has made the restaurant a popular choice for celebrations, team dinners and client entertaining.
Yet perhaps the restaurant's greatest strength lies in something far simpler. Owner Jam continues to personally welcome many guests through the doors, creating the kind of relaxed, generous atmosphere that only a family-run restaurant can achieve. It's hospitality that feels genuine rather than rehearsed, and one of the reasons so many diners return long after their first visit.
With Imamuddin Khan now leading the kitchen, Chatora City isn't changing direction. Instead, it's building on everything that's made it successful over the last five years in order to take it to the next level. With Michelin recognition already in the bag, who knows what the future might hold. For those yet to discover it, there's never been a better time to pull up a chair, pour a glass and see why this understated City restaurant has become one of London's best-kept secrets.
