Iconic Soho restaurant reopens
Soho’s iconic Indian restaurant, The Red Fort will open this February after it was ravaged by the fire that swept through Soho last July, which took 100 fire fighters over 12 hours to get under control.
The Red Fort was very lucky to escape the blaze, unfortunately it took direct smoke and other flying debris damage and suffered tremendous water flood damage which was used to get the blaze under control.
At last, it is ready to throw open its doors and welcome back its loyal customers who have supported it for a quarter of a century. There will also be a great discount of 50% off food available for all customers visiting in the opening week from Wednesday 3rd February until Wednesday 10th February (available on a la carte for both lunch and dinner).
Amin Ali founded The Red Fort 25 years ago and a unique blend of Mughal Court cooking has attracted politicians, entrepreneurs and celebrities alike over the years. Head Chef, Azadur Rahman leading a team of highly experienced chefs has created a new menu in honour of the reopening.
Rahman and his team of seven chefs have mastered the art of Mughal Court cooking over years. Starters on the new menu include ‘Charcoal roasted potatoes filled with raisins, cashew, fig & royal cumin’, ‘Grilled monkfish marinated with saffron and cardamom’ and ‘Scottish venison skewers spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper’. Chef Azadur and his team has cooked many times for state dignitaries and Prime Ministers at Downing Street for the past 12 years.
There is a traditional grill situated in the middle of the open plan kitchen at The Red Fort and diners are encouraged to order some of the specialities which include ‘Scottish lobster with saffron, garlic, cinnamon and nutmeg’ and ‘Ostrich fillet with royal cumin, bay leaf and black pepper’. Mains include a delicious blend of ‘King prawns, scallops, squid and stone bass in a cumin, cinnamon and clove sauce’ and ‘Basmati rice with Welsh lamb and spices steamed in a sealed pot’.
Every day The Red Fort uses its huge Tandoor ovens to produce over twenty different breads, freshly baked to order, including everything from favourite ‘Peshawari naan’ to more typical ‘Makkai roti’ (maize flour bread) and served with six different homemade chutneys ranging from ‘Mango with curry leaves’ to ‘Banana with orange and cinnamon’.
The new-look Red Fort will have an extremely contemporary feel, whilst retaining its atmosphere of ancient Indian tradition. There will be a true sense of theatre in the restaurant created by the visible tandoor ovens and a copper mosaic-tiled water feature, based on classical Mughal garden design, located at the rear of the restaurant. There is a real sense of the opulence of the Mughal Court created by the deep brown silk-lined walls, leather banquettes and images of The Red Fort in Delhi. There are floating candles and rose petals used throughout, and natural materials such as Welsh slate and Jaipuri red sandstone have also been used along with authentic antiques and objets d’art to create the perfect Indo-British ambience.
Being located in the heart of vibrant Soho, The Red Fort is ideally located for a quick lunch and also pre or post-theatre dining. They accordingly have an extremely reasonable lunch menu priced at £12 for two courses and including starters such as ‘Scottish salmon with mustard and red chilli seared in tandoor’ and ‘French corn-fed chicken drumsticks with clove, coriander, tomato and chilli’. Mains include ‘French guinea fowl in a clove, dried ginger and fenugreek sauce’ and ‘Potatoes tempered with curry leaf, poppy seed and dried red chilli’. The Theatre Menu offers similar delights and also includes tea or coffee and a selection of sides.
The Red Fort will also reopen its downstairs bar, appropriately named Akbar after the greatest of the Mughal emperors. The walls are painted an exotic azure blue and there are plush blue velvet stools and silk-upholstered chairs are dotted throughout. Decorated with Italian tiles, soft leather and Oriental rugs, Akbar has a stylish and relaxed feel with a stunning bar entirely covered in shimmering metallic discs as the centrepiece. Low lighting and discrete alcoves make it the perfect location for an intimate drink or any kind of event, being able to accommodate up to 150 people.
Their exotic cocktails and bar snacks remain true to the venue’s Indian heritage but with a contemporary twist. Ingredients include delights such as date-infused rum, holy basil-steeped gin, jasmine tea, fresh mangoes and sweet spices.
The Red Fort Founder, Amin Ali says of the reopening:
“I am delighted to be re- opening the doors of The Red Fort again and hope to welcome our existing customers and new diners as well. We are back again to offer our guests an enhanced dining experience, truly Mughal style.
“Despite the adversity, we will rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the Soho fire.”
The Red Fort is located at 77 Dean Street, London, W1D 3SH
Reservations: info@redfort.co.uk