Last week I had the great pleasure of dining at the beautiful Grand Trunk Road, a fine-dining Michelin-star restaurant based in South Woodford, East London. When we first entered, I was surprised at how busy it was for a weekday which was a good sign; it gave us the impression that it was the local’s favourite spot to dine; after our evening, I now know why. Everyone was on first-name terms with the staff; they made us feel very welcome too!

The warm ambient lighting and the friendly atmosphere set the tone for the evening and made us feel very comfortable and relaxed. Alongside the cosy feel of the restaurant, we also noticed their five Michelin star plaques hung proudly on the wall in front of us, which is an outstanding accomplishment. Not only that, they were awarded the best fine dining Indian restaurant in 2021/2022 and have been awarded a certificate of excellence in 2021 by Trip Advisor too, which enters them among the 10% Best Restaurants in the world! Knowing Grand Trunk Road restaurant has gained excellence year after year made me so excited to dine here!

Whilst we browsed the menu and took in our gorgeous surroundings, we were given four homemade chutneys with a side of poppadom’s to feast on, each individually unique and incredibly delicious. I usually stick to what I know when it comes to cocktails; I knew I was in safe hands and trusted the fabulously talented mixologist to make me a Calcutta Night Rider cocktail, which was vodka based; it went down a treat!

What I found so interesting about dining here is that the head chef and CEO went on a business trip along the Grand Trunk Road in Asia, where they sampled lots of local restaurants and different local dishes to help inspire the menus for their restaurant. It was unlike any Indian restaurant I’d dined in before; the story of how it began felt so wholesome, and the staff had such warm, gracious energy. Knowing the history behind how the menu was put together provided a meaningful experience.

For our starter, we ordered the soft-shell crab, which was dusted with semolina, black pepper, and chilli and served with pickle and yoghurt. It was my guest’s first-time trying crab; I’m so glad they tried it in this restaurant because you could tell it was so fresh; it had a sweet, vibrant taste which wasn’t overpowering.

In between our starter and main course, we had a blood orange sorbet to cleanse our palette; this came out all fancy, topped with strawberries and flowers and looked so pretty! I was looking forward to my main dishes, and they did not disappoint! I ordered the Lobster Kaalimirch, which was lobster tail, crushed black pepper, garlic and light tomato masala, and it tasted sensational. The lobster meat was soft and tender, and the creamy sauce and the lobster meat were served coming out of the tail decorated with colourful flowers and leaves and looked like a masterpiece. In fact, all of the dishes were so well presented and full of colour, they all looked so appetizing with unique flavours and textures.

For dessert, we wanted to try some ice cream flavour pairings that we hadn’t yet tried; we ordered the mango and basil and rose petal and avocado! You’d think upon hearing those mixtures that they sound a little random; however, food is supposed to be a fun and unique experience; the mango one was my favourite!

If you’re looking to try Indian cuisine with great hospitality, tasty cocktails and mouth-watering food, then I recommend that you dine at Grand Trunk Road.

A: 219 High Rd, London E18 2PB
T: 020 8505 1965
W: Grand Trunk Road

Written by Danielle Tobin for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International