Empire Empire, a ‘disco-themed’ Indian restaurant in Notting Hill, is eyeing up a second location.
The All Saints Road joint, which opened in 2023 and specialises in Punjabi cuisine, was awarded a Bib Gourmand – Michelin’s accolade for affordable fine dining. Judges praised the restaurant’s butter chicken, adding: ‘You’d be a fool to overlook the terrific King Prawns Kadhai Masala – a prime demonstration of the kitchen’s skill with flavours.’
Empire Empire comes from restaurateur Harneet Baweja, who is also behind the mini-chain Gunpowder. The latter brand has sites in Spitalfields and Soho, and recently closed its Tower Bridge outpost.
The new branch of Empire Empire won’t be opening until late 2026 or early 2027, reports the Caterer, and will be in the Grade II listed former home of the Westmoreland Arms pub at 34 George Street, Marylebone. Most recently, the space was occupied by the long-running Japanese restaurant Defune.
The second branch of Empire Empire will feature a ground-floor dining room and a basement ‘pub’ with two private dining rooms and a bar. ‘Having lived in Marylebone for years I have seen first-hand the community that it is known for, both among locals and those further afield and feel that the concept lends itself perfectly to a reimagined pub environment,’ said Baweja about the opening.
Empire Empire’s current menu includes the likes of lamb chops, beef seekh kebabs, lobster biriyani, king prawn masala and dal makhani, as well as a gulub jamun cheesecake. The original location has a custom-made, vinyl-only jukebox that plays a deft selection of 1970s Indian disco.
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