Ooty opens casual concept in Birmingham

It comes as founders Aseela Goenka and Pooja Nayak prepare to launch the inaugural (and flagship) Ooty Station site next door to their restaurant in London’s Marylebone later this month.

However, despite the Birmingham opening, BigHospitality has been told there are currently no plans to roll the concept out further at this time.

Ooty Station Marylebone will be a sister site to the original Ooty restaurant, with a menu focused on ‘contemporary dishes inspired by south Indian street food classics’.

Head Chef Manmeet Singh-Bali has worked alongside sous chef Niru Palakonda to oversee the menu at both Ooty Station sites, which will feature ‘traditional British bar snacks with an Indian twist’.

Bar snacks will include Malli chicken wings and mutton methi samosa; while larger bar bowls will feature Keralan lamb stew served with coconut rice, and a koshimbir salad made with pearl barley, smoked cashew nut and puy lentils.

From the griddle diners will be able to choose from a selection of homemade dosas, with fillings that include garlic-tempered soya spinach, and lime and curry leaf lamb.

The café will have 40 covers inside, with further outdoor seating also available.

A colonial-style basement bar, called Ooty Club, also operates under the Marylebone restaurant.