Review on Shola Karachi Kitchen
After a series of pop-up supper clubs throughout London, Parkistani restaurant Shola Karachi Kitchen found a permanent home in the former BBC headquarters in White City, which has been transformed into a new creative campus. It's the debut restaurant from former banker and celebrity chef Aida Khan, who after hosting two seasons of the Pakistani TV show 'For The Love of Food', went on to train at the renowned Leith's School of Food and Wine.
Shola which means spark in Parkistani, has been designed by the award-winning Kai Interiors in a pretty palette of pastel tones. Pale walls are decorated with pictures and block multi-coloured kilms and the light and airy room is illuminated by rattan hanging lights and brightly coloured tasselled chandeliers. Alongside counter seating at the bar, there's intimate booths and communal tables, as well as seating outside.
The kitchen explores homemade recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, highlighting traditional Pakistani dishes from the street markets of Karachi, fused with a modern touch. Selecting the finest of ingredients, Shola roasts and grinds their own spices with masalas made from scratch. The menu kicks of in true style with crispy, gluten-free, tender chicken bites with Shola seasoning, followed by lamb shoulder marinated for 48 hours in a smoky black cardamom spiced blend, braised for 4 hours and then charcoal grilled in the Mibrasa oven, served with salad and roti. To finish on a sweet note there's kulfi, a Pakistani style ice-cream on a stick or naan khatai, a crumbly semolina and cardamom cookie.
To accompany the dishes there's just one choice each of either red, white, sparkling or Presocco wine, as well as beers such as Camden Bells, London Pale Ale and Peroni.
Cuisine
Pakistani
Chef
Aida Khan
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 11.00am - 4.00pm Mon & Tue, 11.00am through until
Dinner: 10.00pm Wed-Fri
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card