Rohit Chugh, founder of Roti Chai, has now opened the Toddy Shop at Chai Ki, 1 Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf.
Inspired by the coastal drinking dens of Southern India, infamous for their Palm Toddy and spicy snacks, Toddy Shop will serve up spicy Indian soul food alongside cocktails, craft ales and house infused beer. The restaurant at Chai Ki, a more formal affair, will open later this month.
The menu, created by Rohit, formerly of The Cinnamon Club, will take inspiration from the bold flavours and spirit of the palm-lined Malabar Coast in Southern India, while the cocktails will be reminiscent of the spices and coconut-studded coastlines.
“Ever since opening Roti Chai, I have wanted to create a Toddy Shop in London – my inspiration comes from time I’ve been fortunate enough to spend on the beautiful Malabar coast in Kerala, also know as ‘God’s own country’,” explains Rohit. “Our bar snacks feature some of my street food and roadside cart favourites – hopefully bringing a little fun and spice to London”.
Toddy Shop was designed by Rohit, working with award-winning hospitality design practice, Design LSM, and deploys a stripped back feel. The space is double height, complete with a mezzanine private room, a tiled and dark oak floor, encased strip lights, bespoke headlight lamps (recreating those found on cars and scooters in India), railway luggage racks, exposed structural steels and block work.
An open kitchen framed with concrete walls provides a backdrop to the space, with splashes of colour from the textured green curtains at the entrance, and turquoise leather banquette seats. The long, lit, blackened steel bar features a unique beer infuser and a ‘Toddy’ light-box.
