Maai by Nikita – the debut restaurant from Nikita Pathakji, winner of both Masterchef: The Professionals and Great British Menu's Champion of Champions – is a family affair. 'Maai' means 'mum', and within a few minutes of stepping through the spacious front terrace and into the smart but relaxed Clapham space, you'll likely have met half the Pathakji clan.
A Fine Dining Experience Without Pretence
This is fine dining without any of the pretence. Extraordinary flavours are presented casually, but don't be fooled by the cheery tableside chatter: Maai's menu offers serious cooking that fuses the familiar and the original into a genre-agnostic, high-low experience where traditional rules have no place and pleasure is king.
Time Out Tip: Must-Try Dish
Order the halibut. Sat in a pool of rich, smoky Malay fish head curry, it comes spiked with crispy stars of okra and unctuous aubergine, as well as game-changing tempura padron peppers.
