“Exquisite” South Indian coastal boutique restaurant to open in Leeds city centre

Ma-Hé will bring a “revolutionary” style of South Indian coastal cookery in a new boutique restaurant to The Merrion Centre in the heart of Leeds’ Arena Quarter this summer.

Located in the heart of Leeds’ City Centre in The Merrion Centre, Ma-Hé prepares to reveal five “exquisite cuisines” from India’s coastlines.

With a meticulously crafted menu containing an array of small plates from five main regions including Goa, Mangalore, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra, a specialist team of Indian chefs are set to “transform the dining landscape”, uniting a diverse variety of Indian southern peninsula cuisine under a single roof for the first time in the UK.

Ma-Hé is the brainchild of a partnership between founders Shyam Sundar Bhaskaran, a fine dining chef within prominent 5-star hotel chains in India, Manoj Varma, who has more than two decades of experience within the hospitality industry, alongside local business partner and entrepreneur, Mason Asgha, who had travelled across India for over 20 years.

The 80-seater restaurant will open this summer, welcoming guests in a dining room designed with the essence of the botanical waters of Coastal India, with natural and modern cosy interiors, fresh plant installations and rattan lights emitting a golden sunset glow for diners to experience the ambiance of “warm and joyful” Indian nights.

An immersive kitchen with theatrical preparation of dishes over an open searing flame aims to “tantalise diners” whilst bringing light to traditional methods that invoke centuries-old, perfected flavours.

Charles Newman, associate director, Estates for Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), owners of Merrion Centre commented: “Indian cuisine is a much-loved part of the British food scene. Whilst there are many popular North Indian restaurants across Leeds, only a handful serve diverse regional cuisines.

“We are delighted to work with the team at Ma-Hé to bring something new and completely unique to the Merrion Centre. This new brand will complement our international restaurants within the Arena Quarter and further enhance the food offering for discerning diners in the city.”

Ma-Hé will serve a specialised menu conceived by Chef Shyam, Manoj and four expert trained chefs relocating to the UK. from India, bringing diners to what they describe as “soul cooking”. Ma-Hé’s signature tapas style small-plates and family sharing platters will allow diners to enjoy the full spectrum of these unexplored cuisines.

A boutique bar adorned by a fine selection of spirits with an emphasis on its unique selection of single-malts and artisanal Mezcals is armed with expert mixologists, poised to create “fresh, bold cocktails to harmoniously pair with the flavours of each exclusive dish”.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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