New Sri Lankan restaurant to open

A NEW Sri Lankan restaurant is opening in Stokes Croft, headed up by the team behind one of Bristol’s best Indian restaurants.

Nadu is the latest opening from local restaurateur Raja Munuswamy, who launched award-winning Indian restaurant Nutmeg in Clifton in 2016, alongside acclaimed executive chef Saravanan Nambirajan.

Their new restaurant will take over the space most recently occupied by Masa + Mezcal, which announced it had closed permanently in August.

Nadu means ‘land’ or ‘place’ in Tamil and the concept is inspired by Raja and Saravanan’s Tamil heritage.

Tamil food is based on the concept that food shapes the personality, mood, and mind, and Nadu’s menu has been created with this in mind by head chef Saravanan Nambirajan, who has worked in a number of Michelin-starred kitchens across the world.

The menu will use the highest quality local ingredients and will showcase a wide range of fish and meat dishes, alongside vegetarian and vegan small plates, all of which can be enjoyed alongside a cocktail menu showcasing one of Bristol’s largest collections of rums and traditional Southeast Asia spirit Arrack.

Co-founder Raja Munuswamy said: “We’re very excited to be bringing the food and drink of our ‘nadu’ to Bristol and look forward to sharing dishes from our childhoods including bone marrow curry, spring hoppers, coconut stew and – above all else – the share and tear dosa.”

Raja and Saravanan hope to open their new restaurant on Friday, December 4, two days after the second England-wide lockdown is due to end.