Chiswick Indian restaurant Annapurna closes after more than 50 years

Annapurna restaurant at 101 Chiswick High Road

Cost of living sees off Chiswick’s oldest restaurant

Annapurna, the well-loved Indian restaurant in Chiswick High Road, has closed after more than 50 years.

The current owner, Mr Ahmed’s father Bashir, opened the restaurant at 101 Chiswick High Road in 1970 and his sons took in on, running it for the last 23 years.

“It’s the cost of living” Mr Ahmed told The Chiswick Calendar. “Rent, rates, all of it”.

Although the restaurant, which served fine Indian cuisine, was popular with locals, since Covid they lost the weekday evening custom from Chiswick Business Park and were paying the staff to be in a restaurant which was largely empty.

“We have very loyal local customers who have been coming for 30 years, but they would come every two or three months, whereas the customers from the Business Park would come during the week. Since Covid a lot of them work from home and there is a big gap during the week”.

The Ahmed brothers, who took over running the restaurant 23 years ago

The restaurant offered a crowd-pleasing menu, including house specials such as Tandoori Murgh Garlic Karahi – off the bone shredded grilled chicken, cooked with onions, garlic, herbs and special spices, ‘finished to your desired level of spice’, and Lamb Jalfrezi – diced lamb, marinated with fresh ground spices & sautéed with fresh ginger, tomatoes, onions, capsicum and fresh green chillies.

‘We believe quality cannot be compromised. Using only the freshest spices and ingredients, our chefs have created dishes which are delicately rich in flavour’.

Mr Ahmed says he will take time to consider what to do next and may in time open somewhere smaller.

Mr Ahmed taking orders on the last night

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