Restaurant News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
Opening in Clapham on Wednesday 20 May, MAAI is the debut restaurant from Nikita Pathakji, founded alongside her mother Rima and sister Isha. Built from years of hosting sold-out supper clubs at home, MAAI carries forward the same approach to food and hospitality, now translated into a space of their own. Named after Rima, MAAI – meaning “Mum” – reflects the family’s way of cooking and hosting, shaped as much by instinct as it is by experience.
Located on Clapham’s buzzy Abbeville Road, the menu draws on Nikita’s classical training while embracing a style that feels open and personal. She has been quietly perfecting her craft for over a decade, with seasonal British produce underpinning dishes layered with influences from her heritage and wider travels across the globe. Plates are designed for sharing, encouraging a relaxed yet considered way of eating, where flavour combinations feel natural rather than forced.
The menu begins with smaller plates such as Chaat Tartlet, Sea Bream with Kalamansi Ponzu, and the Octopus “Tako Yaki” Doughnut – a dish that has followed Nikita from her time on MasterChef: The Professionals (which she won in 2022) through to her supper clubs. From there, larger dishes include BBQ Paneer with Palak Purée, Seared Halibut with Malaysian Fish Head Curry (which earned the Champion of Champions title on Great British Menu), and Spring Lamb Rump with Pea and Coconut. Meals conclude with desserts such as Strawberry and Elderflower Choux, Banana Pudding, and a selection of British cheeses.
Guests can also opt for a tasting menu, alongside a vegetarian version running in parallel, featuring dishes such as Asparagus Gomae with Scorched Mackerel, Grilled Hispi Cabbage with Kimchi Mayo, and Glazed Tofu with Malay Sauce. A shorter set menu will also be available, offering dishes such as Mango Chaat with tamarind, date and green chutney, followed by a choice of mains including “Sai Oua” Faggots or BBQ Paneer with Chaat Masala New Potatoes, and a dessert to finish.
Alongside the food, Isha has created a distinctive cocktail programme influenced by her background in chemical engineering, combining creativity, warmth and instinct to deliver a menu that is both playful and refined. Options include MAAI Colada, Buttered Popcorn Old Fashioneds and Salted Melon Daiquiris. This is complemented by a thoughtful wine list focusing on small, family-run producers whose values align with MAAI’s.
On Sundays, the menu will feature a roast inspired by Nikita’s Great British Menu dish, offering a refined take on a classic weekend favourite. Guests can enjoy dishes such as roasted Tomapork with Sweetcorn Chevdo and Beef and Tamarind Hot Water Crust Pie, alongside sides including Masala Carrots and Cabbage Shaak.
MAAI has been designed to feel settled from the outset, where deep greens and warm earth tones sit alongside walnut furniture and soft, neutral linens, with subtle references to Indian design woven throughout. The space balances comfort with a sense of occasion, creating a dining room suited to both long lunches and evening meals.
Nikita Pathakji, Head Chef & Co-Owner, comments: “MAAI means ‘Mum’, and she is at the centre of everything we do. Our mother, Rima, shaped the way we cook and host, with generosity, warmth, and an instinct to make people feel completely at ease. Our home was always full, lively, and open, and that spirit is what we’ve brought into the restaurant. My training has been in Michelin-starred kitchens, but the food at MAAI reflects how we truly like to eat; bold, expressive dishes influenced by the cultures and cuisines that have shaped us, and by the diversity of London itself. This is our take on modern British dining: personal, ingredient-led, and rooted in family.”
MAAI marks the next chapter for a family whose cooking has, until now, been experienced around their own table. Bringing together Michelin-level technique and a deeply personal, heritage-led perspective, it arrives as one of Clapham’s most anticipated openings this year, capturing a contemporary, globally influenced approach to modern British dining.
Restaurant News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
