Sanjay Rawat spent years feeding the OC’s Indian diasporic community. Now he brings modern Indian cooking to the Arts District.
Just in time for the long holiday weekend comes Brick Lane, the first independent restaurant by chef Sanjay Rawat, formerly of Kahani at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, a landmark wedding destination in the South Asian diasporic community. Rawat’s modern Indian restaurant debuts in the Arts District on Friday, May 22, as Southern California’s latest compelling entrant for reimagined regional Indian fare.
Rawat became a dominant presence at Kahani and at Irvine’s celebrated Indian restaurant Clay Oven. Orange County and Los Angeles County remain home to two of California’s largest Indian communities, with more than 160,000 people between them. Rawat’s reputation in Orange County picked up tremendously after landing at the Ritz-Carlton in 2022, where he became an in-demand chef for weddings, Diwali celebrations, and other Indian events and festivals. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel property hosts between 30 and 40 percent of Indian wedding ceremonies in the region.
Brick Lane’s business approach has familiar dishes, but unexpected arcs appear throughout. A departure from classic preparations, Brick Lane’s butter chicken gets delicately smoked with applewood. A kulcha flatbread arrives with soft brie and gooseberry chutney. Heat emanates from the halloumi cheese paneer and slow-cooked lamb neck laal maas curry. Watch a server cut open the biryani’s bread topping for a dramatic rice reveal, while tandoori prawn gets wrapped in naan and served with a curry leaf raita. Rawat also showcases four types of bread: a sourdough naan; garlic naan; paratha roti; and a spongy, leavened Parmesan khamiri. Desserts include a frozen yogurt chaat that features sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors…