Introducing: Pukka, a modern Indian restaurant on St. Clair West with an impressive wine list
Introducing: Pukka, a modern Indian restaurant on St. Clair West with an impressive wine list
Name: Pukka
Contact Info: 778 St Clair W., 416-342-1906, pukka.ca, @pukkatoronto
Neighbourhood: Humewood
Owners: Derek Valleau, the former operations manager at Crush Wine Bar, and Harsh Chawla, a restaurant-industry consultant
Chefs: Cornel D’Silva, previously from Scaramouche, and former Amaya chefs Kirti Singh and Dinesh Butola
The Food: Contemporary Indian food. The menu includes snacks, kebabs and a short list of mains from the Indian subcontinent and beyond: Punjabi chicken from the north, shrimp ambotik from the south and a handful of Canadian fusion dishes, like beef short ribs with black cumin curry. Naan is baked fresh in an authentic tandoor oven, and desserts are Indian takes on European standards, like chai pot de crème and Eton Mess made with rosewater and sweet lassi cream.
The Place: The space feels fresh and modern with reclaimed wood tables and whitewashed walls hung with funky lacquered paintings. Bright green and orange seat cushions reflect the colours of the Indian flag.
The Drinks: Twenty-five international wines selected by Scaramouche sommelier Peter Boyd to pair with the restaurant’s spicy food. The list includes a dry, aromatic Muscat from Greece and a robust Austrian St-Laurent.
The Numbers:
• $3,500 to equip the kitchen with an authentic tandoor oven
• 92 seats
• 25 international wines selected by lauded sommelier Peter Boyd
• 15 spices in the house garam masala
• 6 kinds of bread, including three naans, one whole-wheat roti, a fenugreek-dusted paratha and baked poppadoms
Read More
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- Pukka is located at 778 St. Clair West, in Humewood
- (Image: Pukka/Facebook)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- The space’s leather-covered chairs and banquettes reflect the colours of the Indian flag
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- A funky laquered painting from artist Jane Roos
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Pukka’s house garam masala is a blend of 15 spices
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- The food at Pukka ranges from authentic subcontinental cuisine to modern Canadian fusion
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Cold tandoori-smoked eggplant tartare with roti ($8)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Bengali grilled Lamb chops with warm apricot chutney ($14)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Pukka makes its own naan in an authentic tandoor oven
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Malai chicken tikka marinated with cardamom, black pepper and yoghurt ($13)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Vegetable string chaat with puffed rice, sprouts, honey-sweetened yoghurt and coriander-mint and tamarind chutneys ($9)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-pukka-B003-96x96.jpg
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- Sweet-and-sour South Indian fried chicken ($9.50)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Mushroom and spinach–stuffed paneer with pistachio korma sauce ($16)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- The only beef dish on the menu: slow-braised beef short ribs with black cumin curry ($22)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- French beans sautéed with curry leaves, mustard seeds and shredded coconut ($8)
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
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- Eton Mess with rosewater meringues, mango, pomegranate, sweet lassi cream and grenadine syrup ($6.75)<br /> <br />
- (Image: Valerie Howes)
- Introducing: Pukka
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-pukka-B008-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-pukka-B008.jpg
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![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/pukka-toronto-restaurants/&title=Introducing: Pukka, a modern Indian restaurant on St. Clair West with an impressive wine list&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-pukka-B005-624x416.jpg&description=
Name: Pukka
Contact Info: 778 St Clair W., 416-342-1906, pukka.ca, @pukkatoronto
Neighbourhood: Humewood
Owners: Derek Valleau, the former operations manager at Crush Wine Bar, and Harsh Chawla, a restaurant-industry consultant
Chefs: Cornel D’Silva, previously from Scaramouche, and former Amaya chefs Kirti Singh and Dinesh Butola
The Food: Contemporary Indian food. The menu includes snacks, kebabs and a short list of mains from the Indian subcontinent and beyond: Punjabi chicken from the north, shrimp ambotik from the south and a handful of Canadian fusion dishes, like beef short ribs with black cumin curry. Naan is baked fresh in an authentic tandoor oven, and desserts are Indian takes on European standards, like chai pot de crème and Eton Mess made with rosewater and sweet lassi cream.
The Place: The space feels fresh and modern with reclaimed wood tables and whitewashed walls hung with funky lacquered paintings. Bright green and orange seat cushions reflect the colours of the Indian flag.
The Drinks: Twenty-five international wines selected by Scaramouche sommelier Peter Boyd to pair with the restaurant's spicy food. The list includes a dry, aromatic Muscat from Greece and a robust Austrian St-Laurent.
The Numbers:
• $3,500 to equip the kitchen with an authentic tandoor oven
• 92 seats
• 25 international wines selected by lauded sommelier Peter Boyd
• 15 spices in the house garam masala
• 6 kinds of bread, including three naans, one whole-wheat roti, a fenugreek-dusted paratha and baked poppadoms
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Food is an important part of every celebration in India. Every occasion
and festivity is marked by a different dish. When living away from the
homeland, it is difficult to procure all the authentic ingredients that
are used in Indian food preparation.
Indian restaurant Calgary
Is it Halal? Why don’t you ever include that – please!