Fatt Pundit Covent Garden

Gone are the days when finding a well-priced restaurant in Covent Garden meant resorting to a chain site for a quick bite. Instead, there’s now no shortage of decent independent restaurants that are perfect for pre- or post-theatre dining. Adding to the ranks is this second site from Fatt Pundit.

Fatt Pundit has those sorts of mismatched interiors that create a cosy, relaxed ambiance from the off, with distressed looking walls, rustic wooden tables and wall-hung curiosities keeping things interesting.

The menu takes you on a wander across much of Asia given the menu’s Kolkatan influence (a place synonymous with fusion food given its melting-pot status that emerged as the Hakka people migrated to the area, bringing with them the food of Canton in China). The kitchen's signature Indian spicing and Chinese techniques blend seamlessly in momos, the house specialty steamed dumplings. Unusual fillings like kid goat give them a richness and the accompanying chutneys are a nice way to cut through the meaty flavour.

For mains, sharing-style plates are generously sized with highlights including a plate of shredded sticky venison that comes accompanied by mantou bread. Light and fluffy it’s the perfect thing to mop up the sweet and spicy sauce. Crackling spinach is a fun spin on a traditional chaat, with a crisp base of deep-fried leaves topped with sweet yogurt and a tangy plum sauce. There are interesting vegan options too (Bombay chilli mock chicken, for instance), and the caring staff are so invested in their role that we expect any special dietary request would be catered for. 

Dessert is a picture opportunity not to be missed, with a sizzling brownie that comes accompanied by a jug of warm sauce that bubbles and splatters over the roasting hot cast iron skillet it’s served on. Also, cocktails are fresh, fruity and really, really good.

For a safe bet for some decent food and wallet-friendly prices in Covent Garden Fatt Pundit manages to hit the sweet spot of serving dishes that hold mass appeal without offering anything too predictable. 

With an already established restaurant in Soho, Fatt Pundit’s second site brings the unique food of India’s Chinese community to the heart of Covent Garden. The menu focuses on bringing to life the recipes of immigrants from Canton and Guangdong in China, who settled in Kolkata and Mumbai and created a whole new culinary culture using Indian spicing in classic Chinese dishes.

Kicking things off are the must-order momos, which are Fat Pundit’s house special. These hearty Nepalese-style dumplings are served with spicy sesame and red pepper dips and are packed with fillings like kid goat or leek and chilli.

The main event has been designed to share amongst family and friends and offers diners a choice of a selection of small plates. While favourites from the original site remain an option, there are also dishes that have been created uniquely for the Covent Garden restaurant. Seafood serves include soft shell crab with curry leaves and saffron butter prawns served in a rich Malabar sauce. Elsewhere shredded chilli beef pays homage to the famous Leopold Irani café of Mumbai while a honey chilli duck dish comes presented in strips ready to wrap up in freshly steamed pancakes.

The dessert menu spans sweets modelled on Bengali street food favourites and also includes the ever-popular sizzling brownie which has been borrowed from the Soho site. Expect a brownie on a red hot platter which gets warm chocolate sauce poured all over it for a bubbling, moulton spectacle at the end of your meal.

If you’re keen to make a night of it don’t miss the restaurant’s two bar areas which are perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks and offer creative cocktails via an ever-evolving list. Favourites include the White Tiger (gin, lychee and elderflower) and The Hakka Garden (peach, passionfruit, vanilla, black cherry and bergamot).