“Chapel Allerton feels like the right first home for us"
The Crossing Indian Bistro has opened its first UK restaurant in Leeds, following sites in Paris, Dubai and Nice.
Founded by chef Ankur Chakraborty, the restaurant takes inspiration from his family history and India’s diverse culinary traditions.
Chakraborty’s father worked for the Indian Railways, giving him an early insight into the variety of flavours, ingredients and dishes found across the country.
That connection to the railways has become central to The Crossing’s identity.
The restaurant celebrates the way travel and migration helped different regional food cultures influence one another.
Its menu combines traditional recipes with contemporary cooking techniques, while highlighting dishes from different parts of India.
Signature options include Railway Lamb Curry, Alleppey Prawn Curry, inspired by Kerala’s backwaters, and Madras Mutton Pepper Fry.
The menu also features smaller plates, including gunpowder prawns, Kerala fried chicken, dal moradabadi and The Crossing chaat bowl.
For dessert, diners can choose from dishes including the Goan-Portuguese influenced Mango Serradura and Dubai date toffee pudding.
The latter is served with homemade carrot halwa ice cream, combining familiar Indian flavours with a contemporary dessert.
The restaurant is also offering a £15 thali deal at lunchtime.
Served in traditional silverware, it includes a main curry, Zeera Aloo, Saag Makai, dal of the day, raita, house pickles and steamed basmati rice.
Diners can also choose from freshly baked tandoor bread as part of the lunchtime offering.
Chapel Allerton was chosen as The Crossing’s first UK location because of its independent character and strong sense of community.
Chakraborty said: “The Crossing is built on the idea that India is not one cuisine, but thousands of local food cultures connected by movement, exchange and memory.
“The railways helped those cultures meet as people travelled, allowing recipes to cross regions and flavours to evolve.”
“We’ve reflected this in the menu, which takes guests on a journey through India, where they can discover lesser-known dishes inspired by its different regions.
“Chapel Allerton feels like the right first home for us in the UK with its strong identity and an independent, community-minded spirit.
“We hope to add something distinctive to that neighbourhood, with an expression of modern India that is regionally rooted, generous and full of discovery.”
The Crossing Indian Bistro has now opened its doors in Chapel Allerton, giving Leeds diners the chance to explore its modern take on regional Indian cuisine.
To mark the opening, the restaurant is offering 50% off all food until August 31 as it settles into its new Leeds home.
