The Essex Indian Restaurant that Once ‘Struggled’ Now Named Among the UK’s Best
A popular Essex restaurant that underwent a transformation in 2019 has earned its place among the finest dining establishments in the UK. The Bridge Street Bar and Grill in Writtle faced challenges and eventually closed its doors, only to be reborn as Pakwaan at Bridge Street. This high-end Indian restaurant, under the same ownership, now boasts authentic Punjabi cuisine and creates bespoke fine dining experiences. Their dedication and hard work have paid off, as Pakwaan at Bridge Street recently received a prestigious Gold Seal at the 2023/24 Good Food Awards. This honor is bestowed upon restaurants that consistently provide high-quality food, exceptional service, and excellent value.
The Good Food Awards expressed their admiration for the restaurant, stating, Our Good Food Awards recognize the hard-working teams who strive for culinary excellence within their field. Chosen for their food quality, service, and value, our highly revered Gold Seal is bestowed upon those achieving consistently high customer ratings/votes over three years, making our Gold Seal a marque of distinction.
Pakwaan at Bridge Street began its journey when the owner of the Bridge Street Bar and Grill, Piotr Ulewicz, joined forces with Rajesh Chouhan, the owner of the renowned Pakwaan Punjabi restaurant in Ilford for 25 years. While Mr. Ulewicz’s restaurant had seen success on weekends, it faced challenges during the weekdays. Determined to turn things around, Mr. Ulewicz and Mr. Chouhan decided to revamp the business by opening a fine dining Indian restaurant.
To ensure an exceptional culinary experience, Mr. Chouhan brought in talented chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants in London. A new executive chef, head chef, and sous chefs collaborated to create a menu that offers high-end Punjabi cuisine at competitive prices. Along with a complete menu overhaul, Pakwaan at Bridge Street now specializes in exclusive fine dining, corporate events, sporting dinners, boardroom lunches, cocktail parties, and other bespoke dining experiences. Customers can look forward to professionally orchestrated events featuring sophisticated entertainment.
A statement from the restaurant highlighted their commitment to exceptional service, saying, Pakwaan Restaurant has a professional and extremely dedicated team of qualified chefs, managed by an experienced team of event specialists. We combine a high level of service with imagination and innovation when putting together your perfect event, whether in-house or outdoors.
The success of Pakwaan at Bridge Street serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and creativity of the team behind its transformation. With their commitment to excellence in every aspect of the dining experience, it’s no wonder that this Essex gem has emerged as one of the UK’s best.
