Rooh's Splashy Interior Heralds the Rise of Progressive Indian Cuisine in SF

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• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang
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• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang
• Rooh Patricia Chang

Rooh, a modern Indian restaurant, is now open in SoMa (333 Brannan St). Hailed as one of Eater SF’s most anticipated openings (and one of the few restaurants to actually open within its projected timeline), the polished space is bringing a different vibe to the San Francisco Indian cuisine scene, which has recently seen openings like Babu Ji and August 1 Five.

It’s the first U.S. restaurant for the Good Times Restaurant Group, run by Vikram and Anu Bhambri, and chef Sujan Sarkar. As such, the menu offers progressive versions of Indian dishes using Northern California ingredients and modern techniques. The culinary team includes a mix of professionally trained U.S. and Indian cooks, preparing dishes like foie gras pate with masala, pickled shallot, and taftan (a flatbread). Refreshingly, the menu is a healthy mix of both meat and vegetable-focused dishes, like a tandoori portobello mushroom served with polenta, morel crumble, and truffle.

Anthony Thornton

The interior is a polished mix of rich blues and gold, giving off a serious lounge vibe— the group also owns nightclubs in India. The dining room can be split into more intimate semi-private areas with gold mesh curtains that hang from the high ceilings, while a long marble bar gives ample space for snacking and drinking.

Sarkar’s menu is available a la carte, or as a seven-course tasting menu for $80. At the bar, cocktails based on Ayurveda’s six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent, and bitter) were created by Good Times’ beverage director from India. The cocktails are unique products of Indian flavors, like the Beetroot Kanji, made with tequila, beetroot shrub, Himalayan salt, and spices, and an old-fashioned made with ghee- and mustard-washed bourbon. Wines, whiskies, and a selection of teas from the group’s tea sommelier, Anandani Singh, will also be available. Check out the full list below.

The restaurant opens February 9 for dinner; happy hour, lunch, and brunch will arrive in the coming weeks. Hours are Monday- Thursday from 5:30 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from 5:30- 10:30 p.m. The late night bar menu is offered Friday-Saturday from 10:30 p.m.- 12:30 p.m.

• Rooh [Official Site]
• Most Anticipated Openings, Winter 2017 [ESF]