Media & Press
Welcome to our Media & Press page! Here, you'll find highlights of our restaurant's features in news articles, blogs, and social media spotlights. We’re proud to share our journey, flavors, and stories with food lovers across Toronto and beyond.
In our continuing search for quality restaurants that we can walk to in the neighbourhood (for most of us that would be St. Clair West) a group of us recently tried Pukka, the new Indian-inspired restaurant in the west end. Braving the polar winds we walked the few blocks and were greeted with a warmly busy place whose front window featured a sign saying “not your mother’s Indian”.
Living Toronto Journal
Pukka is frequently described as a culinary gem that offers superb food, service and value in restaurant reviews. Little wonder that the popular Toronto restaurant, now in its 12th year of operation, has a massively high rate of regular customers — almost 50 per cent — who return again and again. Neither is it surprising that many of them look forward to seeing their favourite dishes on the menu at their next visit.
Toronto Sun
Refined, yet casual, Indian restaurant with a surprisingly good wine list. Generous portions of wonderful Indian cuisine The vibe Mumbai at night The crowd Large groups of friends The drinks Killer wine list The service Like a well-oiled machine
Condé Nast Traveler
There’s lots of competition among the top-tier Indian restaurants in Toronto, and Pukka is at the top of that list. Punjabi curries, vindaloos, paneer, and butter chicken—all the comforting hits from the subcontinent can be found here. And while the food is uniformly excellent, it’s the wine list that’s the standout.
Goop
The Atmosphere – With an exposed brick wall that features a modern, bright-colored mural painted on it, you can tell right when you walk in that Pukka is not designed to be your traditional Indian restaurant. The contemporary interior makes for a comfortable setting for the meal but there is also outdoor seating if you’d like to dine al fresco. Reservations are possible and recommended.
Eat My Critique
At this modern Indian bistro, the kitchen is taking electric Indian flavors and upgrading the presentation. Saag paneer is reimagined: Here, two slices of house-made cheese are seared, then stuffed with tomato-braised spinach and garnished with pea flowers. Vegetable pakoras look like fancy curly fries (the type of fries the Queen Mum would be seen eating). Offering many vegetarian and vegan offerings, it's a great pick for a demanding group, and it's also good for families.
Frommers
If there is any reason to travel slightly west of Bathurst on St. Clair W, it is to experience a whirlwind of unforgettable colors and flavors. Pukka is the new hot spot for Indian cuisine lovers. At Pukka, you can indulge in your many favorites such as, butter chicken (a classic Indian dish featuring tomato-infused butter sauce), spinach and mushroom-stuffed paneer with pistachio korma sauce and butternut squash samosas with a side of tamarind chutney.
View the VIBE
Indian restaurants in Toronto have had a long history with the city, including Pukka Restaurant. In the early days the main complaint about them was that they weren’t authentic enough, but over time, things slowly started to change. More and more Indians migrated to Toronto and brought with them came valuable cooking skills and aromatic spices to make authentic tasting dishes.
Goat Roti Chronicles
Toronto Guardian
Last February, I had the opportunity to go and visit newly opened restaurant Pukka with its owners Derek Valleau and Harsh Chawla . The space (upon entrance) hasn’t changed much but what Harsh and Derek have done with Pukka in the last year has been incredible. They have created a fine-dining Indian food experience from the moment you enter the restaurant to the moment you leave with carefully thought out dishes and cocktails.
On the Toronto food scene I’ve been hearing a lot of rumblings about Pukka restaurant located on St Clair West – Hillcrest Neighbourhood. On a cold winters evening in January we decided to see what all the fuss was about. After a thirty-minute journey in -15 degree weather my sister and I made it across town and arrived at our destination.
Planet Blue Adventure
We visited Pukka over a year ago, so we were excited to return this year to see what’s new in their updated menu, just in time for the winter season. I personally love Indian food, and especially during the colder months, when the strong and bold flavours of Indian cuisine really stand out.
Best of Toronto
I was invited to Pukka's media tasting a couple of weeks ago. Pukka which opened in mid-October is the newest modern Indian restaurant to hit the city. Rather than serving traditional Indian cuisine that can oftentimes pack a bit too much heat owners Harsh Chawla and Derek Valleau of Pukka aim to provide their diners with a twist on the traditional by focusing more on flavour instead of the fiery hot.
Food Junkie Chronicles
Pukka is a highly acclaimed Indian restaurant in the city, known for its exceptional service, friendly staff, and world-class cuisine. The restaurant has maintained a consistent quality of food over the years, offering an early bird special that allows diners to enjoy their outstanding cuisine at an incredibly modest price. The spice level is subdued compared to more traditional Indian restaurants, making it appealing to a wider audience.