Chef's Story

Behind the Name – The Crossing Indian Bistro

The Crossing draws its inspiration from Chef Ankur Chakraborty’s childhood journeys with his father across India’s railways. At every crossing and station, life slowed, people paused, shared food, and connected. It was there he first discovered India’s incredible culinary diversity.

The restaurant is a tribute to those journeys, a celebration of the unrecorded recipes and food memories passed through hands, not books. Because food, at its heart, is about people, memory, and identity.

Meet the Chef

Chef Ankur Chakraborty has championed regional Indian cuisine throughout his career, always emphasizing high-quality ingredients, sustainability, and consistency. His passion lies in presenting authentic Indian flavors with a modern, thoughtful touch.

The Crossing

The Crossing is more than a restaurant, it’s the story of a child who grew up watching trains and became a chef preserving the stories that traveled with them.

Journey of Experience

The Journey of Lemon Butter

Chef Ankur co-founded LemonButter, a hospitality group known for celebrated concepts such as the Streetery Food Hall and the former Crossing Dubai. Building on that success, he brought The Crossing Indian Bistro to Paris, Nice and Leeds, with Ealing set to become the next chapter of the Lemon Butter vision in the UK.

A Culinary Philosophy

Chef Ankur’s menus highlight GI-tagged ingredients, secret family recipes, and global influences, paired with carefully curated wines and cocktails. The result is an experience that’s both refined and approachable, where every dish tells a story of heritage and innovation.

Signature Excellence

With over 22 years in the restaurant industry, Chef Ankur has collaborated with Michelin-starred chefs, launched award-winning concepts, and continues to redefine what makes a dining experience truly exceptional. His signature dishes, from butter chicken and chicken tikka masala to Railway lamb curry, are recognized among the best Indian cuisine in Paris, Nice, Leeds, and Ealing.

For generations, India’s railways have been more than transport, they’ve been cultural corridors, carrying people, recipes, and memories. Platforms became melting pots; crossings, brief pauses filled with chai, conversation, and connection.

Chef Story Train

"For me, this story is personal. My father dedicated his life to the Indian Railways, and my own childhood journeys by train shaped how I understand food. Each station offered new flavors, subtle or bold, each telling a story of place and people."

Reservation

Nice Reservation
Paris Reservation
Leeds Reservation

Reservation

Nice Reservation
Paris Reservation
Leeds Reservation
Indian Hospitality Through Railway Culture
Featured, Nice

Understanding Indian Hospitality Through Railway Culture

Indian hospitality is not rooted in formality, but in movement, pause, and instinctive generosity. This article explores how India’s railway culture shaped a distinct understanding of welcome and care — one that continues to inform the philosophy of The Crossing Indian Bistro. Set in Nice and influenced by Parisian dining sensibilities, this approach offers food lovers one of the best Indian restaurant experiences through warmth, rhythm, and return rather than performance.

What Makes The Crossing One of the Best Ambience-Driven Restaurants in Paris img
Paris

Why Heritage Matters in Modern Indian Dining

Modern Indian dining is often discussed in terms of innovation — lighter menus, contemporary spaces, edited techniques, global settings. Yet this conversation frequently overlooks the quiet force that makes such evolution possible: heritage.

The Philosophy That Drives The Crossing
Featured, Nice

The Philosophy That Drives The Crossing Indian Bistro

Restaurants are often judged by dishes, yet the most enduring ones are shaped by ideas. This article explores the philosophy that drives The Crossing Indian Bistro — a way of thinking about Indian cuisine that prioritises movement over monument, restraint over excess, and trust over spectacle. Set in Nice and influenced by Parisian dining culture, The Crossing offers food lovers one of the best Indian restaurant experiences on the Riviera through clarity, craft, and intention.