Aktar Islam’s New Kush Restaurant Review in Clifton 2026

Key Points

• A New Restaurant in Town: Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam recently opened his latest establishment, Kush, which is located in the premises of the former Mint Room on Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol.
• The Concept and Philosophy Behind the Establishment: Islam has explained the concept behind Kush in a post on its website saying that it is an answer to all the misconceptions regarding “the real India”, since India has too many stories to be compressed in one.
• Prices: The restaurant offers fixed courses which cost £30 for two courses, £35 for three courses, and £40 for four courses without any extra charge for mixing and matching.
• Menu Offerings: Some of the food items available in the menu include Mexicana ginger mocktails (£8 per glass), baingan bharta with corn flour flatbreads, malai murgh, Old Delhi style butter chicken with garlic naan, and Andhra fish curry with saffron pulao.
• Critical Reception: In her article published in Bristol24/7, journalist Karen Johnson praised the authentic taste and welcoming staff saying that “easily one of Bristol’s best butter chickens” can be found here.

Clifton, Bristol (Bristol Express News) September 21, 2026 — The sign of a good meal is generally a silent table, where all you can hear are intermittent satisfactory moans between mouthfuls of astounding flavours. According to Bristol24/7 journalist Karen Johnson, the moans arising from her table at Kush in Clifton were a little too many when she and her dining companion, Molly, visited on a recent Saturday afternoon.

As reported by Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7, while she has not yet had the pleasure of dining at Aktar Islam’s Michelin-starred Opheem in Birmingham or Oudh 1722 in London, his newest outing in her neck of the woods left her with no excuses.

How does the interior and atmosphere of Kush compare to other luxury dining spots?

The restaurant, situated in the former Mint Room site on Clifton Road (12-16 Clifton Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1AF), looks fancy from the get-go. It features two tall planters near the front door, a life-sized logo printed on a wall near the entrance, and softly lit bulbs hanging from metal contraptions in the ceiling.

However, Karen Johnson noted that if diners are easily intimidated by luxury, the warm faces of the staff here will instantly make them feel at home. Once settled into their two-top table, diners can begin their culinary journey with a quick scan of the drinks menu.

As reported by Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7, they picked two of the same mocktail, specifically the Mexicana ginger priced at £8 each. Described as a spicy-sour-sweet drink, it turned out to be refreshingly sweet, complete with cucumber pieces to munch on at the bottom of the glass. The drink arrived in a rather wide-bowled wine glass, which felt more than sufficient for its average price.

What are the set course options and pricing structures available at Kush?

There are three options of set courses to choose from at Kush: two courses at £30, three courses at £35, or four courses at £40. Between the diners, they agreed that their small bellies would be easily filled by the two-course set per person.

As reported by Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7, what felt great is the abundance of options and the freedom to mix and match for a set course. Their two courses could be a combination of any category on the menu, including bar nibbles, starters, sides, mains, and desserts. Nearly everything on the menu is included within the set course price, meaning customers can pick without having to worry about paying for extras.

How were the starters received by the reviewers?

For the starter course, Karen Johnson went with a childhood favourite, baingan bharta, while Molly chose a traditional tandoori dish, malai murgh.

Explaining the dish for anyone not familiar with the nuances, Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7 stated that a baingan bharta “essentially involves the deep roasting of a whole aubergine on open fire before it is smashed and mixed with masalas to create a chunky mix that is usually paired with a flatbread variation.” She was pleased to see that the bharta arrived with two circular corn flour flatbreads, which were of perfect texture and an excellent vehicle for its aubergine partner. The roasty flavour of aubergine was distinct and enhanced by sliced red chillies used as a garnish.

Meanwhile, Molly’s malai murgh was succulent, the chicken pink, rosy, and perfectly cooked, with a cream-coating astonishingly rich and flavour-packed. Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7 noted,

“I kid you not when I say our knives needed no pressure while cutting into the chicken: they were falling apart and melting in our mouths perfectly.”

What did the main courses reveal about the kitchen’s culinary expertise?

The main courses arrived soon after, consisting of Old Delhi-style butter chicken paired with a garlic naan for Karen, alongside Molly’s Andhra fish curry and saffron pulao.

As reported by Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7, the butter chicken sauce was smooth and evenly balanced, and the chicken pieces tender and moist, both being perfect companions to the crispy naan. Having sampled countless plates of butter chicken since she was a toddler, Karen regards herself as a connoisseur of the dish, even without proof of this claim. She asserted:

“If you were to take my recommendation, I would say Kush’s butter chicken is easily one of Bristol’s best.”

In addition, Molly’s fish curry was described by Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7 as “silky smooth and a perfect balance of tangy-sweet and a grand celebration of its coconutty base.”

Although neither diner had any room left for desserts or extra nibbles due to the generous portions, they expressed a clear desire to return to try everything else on the menu. Concluding the meal, Karen Johnson of Bristol24/7 remarked,

“We left Kush with happy hearts, full bellies and wide smiles, and with a prominent urge to return soon.”

Background of the particular development

The opening of Kush marks a significant addition to Bristol’s vibrant culinary scene, taking over the former site of the long-standing Mint Room on Clifton Road. Chef Aktar Islam, widely recognised for his culinary achievements including earning a Michelin star for Opheem in Birmingham, has expanded his footprint into the South West with the explicit intention of challenging watered-down interpretations of South Asian cuisine.

On Kush’s official website, Islam articulated a distinct philosophy: that stories from India are too vast, loud, and contradictory to flatten into a single narrative, positioning Kush as an antidote that celebrates the genuine diversity of regional Indian cooking styles rather than catering to conventional British-Indian restaurant tropes.

This high-profile launch by a Michelin-starred chef in an affluent area like Clifton is expected to significantly elevate competition among local dining establishments in Bristol. For food enthusiasts, local diners, and culinary tourists, the arrival of Kush provides access to authentic, high-end regional Indian cuisine packaged within flexible, value-driven pricing structures like the multi-course set menus. This development will likely drive heightened foot traffic to Clifton Road, encouraging neighboring eateries to refine their offerings while cementing Bristol’s reputation as a premier destination for diverse, high-quality independent dining.