Chef Imran Mansuri, whose ambitious plans to bring a Michelin star to Putney generated excitement when Raaz opened earlier this year, has parted ways with the Lower Richmond Road restaurant after just six months.
Companies House records show Mansuri resigned as a director of the company behind Raaz on 30 November, leaving Chicago-based investor Manish Mallick as sole director. The departure marks the second time a chef brought in as director-partner has left the 113 Lower Richmond Road premises within a year.
Meanwhile, Putney.news understands that Masala Odyssey on Putney High Street is also looking to close, with its lease now being offered to potential new tenants. The restaurant opened earlier this year at 22 Putney High Street, a site that has struggled to retain tenants despite its prominent position near Putney Bridge.
A pattern at 113 Lower Richmond Road
When Putney.news profiled Mansuri in August, he spoke with quiet determination about his vision. “Are we going to be the first Michelin star in Putney? I hope so,” he said. “Why should Putney people go to Mayfair? Let’s bring Mayfair to Putney.”
Our opening night review praised the restaurant’s exceptional quality, describing it as a potential “fine dining destination” for South West London. That was followed up by dozens of other positive reviews including the odd Instagram influencer.
Despite the universal praise, however, when we checked in with Chef Mansuri a few months after opening, he confided that business was slower than expected.
His tenure proved short. He was appointed director on 12 May 2025 and resigned on 30 November, a period of roughly six and a half months.
He is not the first chef to leave. Companies House records show chef Parminder Singh was also appointed as a director when the company, Soiree Hospitality Group UK Limited, was incorporated in December 2024. Singh resigned on 7 March 2025 after just three months. He now runs Cho Asia, directly opposite Raaz on Lower Richmond Road.
The common thread is Mallick, a US-based investor who owns between 50 and 75 per cent of the company and has the right to appoint or remove directors. His correspondence address is listed is in Chicago.
Raaz remains open. One of the staff confirmed Mansuri’s departure but we wait on the restaurant for a fuller comment and will update this story if we receive one.
22 Putney High Street: a cursed location?
Masala Odyssey’s reported departure would continue an unfortunate pattern at 22 Putney High Street.
The site was previously home to Bone Daddies, the ramen chain that opened in February 2021 in what had been a Byron restaurant. Despite brand recognition and a loyal following, Bone Daddies closed in late 2022. Company accounts later stated the Putney branch was shut “based on an effort versus reward calculation, together with the opportunity to exit without further obligation.”
The premises hosted a pop-up shop selling vintage clothing and bric-a-brac before Masala Odyssey opened in 2024.
The physical layout presents challenges: a narrow entrance from the High Street opens into a larger space at the back, but with limited frontage it struggles to attract passing trade. The surrounding environment has not helped. The White Lion pub opposite has been closed for over a decade, while nearby venues including the Boilermaker, Simmons, and Be At One have all shut in recent months.
Putney.news has contacted Masala Odyssey for comment.
Wider pressures
The struggles of both restaurants reflect broader challenges facing Putney’s hospitality sector. Rising costs, changing consumer habits, and a High Street blighted by empty units have created a difficult trading environment even for experienced operators.
Bone Daddies, part of an established London chain, could not make 22 Putney High Street work. Mansuri, with experience at some of London’s finest Indian restaurants, has moved on from Raaz. These are not novice operators failing through inexperience.
For diners who discovered Raaz through our coverage or who enjoyed Masala Odyssey’s food, the news is disappointing. For anyone hoping to see Putney’s High Street and restaurant scene thrive, it is another reminder of the challenges facing local businesses.
Both Raaz and Masala Odyssey have been contacted for comment. This story will be updated with any responses received.
We went to Raaz shortly after it opened and had a wonderful dinner – food & service both excellent. We went back 3 weeks ago and it was dreadful. Food quality still good but my main arrived nearly 10 minutes after they served my wife’s main. And that meant the side dishes were cold by the time I could eat them. No explanation, barely an apology and no offer to discount the bill. So we paid in full (£146 for 2), left and knew we would not be going back. It was very obvious something had changed. Very sad, it had lots of potential. we did also try Masala Odyssey once but the food was below average and the service was amateur. There is a great place on the Upper Richmond Rd – Cilantro – independent, great food, slightly less ambitious (and cheaper) than Raaz which I think helps. Highly recommended and very popular.
This is very sad, as the restaurant is first class and deserves to be a huge success. The high street is a problem. It is showing signs of rebirth, but we as a community need to use it or lose it, whether it’s for a coffee or a big celebration, we need to get out there and show there’s a high street worth keeping.
Just on the empty units on the high street. It might be an idea for the authorities to investigate the blatant money laundering fronts that clearly support unsustainable business rates for real businesses in this area. The most obvious of which is the old paper chase building that seems to host a rotation of the same Italian suit / bric a brac / carpet business closing down and then reopening every 3-6 months with the same stock in the windows of the year before… I am sure it’s not the only culprit (how many vape shops?) but it’s the most blatant one…