in the city centre, among current notable south asian restaurants, are the "rajdoot" in george street in the jewellery quarter, which serves north indian cuisine and which was opened in 1966, and which lists among its former notable customers the beatles, the princess margaret and, more recently, the television personality simon cowell. in hurst street is "the maharajah" which also serves north indian cuisine having been opened there in 1971. it was the egon ronay "indian restaurant of the year" in 1999 and among its former notable customers were john major, cliff richard, and take that. off st. paul's square in james street is located "lasan" which was opened in 2002 and which won "gordon ramsay's f word best local restaurant" award on channel 4 television. the then chef director, aktar islam, appeared in bbc's "great british menu" three times:- in 2013 and 2014 as well as in 2011 when his dish of sea bass with battered soft shell crab won the fish course category. islam left his role at lasan in late 2017 and opened 2 new restaurants in summer row in may 2018 and december 2018 respectively - 'opheem' which serves 'progressive indian cuisine' and the neighbouring 'legna' which serves italian-style dishes with steve woods as head chef.