A new fine-dining restaurant, Ikara, will open in the Twelve Midtown hotel at Atlantic Station at 361 17th St. NW this winter, bringing a menu to Atlanta that will incorporate flavors from various regions of India, according to a release. The team is aiming for an opening at the end of February.
Partner Rahul Bhambri shared with What Now Atlanta that the team is focusing on transforming what is traditionally expected at an Indian restaurant. Rather than focusing only on North or South Indian cuisine, the menu will pull in elements from various regions, including Bihar, Kashmir, Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala and Himachal.
The space, designed by Chromed Design Studio, will offer an elegant, modern interior featuring elements of brass, glass, stone and warm woods and golden lighting. Bhambri said that the space will be divided into three sections — a more casual dining space, a fine-dining section and a 30-seat chef’s tasting room. Ikara means “fragrance of rose,” which will influence design throughout the space.
“It’s a beautiful structure, and every space is very different from the other ones,” Bhambri said.
The culinary side, spearheaded by chef Yugal Sharma, will focus on regional Indian cuisine. The chef’s tasting room will offer a more in-depth approach, featuring a nine-course progressive menu that offers wine pairings as well as Indian-style cocktails. Customers can expect to see elements such as saffron, roasted cumin and rose water in the dishes.
The beverage program, led by Arvind Poojari, will offer cocktails infused with Indian spices and herbs. The offerings will include classics and well as signature cocktails with flavors such as cardamom, tamarind, kokum and rose.
“For the kind of product we’ve created, this is a new market for us,” Bhambri said. “I haven’t seen any product in the Atlanta market [like it], and I think Ikara will fill the gap and help change the perception about Indian food in the U.S.”
