Fountain Square's new Indian restaurant, Aroma, set to open second location in SoBro

The new Aroma Indian restaurant that set up shop in Fountain Square less than a year ago plans to open a second location south of Broad Ripple, bringing northern Indian cuisine to College Avenue.

It's just the beginning of what owner Vinita Singh hopes will be a broader expansion, one that would ultimately involve opening 50 restaurants in the next six years. She also owns the Barrel 1787 Urban Grill on W. 86th Street, formerly known as Smee's Place.

Aroma opened this March in the former Rook restaurant along Virginia Avenue. On the menu: butter chicken with goat cheese, lamb coconut curry and shrimp masala — marinated shrimp cooked with mustard seeds, coconut milk and curry leaves.

And Singh encourages anyone who likes goat to try one of their goat dishes.

"We have really good quality goat meat," she said. "And every week we sell over 100 to 150 pounds of goat here."

Vegetarian options abound, too. They include the potato peanut kofta, a fried vegetable dumpling served in a creamy sauce.

Expect similar high-end Indian dishes at Aroma's second location at 4907 N. College Avenue, which is set to open Jan. 15. It takes the spot of the former Ukiyo Japanese restaurant, a few doors down from Pots and Pans Pie Co.

Singh came to the U.S. from India to complete her second master's degree in hospitality management in 2001. She first landed in Indianapolis doing her management training with Macaroni Grill while a student at Michigan State University.

She launched Aroma with strong restaurant industry experience, having worked at the Darden and Brinker International restaurant companies.

Food news: You should try these Indianapolis restaurants in December

Singh says carry out is a pretty big component of Aroma's business.

But she hopes to draw more customers inside to enjoy the food at both locations.

"Most of the Indian restaurants are known for delivery and carry out, and food is more about experience," she said. "And we want to focus more on providing quality and outstanding experience to our customers."

That's why Aroma's Fountain Square location features a bar with a collection of cocktails, beer and wine.

"I used to ask customers, 'Are you sure you want to take food home? Because it's never going to taste the same," Singh said. "I truly want my customers to enjoy and love what they're getting, and unfortunately we cannot bring that experience to carryout."

Aroma spares no cost when it comes to the presentation and quality of its food, Singh said. That's why you'll see dishes served in stoneware plates and the food cooked with real ghee and mustard oil.

Aroma's second College Avenue location will also feature a private party room.

Singh hopes to create a third location in Carmel City Center sometime next May or June.

Call IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or email her at apakharvey@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmeliaPakHarvey.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis restaurants: Aroma Indian food to open on College Avenue