IndeBlue restaurant, long a favorite in Collingswood, is returning to South Jersey from Philly

IndeBlue, a very popular Indian restaurant with a loyal following, is coming back across the bridge to South Jersey from Philadelphia.

The restaurant was one of South Jersey’s most respected restaurants when it was in West Collingswood for 10 years until it closed in 2018.

The owners are ready to get back to their Jersey roots, they say, and have the perfect opportunity to relocate their restaurant to the Barclay Farms Shopping Center in Cherry Hill with a target opening date of June.

Co-owners Rakesh and Heather Ramola are married with a family and have resided in South Jersey the whole time. For a few years, they had two restaurants – one in Collingswood on Collings Avenue and one in Philadelphia.

They closed the Collingswood location four years ago, and that space has since been occupied by Porch & Proper, which has since closed, and is now home to Li Beirut. They then put their focus on their Philadelphia location, which they expanded. Their lease is now ending in Philly, so after a decade in the city, they’re coming back home.

“We live in Marlton, so the new restaurant is like 10 minutes away from our house,” Heather Ramola said. “I think being closer to home and having a better quality of life. I think if the pandemic’s taught us anything, it’s to appreciate your time and appreciate your health and appreciate your family even more. I think that’s what we’re looking to do. To be close to our home, our family and our friends.

“The lease was up so it was the perfect opportunity to do that. I get emails every week saying, ‘When are you going to open up back in New Jersey?’ A lot of regulars for years have still been coming to Philly. Now they’re not going to have to travel to Philly … There are such great restaurants in South Jersey, you really don’t have to go across the bridge and then you get free parking over here.

“The exciting thing, too, a lot of our employees, our kitchen staff and also in the front of the house, live in New Jersey. They’re happier because it’s closer to their home.”

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The IndeBlue Philadelphia location at 205 S. 13th St. will have its last brunch and dinner service on April 30.

The new location is at 65 Barclays Shopping Center where IndeBlue will take the place of a now-closed Pho Barclay. Other neighbors in the shopping center include Norma’s Mediterranean Restaurant and Market, Mr. Wish Cherry Hill and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Ramola said the IndeBlue menu will continue to offer many of the customer favorites, but Chef Rakesh Ramola will offer a few new creations, as well as regular specials.

Malai Kofta Khubani, paneer served with apricots in a cashew cream with cardamom; tandoori grilled lamb chops; tandoor grilled shrimp; “butter chicken” poutine, vegetable biryani and many other items are some of those menu items.

IndeBlue also plans to collaborate with a South Jersey winery to offer customers local wine on site.

“What was exciting and fun about Collingswood, and we didn’t do it much in Philadelphia, was the specials,” Heather Ramola added. “My husband used to do a lot of really interesting specials. We are going to change a couple of menu items but everything that we’ve had that everybody likes is all going to stay on the menu.”

They Romolas are renovating the space and are targeting a June opening. There will be outdoor seating available.

The news on the IndeBlue Facebook page drew many excited customers:

“South Jersey welcomes you back with open arms! Can’t wait for June,” wrote Channy Singh.

“So exciting! So happy to have you back in NJ!” said Dorothy Jean.

“Yay!!!! So happy to have you so local again!!! Wishing you great success!” wrote Robin Stockton.

So, why Cherry Hill instead of another town?

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“I feel like the landlord, it’s a very nice company to work with,” Ramola explained. “It’s nice to be next to people that we’ve known for years ... We know a lot of people in the shopping center. There are businesses that have been in that shopping center for years.

"We thought it was a great location. It was a good move, being right on Route 70 and close to our home. We’ve been looking in New Jersey since we closed in Collingswood.

“It’s fantastic,'' she continued. "It’s going to be so close. We have a daughter in college who’s all excited, because she wants to work at the restaurant …The lease is over in Philadelphia and we just felt like we’re at a point in our lives where we kind of want to get back to our roots, be close to home. We thought this was a great location for us. We just felt it was the time.”

Celeste E. Whittaker is a features reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times. The South Jersey native started at the CP in 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college and high school sports and has won numerous awards for her work. Reach her at 856.486.2437 or cwhittaker@gannettnj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @cp_CWhittaker.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: IndeBlue Indian restaurant will move back to South Jersey from Philly