New Indian restaurant Bombay Lounge to open Friday in Canal District
WORCESTER — Promising to bring a more upscale version of North Indian cuisine to Worcester, Bombay Lounge will open at 5 p.m. Friday to serve food at 64 Water St.
"I have not seen a really upscale, good Indian restaurant with a nice bar," Devendra Patil, one of the partners for the new Bombay Lounge restaurant, said. "We will basically fill that need for Worcester."
The Canal District building previously hosted Maddi's Cookery and TapHouse, which closed in November.
Days before the opening of the new restaurant, the space has shifted from the rustic ambiance of Maddi's, which was known for its assortment of vintage items collected at antique shops, flea markets and auctions, to a more modern decor of white tile separating rows of seats and plants furnishing the dining area.
The tables are covered in cloth with plates and cutlery already set.
With the opening day approaching, balloons were also sprinkled around the dining area.
Patil said they kept brick walls from the location's prior days as Maddi's.
"The first step was to clean out the entire furniture and then we got new furnitures," Patil said. "The flooring and the lighting, everything was changed to give a modern look to the restaurant."
Getting the restaurant ready for opening day took about three months, Patil said.
The restaurant has two dining rooms with the main dining room featuring a bar and the other seating about 40 to 45 people. Patil said the other dining room can be used for private events.
North Indian dishes - and surprises
The restaurant will serve North Indian dishes as well as staples familiar to Americans such as butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. However, Patil said they do not want to just serve the dishes many would expect to find in an Indian restaurant.
"We have (common Indian dishes) and we'll meet or exceed those expectations," Patil said. "Other than that, we also have some modern takes on Indian cuisine presented in a very stylish way. We will plan to exceed, not just to meet, expectations."
Patil mentioned lamb shanks and lobster tails as dishes Bombay Lounge will serve that may not be the first meals one would associate with Indian food.
The restaurant will also include vegetarian options. Patil specifically mentioned a cauliflower dish cooked in a tandoor, an oven made of clay that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
In addition, Patil said the owners want to ensure that the staff is well trained to be able to make appropriate recommendation to customers who might not be fully aware of Indian cuisine.
The restaurant is looking at a packed first weekend with many reservations, Patil said. The Indian community in Worcester and other community members have told Patil they are excited about the venture, and he said people coming in to test the food early have been impressed.
In June, the restaurant received License Commission approval to serve food.
While Bombay Lounge will be ready to serve food Friday, Patil said the restaurant has not yet received the license to serve alcohol at its bar. Patil said they expect to be serving alcohol in a couple of months
When the bar does open, Patil said the restaurant will serve craft beers, standard American cocktails, and cocktails with Indian touches.
Bombay Lounge will be open seven days a week. Normal hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner.
In Worcester, Indian food is also served at the Namaste Woo vendor in the Worcester Public Market and in the takeout location The Shack at 275 Park Ave.
Indian food is also served at Bollywood Grill in Shrewsbury.
Patil also owns The Treasury: Indian and Greek Kitchen in Burlington.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bombay Lounge Indian restaurant to open on Water Street in Worcester
