Revealed: Dubai Indian-Japanese restaurant Atelier to open first branch in Delhi

The India foray will mark Atelier’s – affiliated with the New York-based Altamarea Group, first international expansion outside the GCC.

AHH currently has presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, operating a string of high-end international and ethnic restaurants.

Atelier’s Indian-Japanese dining concept INJA

The group’s first Indian restaurant – christened as INJA – will be located in the capital city of Delhi and is scheduled to open in the second week of March.

Confirming Atelier’s entry into the Indian market, Panchali Mahendra, President of the hospitality group told Arabian Business: “We are thrilled to introduce INJA in India, and we can’t wait for the public to experience this unique dining experience, which is an amalgamation of Indian and Japanese flavours.”

Mahendra, a highly admired figure in Dubai’s f&b circle, having launched several Michelin-starred international restaurants in the city, said INJA would offer a harmonic representation of Indian and Japanese flavours – the experience of a beautiful marriage between the complexities of robust Indian ingredients and the delicate nature of the Japanese techniques.

She said the group has plans to expand across India and also to set up a consultancy service in the f&b sector.

“Our plan definitely is to expand Pan India and set up our consultancy firm but all will depend on INJA’s performance in the city and the country,” Mahendra said.

She said once their group “takes firm roots in the Indian market”, then they will look at launching several homegrown concepts.

Mahendra said the story of INJA began when Indian chef Adwait Anantwar, living in Dubai, was captivated by the numerous Japanese restaurants, and wanted to explore the coherence of the flavors and techniques of Indian cuisine with those of Japanese cuisine.

“Bringing in the IN from India and JA from Japan, the restaurant showcases a congruent blend of bold flavors, spices, and vivid colors of Indian cuisine with the subtlety, raw essence, and techniques of Japanese cuisine. Diners will be able to taste the multi-dimensional flavors and nuances of expertly crafted dishes, without one cuisine dominating the other,” said Mahendra, who was featured in the Power 50 and the Power Women list twice – in 2020 and 2021.

INJA is being set up at the former home of Indian Accent, in the boutique hotel – The Manor – at Friends colony in the up-market South Delhi.

Acclaimed international designer Amal Al-Beiti from the Tiny Toaster has done the branding and celebrated interior designer Samar Zakhem has curated the ambience of INJA.

Atelier, a high-quality boutique restaurant group in Dubai, is known for launching several popular brands from overseas, besides conceptualizing and developing locally grown brands.

The group’s brands include Marea (Michelin selected), 11 Woodfire (1 Michelin Star), Mohalla – an ethnic Indian restaurant, RSVP – an authentic French ‘fun’ dining, Host, Asma and Tides Bar.

It offers a range of cuisines including elevated Italian, quality brasserie French, Indian quality casual and fine dining, and specialty grill concepts, besides coffee and patisseries.

AHH also offers consulting and operational support to local players in the UAE market.