Omakase Indian restaurant coming to Hope Building on Duane

The Hope Building, 131-135 Duane, will get a new Indian restaurant in early 2023 — the second outpost of Musaafer in Houston, which opened in the Galleria mall there in May 2020. (Yes, during the pandemic.) (I think the malls in Houston might be really fancy? The restaurant is across from Nobu.)

The owners, Mithu and Shammi Malik, above at the opening of the building yesterday, who opened Houston in partnership with The Spice Route Co., a restaurant group out of Dubai, called it “elevated Indian cuisine” created by the team of chefs they assembled for Houston. The name means “traveler,” and part of their concept is featuring dishes from each of the 29 states of India.

“This promises to be opulent and highlight the art and architecture of India,” said Mithu Malik. The menu will be Indian omakase — a new one for the city, as far as I know — and there will be a basement bar. (Musaafer is known also for its cocktails.) “We hope to take New York by storm,” she added. “There’s no place like New York and there’s no concept like Musaafer.”

The Houston Chronicle reviewer flinched at the prices, but loved it.

Here it will join Paisley, Benares, Aahar and Tamarind in the Indian cuisine department.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Musaafer (@musaaferhouston)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Musaafer (@musaaferhouston)

 

2 Comments

  1. There is no way this restaurant survives. The space is way too big for the price point and the type of food they’re serving. Have they done any research on how full the Indian restaurants are day to day in the neighborhood. They all seem to close due to lack of interest. This place seems like it’s going to be relying on its basement dance club to make ends meet. I hope the owners understand they picked the wrong neighborhood for this New York outpost.

  2. You forgot Tribeca newcomer Goa.

    There’s definitely a disproportionate amount of premium Indian restaurants in Tribeca. These things always seem to come and go in trendy waves.

Comment: