This Indian restaurant from South America has opened its first U.S. location in Miami
.jpg "The colorful Rishtedar from Santiago, Chile, is now open in Wynwood.")
Amid a sea of New York transplants, a Chilean import has arrived in Miami.
The Indian restaurant Rishtedar, a fine dining establishment from Santiago, has opened its first U.S. location in Wynwood.
Created by Vikram Thadani, who was born in Chile to Indian parents, Rishtedar is located in the Cube Wynwd, a boutique retail space east of Le Chick Miami and Crudos Fusion Art.
Thadani, who started Rishtedar as an import business, said in a statement he aims to bring authentic Indian fare to Miami just as he introduced it to Chileans.
“Creating an experience that captures my heritage and can serve as an introduction to Indian culture was our aim behind Rishtedar,” he said. “Rishtedar means ‘family’ and as soon as our diners step foot in here, we like to expose them to many traditions.”
The culture Rishtedar is highlighting is apparent before, during and after each meal. Upon entering the restaurant, diners will have a bindi — a colored spot or sticker — placed between their eyebrows. At the end, they’ll be presented with a finger bowl with lemon, cardamom and rose water for washing their hands.
In between, they can try traditional Indian cuisine and a high-end dining experience. Menu items include samosas; eggplant in fresh onion, pepper, and tomato sauce; sesame breaded shrimp with 12 spices; and spicy chicken cooked in the tandoor with tikka sauce. This last dish comes with blazing charcoal underneath to add a touch of smoke.
There’s also butter chicken; lamb marinated in onion sauce with masala; Ecuadorian shrimp with curry and potatoes with peas and cauliflower in a traditional masala.
Mico Design & Co. with Gino Falcone designed the restaurant, which is full of bright colors and textures to emphasize Indian culture. At present, the space spans 2,600 feet, but Thadani plans to open a VIP area upstairs with a full bar, bringing the size to 4,360 feet eventually.
Rishtedar
Where: 232 NW 24th St., Miami
Hours: Lunch noon-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 1-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday; dinner 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday
More information: rishtedar.com or 305-799-0724; reservations on OpenTable
This story was originally published April 7, 2023 at 4:30 AM.