Ikara, a new fine dining Indian restaurant, is set to open this winter inside the Twelve Midtown Hotel at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. The restaurant aims to offer an elevated take on Indian cuisine, featuring dishes from various regions of India such as Bihar, Kashmir, Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Himachal Pradesh.
Chef Yugal Sharma will lead the kitchen. Sharma previously served as assistant master chef at The Royal Afghan at ITC Grand Bharat luxury hotel in Delhi, India. He plans to bring his experience with refined yet relaxed luxury to Atlanta diners. Ikara will offer both an à la carte menu and a 30-seat chef’s tasting room with a nine-course progressive tasting menu. According to the announcement, “Sharma’s nine-course progressive menu will reimagine traditional flavors through global techniques and thoughtful wine pairings. Diners can expect aromatics like saffron, roasted cumin and rose water weaving through dishes that feel both familiar and entirely new.”
The beverage program at Ikara is led by Arvind Poojari and features a globally inspired wine list alongside cocktails influenced by Indian spice markets and coastal regions. The restaurant says guests can expect “refined takes on classics alongside original creations infused with flavors like cardamom, tamarind, kokum and rose, all crafted to mirror the layered and expressive nature of the cuisine.”
Interior design for Ikara is handled by Chromed Design Studio’s Lead Designer Nitin Khobe. The design combines brass, glass, stone, and warm woods for an aesthetic that references royal palaces while embracing minimalism. The lighting is described as soft and golden to evoke the glow of diyas. A curated soundtrack will include music ranging from Indian classical to ambient electronic.
The restaurant has not yet announced its exact opening date but stated that more details will be released soon.
