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 will feature a menu that highlights dishes from several regions of India, including Bihar, Kashmir, Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Himachal. The approach combines regional authenticity with modern culinary techniques.
Chef Yugal Sharma will lead the kitchen at Ikara. He previously served as assistant master chef at The Royal Afghan in Delhi’s ITC Grand Bharat luxury hotel. Sharma plans to offer both an à la carte menu and a separate 30-seat chef’s tasting room. The tasting room will serve a nine-course progressive menu that reinterprets traditional Indian flavors using global methods and wine pairings. Sharma said guests 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 will be managed by Arvind Poojari. The drink selection includes a globally focused wine list and cocktails inspired by Indian spice markets and coastal regions. Drinks will feature ingredients such as cardamom, tamarind, kokum, and rose.
The restaurant’s interiors are being designed by Nitin Khobe of Chromed Design Studio. The design aims to reflect modern Indian elegance with materials like brass, glass, stone, and wood while maintaining minimalism. Lighting is intended to evoke the warmth of traditional diyas. A curated soundtrack will include Indian classical music as well as ambient electronic tracks.
According to the restaurant, more details about the opening date will be released soon.
