THE WARF: Dynamic Hospitality Duo Chef K.N. Vinod & Surfy Rahman - Behind Celebrated Indique & Bombay Bistro - To Open New Indian Restaurant at the Wharf in Fall 2017

The dynamic hospitality duo behind celebrated Indian restaurants Indique in Cleveland Park, Washington DC and Bombay Bistro in Rockville, Maryland - Surfy Rahman and Executive Chef K.N. Vinod - have officially announced that they will be opening their first new Indian restaurant in Washington DC in over a decade at the Wharf within the buzzing Southwest Waterfront.

The yet-to-be-named restaurant from the hospitality veterans is slated to open at the Wharf, and is set to feature 2,700 square feet, with indoor and outdoor seating for an estimated 75 guests. Construction for the restaurant is slated to begin sometime in summer 2017, with the opening scheduled for fall 2017. Vinod and Rahman plan on debuting an upscale casual dining experience at the new restaurant featuring an a la carte menu with the possibility of offering tasting menus. The restaurant will be located in a corner space on Maine Avenue.

Vinod and Rahman will be pulling inspiration for the restaurant, menus, and design by paying homage to regional fare showcasing Southern Indian cuisine with nods to Chef Vinod's hometown in Kerala. Chef Vinod is also looking at playing with some modern touches on the menus as well. Handcrafted cocktails inspired by the South of India will also make their debut with the opening of this new restaurant.

Since Vinod and Rahman arrived in the U.S. from India, both hospitality veterans have lived in the DC Metro area, and are proud to call it home. They launched their careers and their lives here, and ever since they landed in America in 1985, they have been doing their best to share an authentic taste of India with DC area diners, and look forward to continuing to do so with this new project.

“When we first learned of the Wharf opportunity, we were immediately impressed by the project”, said Chef K.N. Vinod. “The Wharf project is truly bringing something new to the city, and once completed, we are think the result will reflect an iconic project not just in the city or country, but globally. Surfy and I love the way the developers are so intentionally cultivating the neighborhood, and we are honored to be a part of this project along with so many other local talented chefs, restaurateurs, restaurants, and shops - many of which are local and original. We are looking forward to continuing to share our passion of culture and cuisine with both DC residents and all those that come to visit our beautiful nation’s capital. I am also particularly excited about the fact that the Wharf allows our new restaurant to be so close to the waterfront, just like home in Kerala.”

“Vinod and I have been working in this industry together for quite literally our entire adult lives, and throughout our time working in the hospitality industry we have always done our best to proudly represent both our backgrounds, country, and cuisine, and open people’s minds to the wonders of Indian food”, said Partner Surfy Rahman. "Also with both of our sons recently moving back to Washington DC to work on their own fast-casual restaurant, Rasa Indian Grill, seeing their energy as they launch their new project has truly inspired both of us, and reignited our passion and desire to continue creating memorable meals for all of our guests - family, friends, visitors, Washingtonians - new and old alike. As we enter the final chapter of our careers in the hospitality industry, we feel the Wharf project, with it’s iconic location and prominence in the district, offers us an incredible opportunity to showcase regional dishes from parts of the country that have been largely underrepresented in American dining, and we could not be more excited to get started on this new adventure."

**Photo: Rey Lopez