Asian kitchen opens its doors in York

CHEF Jaswant Mehra has collaborated with co-directors Naiya Khatri and Arpit Arora, to open their first Indian eatery in York.

29 States – The Indian Kitchen has opened on Tower Street, opposite Clifford’s Tower, in a former Chinese restaurant site, which will create six jobs.

It will offer the cuisines of the 29 states of India at its 70-cover restaurant, which will also be receiving a revamp of the two-storey property.

Mr Mehra and his co-directors have taken on the remainder of a 20-year lease on the premises.

Mr Mehra is a celebrity chef in his native India, appearing in 300 episodes of a popular cookery TV show. He has worked as head chef at the Aagrah restaurant chain, as well as becoming chef de partie at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Leeds.

Langleys Solicitors acted on the lease acquisition for the three directors in their first restaurant venture.

Naiya Khatri, said: “We really liked the look of the premises and decided to go ahead and develop a restaurant serving authentic Indian cuisine with a modern twist.”

She added: “We hope to provide our customers with a different Indian restaurant experience which is not all about curries as well as offering careers to young people looking to go into the hospitality sector.”

James Bradley, an associate in commercial property at Langleys, York said: “This is an exciting new venture for the 29 States team which I’m sure will attract interest from both tourists and the residents of York given its celebrity status and great central location.”