After A Tumultuous Year, Indika’s Montrose Space Is Up For Sale

The space that houses innovative Indian restaurant Indika is up for sale.

The building, at 516 Westheimer Avenue, was listed for sale on April 20, a month after a statewide executive order required all dining rooms across Texas to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. A sign posted to the door of the restaurant reads “For the safety of all our guests, Indika will remain closed till the current public health crisis is over.”

It’s been turbulent year for Indika, which was first founded in 2001 by chef Anita Jaisinghani. Jaisinghani went on to open Pondicheri on Upper Kirby in 2011, with a later outpost opening in New York City. Jaisinghani and her business partner (and ex-husband) Ravi Jaisinghani sold Indika in 2017, and in 2018 it was bought by Mickey Kapoor, who also owned Khyber North Indian Grill.

Last year, Kapoor announced that Indika would be closing and transitioning to a new restaurant serving Uzbek-inspired food, saying that Indika was too closely associated with Jaisinghani’s legacy to continue operating without her. Three weeks later, Kapoor reversed course, saying that Indika would remain open.

It’s unclear how long Indika has been closed, but if it remains shuttered for good this time, it will leave a big hole in the Montrose. Its neighbor directly to the east, pizzeria Dolce Vita, will also close for good on May 24.

• • Indika Is Closing in Montrose After 18 Years in Business [EHOU]
• • Indian Mainstay Indika Won’t Be Closing in Montrose After All [EHOU]
• • ‘Meat lover’s paradise’ will replace legendary Montrose Indian restaurant [CultureMap]