New Indian restaurant set to open in Palatine

A new Indian restaurant is set to open in Palatine's Woodcraft Plaza shopping center on Dundee Road, after the project won approval Monday from the village council.

Nick Patel, an owner of the new restaurant named India Bhawan, said the business could open as soon as this weekend if necessary permits from the village are received in time.

According to village documents, the restaurant at 1280 E. Dundee Road will serve traditional Indian cuisine like kebab, nan, and tandoor.

"Everything we make is going to be totally healthy," restaurant manager Amit Vatal said. "We have a lot of vegetarian options, which are really healthy. And we have a lot of nonfat, non-fried stuff."

The restaurant space's previous occupant was Rossini de Lucca, an Italian eatery and bakery which closed in its first year after opening in 2014.

According to the business plan for India Bhawan, the restaurant will be set up in a similar configuration as Rossini de Lucca, with a dining room, bar area, party room, kitchen, catering area, and a separate entrance for carryout orders. The floor plan calls for seating for 196 customers, the same as Rossini de Lucca.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week and employ up to 37 full-time and 25 part-time workers, according to the business plan submitted to Palatine officials.

"It's a big project," Vatal said. "But I've been in the restaurant business a long time. This is the fifth one I've been associated with opening."

Vatal said the "Bhawan" in the restaurant's name means mansion or palace.

In addition to an eight-page business plan, India Bhawan's management also submitted a 35-page document listing every menu item, along with a picture of each dish. The village meeting packet is available for view on the Palatine village website at palatine.il.us.

The village council also approved the restaurant's request for a liquor license Monday.