When Krishna was offered a job in Austin, the husband-and-wife team found a good fit for their business after learning the previous owners of Indian restaurant Madras Pavilion, open since the mid-1990s, were looking to sell. The Mattas took over in September 2016.
“In Austin, of course, the market is very different,” Krishna said. “We felt more confident in opening a restaurant in Austin.”
Madras met most of the couple’s needs, including the fact that the restaurant had a vegetarian menu. It was also an established business with an existing customer base, Krishna said.
“We felt that we could ramp up our ideas faster if we had an existing infrastructure versus having to build a brand from scratch,” he said.
They started with upgrading kitchen equipment and then hired a new head chef, sous chef and other staff.
In May, Krishna said a new menu will roll out featuring old favorites and new items. The updated menu will include a mix of Northern Indian and Southern Indian food as well as Indo-Chinese dishes, he said. The restaurant will continue serving its popular lunch buffet, Krishna added.
Suman, a classically trained Indian chef, said the restaurant’s focus on vegetarian food is important, but she is also planning to introduce more vegan options. The updated menu will also give diners more information about the contents of their meals, mostly directed toward people who have food allergies.
In addition to authentic cuisine, Suman said attentive service has been a primary focus since she and her husband took over ownership.
“We talk. We understand the customers’ needs,” she said.
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Madras Pavilion
9025 Research Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin
512-719-5575
www.madraspavilionaustin.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-10 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
