A new South Asian restaurant is about to bring the poetry of Indian cuisine to Mount Pleasant.
Kavita, chef Tushar Tondvalkar’s long-awaited flagship restaurant, officially opens its doors on October 16.
The project has been years in the making for the Mumbai-born chef, who is known for his inventive approach to regional Indian flavours.
He previously worked at restaurants like Bauhaus, Blue Water Cafe, and Gaggan in Bangkok.
Named after Tondvalkar’s mother, Kavita means “poetry” in Marathi, a fitting tribute for a restaurant that blends emotion, storytelling, and culinary artistry.
Drawing from his roots in Mumbai and the coastal town of Malvan, Tondvalkar has designed a menu that celebrates India’s regional diversity while embracing the fresh, seasonal bounty of British Columbia.
“I’m excited to finally bring my dream restaurant into reality with Kavita and introduce Canadians to my interpretation of regional Indian cuisine,” says Tondvalkar.
Kavita will feature two distinct menus: an à la carte menu inspired by India’s festival calendar and a nine-course tasting menu called “amma-kase,” a nod to the nurturing spirit of mothers.
The à la carte offerings will evolve with the seasons and festivals like Diwali, Holi, Onam, and Eid.
Highlights include dishes such as Beef Tartare with podi masala and crispy curry leaf, and a Malvani Black Chickpea Stew made with caramelized coconut, spiced onion sauce, and fried wade bread.
The amma-kase tasting menu, priced at $98 per person, will showcase locally sourced ingredients through dishes like Bombay Vada with moth bean stew and beetroot chutney, Geoduck Clam with Malvani masala, and Aged Duck served with Kerala-style coconut curry and appam.
Dessert will take shape in a playful Shrikhand with black sesame cake and seasonal fruit.
Supporting Tondvalkar is general manager Yash Shah, his childhood friend from Mumbai, along with wine director Nikhil Kumar (previously The Victor) and bar manager Kabir Sehgal (formerly Chupito).
The 1,500 sq.ft restaurant, designed by Janks Design Group, features 46 seats, including an eight-seat chef’s table overlooking an open kitchen.
The space is rich in texture and handcrafted detail, blending cultural motifs with contemporary design to reflect Tondvalkar’s vision of modern Indian dining.
They will now join other upcoming Vancouver food spots like Chaiiwala West End, C Market Coffee Main Street, and Ongiri Ya Downtown.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 250 W 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.