Miami’s Michelin-recognized Ghee Indian Kitchen has opened in West Midtown, bringing its bold and traditional farm-to-table flavors to Atlanta. Located in the Star Metals District and in the former Wagamama space, Ghee wraps diners in a plush setting of warm, yellow lighting and splashes of dark wood and terracotta as they feast on family-style dishes with ingredients sourced directly from chef Niven Patel’s organic farm, Rancho Patel.
Owned by Patel and restaurateur Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar, the pair said they were constantly receiving requests for an Atlanta restaurant from diners who visited the Miami location. They celebrated the grand opening of their Atlanta location on Oct. 23 to enthusiastic locals excited to try the area’s newest eatery. Since opening its doors in the Dadeland neighborhood in 2017, Ghee has built a reputation for serving creative and fresh dishes infused with authenticity, earning the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for four consecutive years.
“It’s really about the spices that we use. There’s a small village in India that holds all my recipes. It’s all grown fresh and then shipped once a month. The quality and the blends that I do, they’re very unique to what Ghee is,” Patel said.
The menu features dishes such as duck biryani and several curries, including Kerala lamb. It also offers small plates, such as mushroom momo, yellowfin tuna bhel, samosa chaat, short rib dosa, and various naan variations. A 13-course tasting menu offers 13 dishes for $65 per person, providing guests with a diverse selection that includes their papaya salad, sag paneer, and a sticky date dessert topped with ginger ice cream.
While the Miami and Atlanta menus are identical, Patel shared he hopes to incorporate Southern influences by introducing a boiled peanuts dish in the future.
“For the Indian clientele, it really packs a punch. But then, what makes me happy about Ghee is that it’s very approachable. People who haven’t had Indian food, you don’t have to be intimidated coming to Ghee. There are a lot of great flavors that aren’t crazy spicy. Anybody can come eat here.”
Patel shared that Atlanta is just the next stop for them. Alkassar and Patel hope to continue expanding the restaurant into a national brand that people all over can enjoy.
“Usually, when you grow, a lot of people will say, it’s not the same. We really want to prove to people that we can grow and keep everything consistent.”
Ghee Indian Kitchen is open from 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 5-11p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.