Coromandel, a Zagat-rated Indian restaurant that has had its flagship eatery in Darien for eight years, opened a new location last month at 86 Washington St.
The management team behind the restaurant, which also has locations in Stamford, Orange and New Rochelle, N.Y., said it believes Coromandel offers a unique dining experience that can not be found anywhere else in South Norwalk — where a number of bars and eateries have sprung up in recent years.
"It was obvious for us," said Gopinath Nair, a partner at the Norwalk location. "South Norwalk is a destination for diners, and there's no good Indian restaurant. We thought we would become a complementary addition to the street."
The 60-seat restaurant features a full bar with televisions for an "all-around dining experience," Nair said.
Nair described the interior decor as "contemporary with a touch of Indian-ish."
The partners have been targeting South Norwalk for a new location for their expanding chain for more than a year, he added.
The chain recently was listed in America's Top Restaurant Guide by Zagat and was ranked as the "fourth-most-popular" eatery in all of Connecticut in the state's Zagat survey.
Coromandel founder Jose Pullopilly takes the success in stride.
"We take one step at a time," said Pullopilly, who runs the Darien location. "We tried to set up [a location] so people can have a good time."
In addition to the usual assortment of classic Indian fare, such as tandoori chicken, lamb curry with tomatoes, assorted chutnies and naan flatbread, Coromandel's Norwalk location also will feature an extensive wine list to cater to the varied tastes of diners, Nair said.
"We are in South Norwalk where there is a very huge bar crowd coming in," Nair said. "That's why we're offering one of the largest wine selections."
South Norwalk business officials who have visited Coromandel said it's a welcome and diverse addition to the restaurant scene.
"Having an Indian restaurant in South Norwalk is a good thing," said Nicolas Pacella, past president of the South Norwalk Business Association and president of Nicolas M. Pacella Architects and Interior Designers in Norwalk. "The fact that it's not going to turn into a disco bar at night is also a good thing."
While Coromandel's empire appears to be growing throughout Fairfield County, there are no specific plans to open any new locations in the immediate future, Nair said.
"We're trying to build a brand of dishes right now," he said.
Mark Ginocchio is a staff writer for
The Advocate of Stamford and Greenwich
Time.