Pondicheri

Pondicheri restaurant Bake Lab & Shop offers everything you need to taste Indian flavors in one location. The chef and co-owner Anita Jaisinghani was born and raised in India and is of Sindhi descent. With her kaleidoscopic menus, Anita combines the complexities of Indian cuisine with leanings toward the ancient body of wisdom of Ayurveda, the magic of spices, and the goodness of fresh, local ingredients.  

Pondicheri, opened in 2011, is an all-day bright, sun-soaked restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and plenty of snacks to nibble on. Try bite-sized pakoras, Seekh kebabs, goat biryani, and Chef Anita’s take on many more Indian favorites. She’s even serving up a special “PondiKill” sauce made from the Naga Jolokia or ghost pepper.

The Bake Lab opened in 2014 and is a bakery and cafe located directly above the restaurant. It serves breakfast and lunch. Here, you´ll find sweet and savory items that change daily based on seasonal ingredients and the chef's musings.

Don’t forget the Shop before leaving. Shop items include a variety of Masala spice blends, an Indian trail mix called Chevda, Ghee, and even the chef's notorious “PondiKill” sauce made from the Naga Jolokia or ghost pepper. For more recipes and items, visit their online store, India1948.

It’s all happening in a sleek, modern 3,000-square-foot space in the middle of the mixed-use center. Large steel-and-glass window panels and giant, handcrafted doors are veritable works of art. Many of the design elements inside the restaurant were sourced during a buying trip to India that brought back colorful tiles from a New Delhi artisan. Indian influences abound here, from the bright patterned upholstery purchased in open-air markets to the unmistakable scent of Indian food being prepared. 

For more information on the chef behind Pondicheri click here.

• James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant (2012).
• Chef Anita Jaisinghani named James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2012).
• Named one of the 10 Best New Restaurants in Texas by Texas Monthly (2012).