An Indian restaurant with locations in Stamford, Westport and Fairfield is coming to South Avenue in downtown New Canaan.
Taj Indian Cuisine is coming to the former Mackenzie’s space at 9 South Ave. downtown. Credit: Michael Dinan
The owners of Taj Indian Cuisine on Wednesday received approval to create the restaurant at 9 South Ave., formerly Mackenzie’s and vacant for four years.
The Planning & Zoning Commission during a regular meeting held at Town Hall and via videoconference granted site plan approval to the restaurant’s owners, as per the New Canaan Zoning Regulations. (An audio problem with the Zoom broadcast of the meeting prevented attendees from hearing P&Z’s discussion or vote, though the town planner confirmed the approval, with no conditions, via email.)
The new restaurant is the second provider of Indian food in town, following Chef Prasad Chirnomula’s eponymous restaurant on Main Street.
According to the Taj website, the new restaurant uses “traditional Indian cooking techniques along with unexpected ingredient combinations, forward-thinking flavor profiles, contemporary plating and impressive table service. “
“While dining at Taj Indian Cuisine, you experience a truly contemporary take on Indian Cuisine,” it said. “We blend traditional and new flavors for a novel approach to Indian cooking. It is important to us to preserve time-honored cooking techniques while surprising our guests with unique dishes and menu items.”
It isn’t clear when they plan to open. A message left for the restaurant was not immediately returned.
According to Taj’s website, customer favorites include “naan bread, palak paneer and tandoori chicken.”
“Whether you are looking for a classic dish such as chicken tikka masala or one of our new creations like nadan chicken, our primary aim is to make Indian food more approachable,” it said.