The Dakshin Indian Restaurant Opens in Cloche d'Or

The Dakshin Indian Kitchen & Bar in Luxembourg-Gasperich officially opened its doors to the public on Sunday 16 March 2025.

Located in the Cloche d'Or district, The Dakshin (meaning "The South") is the second restaurant operated by husband and wife team, Sai Sumanth Pattem and Sai Arpita Immaneni. They opened their first restaurant, part of the Krishna Vilas franchise, in Luxembourg-Gare in August 2021.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu about their new restaurant (unrelated to the Krishna Vilas franchise), the owners said: "We are excited to introduce a second restaurant that reflects our creative vision and fills certain gaps we've noticed in classic Indian cuisine. This new venture will offer a diverse selection of dishes representing various regions of India, including some timeless region-specific favourites that are currently unavailable in Luxembourg".

Speaking about the choice of location, they said: "While scouting for locations, we found one in Cloche d'Or and felt it is perfect to start something with a modern Indian twist". There are over 40 dishes on the menu, and the restaurant can seat about 40 people indoors and up to 55 people when the terrace is open. The team includes two full-time cooks and one full-time cook. As for future restaurant expansion plans, the couple shared: "We would love to expand depending on the demand".

Sai Sumanth Pattem and Sai Arpita Immaneni explained that they had "put a lot of thought" into the branding for The Dakshin. They selected the font "from old Indian newspaper headings having a double line". The choice of colours was also deliberate - "the deep red and golden yellow echo the vibrancy of Indian spices - chilli powder and turmeric, bringing warmth and authenticity to every dish".

"At its heart, the illustrations weave a tale of Indian culture. Women grinding spices with a mortar and pestle reflect age-old kitchen rituals, while kalamkari-inspired trees whisper stories of artistry and heritage. Temple bells chime in harmony, adding a touch of festivity. Elephants, coconut trees, women selling vegetables by carrying a basket over the heads and other cultural symbols come together, celebrating the essence of India," they continued, adding: "We wanted to also bring a Sanskrit phrase 'Athithi Devo Bhava', a core principle of Indian hospitality, emphasising respect, care and devotion towards guest[s]. We have this phrase printed on our uniforms, menus and website". The entrepreneurial couple stressed that "every detail is thoughtfully placed, creating a seamless tapestry that embodies what The Dakshin stands for - a rich, flavourful tribute to Indian tradition and joyous gatherings".

Elaborating on their hopes that The Dakshin can bring an authentic taste of South India to Luxembourg, Sai Sumanth Pattem and Sai Arpita Immaneni shared: "We have carefully curated a menu that brings together classic dishes from all five South Indian states, along with a selection of beloved Bengali and North Indian specialties. Our goal is to showcase the rich diversity of Indian cuisine, offering authentic flavours that truly represent these regions". The menu ranges from "some very unique starters to freshly made parottas [type of flatbread] - something rarely found here", as well as a variety of five to six biryanis and "unique desserts". "We aim to bring the essence of India's beloved comfort foods to the local dining scene," they said.

Compared to Krishna Vilas, which centres around Southern Indian vegetarian dishes, the focus with The Dakshin is "to bring a more vibrant and youthful dining experience, with an emphasis on flavourful non-vegetarian dishes alongside some delicious vegetarian options". The husband and wife team added that the concept "offers a lively atmosphere with cocktails, mocktails and live parotta-making, creating an engaging and interactive experience - much like how Krishna Vilas showcases live dosas".

Ahead of the official opening, Chronicle.lu had the opportunity to attend a tasting session at the Cloche d'Or restaurant. The varied menu included: mutton bone soup; spinach and garlic soup (vegetarian); coin parotta with Chicken 65; Nagarjuna chilli chicken; parotta with chettinad chicken; railway mutton curry, Malabar fish curry; Hyderabadi mutton dum biryani; Ambur seeraga samba chicken biryani. Desserts included the fruity and creamy Apricot Delight and Roti Kaya, a hot "roti" filled with "kaya" (jam made from coconut milk and panden leaves), served with vanilla ice cream. The latter (Roti Kaya) takes inspiration from a Malaysian dessert.

The Dakshin, located at 12 Rue Charles Darwin, L-1433 Luxembourg, is now open to the public.