New fine-dining Indian restaurant and cocktail lounge coming to South End
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Local development writer Jason Thomas first reported the listing. Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
Zamindar's is a new Indian restaurant and cocktail lounge opening in the former Link & Pin spot in South End.
Why it matters: It's led by a Michelin Bib Gourmand chef and a local owner who want to put British-Indian culture, music and food on the map here.
- "We want to create a sophisticated dining experience and bring sophisticated Indian food … inspired by old recipes from all over India," said co-owner and chef Vamshi Krishna Adi, who is opening Zamindar's with business partners David Pandoria and Nikhil Mutyala.
The vibe: The team is transforming the footprint left behind by Link & Pin, which closed earlier this year. Expect two experiences under one roof — a fine-dining Indian restaurant and a British-influenced cocktail lounge.
- Zamindar's dining room will feel more traditionally Indian, while the lounge will lean "like a cocktail lounge in London," said Pandoria, who grew up partly in London.
- They're designing the space to feel "fun and lively," blending food and music — a nod to Pandoria's 25-year background as a Charlotte DJ.
- The 7,500-square-foot restaurant at 155 New Bern St. will include a 12-seat private dining room and an all-season patio that can double as private event space.
Dig in: For Zamindar's menu, Adi is drawing inspiration from all over India and recipes he's perfected at his other restaurants.
- Adi is the executive chef and founder of ISHQ in New York, which has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand two years running — and some of its signature dishes will appear in Zamindar's menu.
- He's also behind Gazab, a modern Indian restaurant in New York, and KEBABISHQ, a fast-casual kebab restaurant in Manhattan.
- In addition to Indian staples like butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, Zamindar's will serve tandoor-cooked kebabs, a technique he says many modern restaurants have abandoned.
- "Our concept is to bring in those old recipes, stick to authenticity ... and give it that little modern touch," Adi said.
The big picture: Charlotte's dining scene is shifting before our eyes. As the city's population grows and new residents reshape the dining landscape, global cuisine is moving from the margins into some of the city's most in-demand neighborhoods.
- Pandoria, who has lived in Charlotte since 1992, said he's spent years envisioning a British-Indian concept here and teamed up with Adi after realizing their culinary and cultural visions aligned.
- They hope Zamindar's will be the largest Indian fine-dining restaurant in North Carolina.
What's next: The team is aiming for a soft opening around Valentine's Day, with a grand opening in early March 2026.
- They'll open with dinner service only, then roll out weekend brunch shortly after.
- The attached cocktail lounge will launch under a separate name, which is still TBD.
Go deeper: The most anticipated new restaurants and bars in Charlotte