Samantha Marie Photography
Audio By Carbonatix
First, let’s rip this Band-Aid off: Nirvana, next to the Toyota Music Factory, has nothing to do with the band from the ’90s. In this case, the term refers to a state of enlightenment (we suppose).
Secondly, a side note about a sister concept to this new restaurant and lounge: Since opening last year, Sanjh, a fine-dining Indian restaurant in La Colinas, has received much praise for embracing fine dining without steaks. Its bar program has also been lauded.
Now, the team behind Sanjh, Tivona Group, has opened an “elevated immersive escape” adjacent to the Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Following the latest dining trends, it will have club-staurant vibes with dinner followed by a DJ. Here, the cuisine is street food, and the beats are Bollywood.
We’re excited that the culinary team behind Sanjh designed the menu at Nirvana. Instead of fine dining, the idea is to blend Indian street food with wok-fired Chinese fare, hence Indo-Chinese. On the plate, that translates to things like kathi rolls stuffed with aloo, paneer or chicken alongside hakka noodles, which are eggless noodles tossed with vegetables and an umami-rich sauce.
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Khati rolls are given a bougie up-do at Nirvana.
Samantha Marie Photography
Other highlights include gobi manchurian (crispy cauliflower), salt and pepper shrimp and Chicken 65, a South Indian classic of crispy chicken bites tossed in curry leaves, mustard seeds and dried chili.
The moody, dark interior has deep leather seats and plush booths. The bar, all black and backlit in neon purple, will, like its sister concept, Sajnh, shake up an ambitious cocktail program. Sip on a Hunan Heatwave with tequila, cilantro and tandoori-roasted pineapple with a touch of heat. The Monk Meditation has Indian dark rum, espresso, cinnamon and brown butter. And we’ll order one of those in our quest to find the best martini espresso and variations in the city. There’s also bottle service here if that’s your vibe.
According to their Instagram page, DJ K is playing Bollywood beats and tech-house music on Friday nights starting at 10 p.m. Follow Nirvana on Instagram for updates on entertainment.
Nirvana, 340 W. Las Colinas Blvd. Tuesday – Wednesday 4 -10 p.m.; Thursday, Sunday 4 – 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 pm-2 a.m.
