An intriguing Indian restaurant from Florida is coming to The Colony: Called Tabla Indian Restaurant, it's a fast-casual concept opening at 4940 SH-121 #120, in what was previously a breakfast place called Sunview Cafe.

Tabla was founded as a fine-dining Indian restaurant by Anshu and Nora Jain, two entrepreneurs who manage hotels in the Hilton, Marriott, and IHG portfolio. They opened the first Tabla location in Orlando in 2008, followed by three more locations in Florida.

Their menu ranges from North Indian classics to South Indian favorites, crafted to reflect the diverse culinary traditions of India. Some are familiar such as:

• samosas, the delectable appetizer featuring spicy mashed potato and peas wrapped in a crisp pastry shell
• kebabs and other meats cooked in the traditional Indian tandoor clay oven
• biryani, the aromatic rice casserole dish, in a variety of options including vegetarian, chicken, and goat
• curries, spicy stews such as malai kofta, a South Indian dish with eggplant in a rich, tangy gravy

But The Colony will also offer some uncommon standouts such as an unique appetizer called the Thotakura Liver Fry, featuring spicy liver-like veggie bites made with amaranth leaves tossed in spices. It's a vegetarian version of a dish that ordinarily uses real liver — an innovative recipe that has gained popularity among some South Indian restaurants.

They also offer Indo-Chinese dishes including street-style noodles and fries rice, as well as wonderful Indian breads including classic naan, the irresistible stretchy bread baked in the tandoor oven, which they offer in varieties such as plain, garlic, and garlic green chili; plus roti, the thinner, slightly healtheir bread made with whole wheat flour.

While the franchised locations follow a basic template, they also have some flexibility on menu offerings.

The Colony is the second DFW location following one that opened in January 2025 in Fort Worth's Shops at North Tarrant shopping center. Fort Worth was opened by a franchisee and was the first outside Florida as well as the first in Texas.

The Colony location is from a different franchise group consisting of two couples who work in IT and wanted to share the cuisine and foods they grew up with, says co-owner Hinduja Venigalla.

"Tabla is very famous in Orlando, and we liked the founders and the concept," Venigalla says. "We felt like it was a refined dining experience featuring authentic Indian flavors, a warm ambience, and exceptional service."

For their grand opening, which will begin at 11 m on December 6, they'll offer 20 percent off both dining-in and to-go.