Sachin Mahajan doesn’t mince words when describing his new AYRE by Karma restaurant that is expected to open early next month in Singer Island, FL.
“We are bringing the best of Indian dining to Singer Island and to Florida. A very upscale tasting area concept,’’ said Mahajan, founder and principal of Circle of Life Hospitality, whose Karma Modern Indian is one of the top restaurants in Washington, D.C.
Located in the luxury Amrit Ocean Resort, which opened less than 20 months ago, AYRE will overlook the Atlantic Ocean and feature a kitchen studio, indoor/out dining dining and lounge, and bar. It will join Amrit’s more casual Tula and Lala eateries, as the wellness-centric resort plans for more high-end eateries.
“Between our massive wellness center (four stories, 103,000 square feet) and the various F&B outlets that we are bringing in, we’re becoming a destination for dining and wellness, as well as the traditional resort stay,’’ said Neera Barot, co-founder of Amrit Ocean Resort. “AYRE by Karma is amazing for people who want to try new things. I really foresee a lot of demand from the Palm Beach clientele.’’
AYRE’s menu, Mahajan said, will be highlighted by fresh spices ground in-house, seasonal local produce and time-honored cooking techniques, including signature tandoor breads and live fire elements.
AYRE guests can choose from three, five and seven courses ($75, $105, $145), with several optional organic and biodynamic wine pairings There also will be à la carte items such as Lobster Masala, Paneer Pesto, Amritsari Snapper, along with rotating signature curries. Every dish, Mahajan said, celebrates bold spice profiles, creating plating and soulful flavors designed to nourish and revive.
While several dishes will come from Karma Modern Indian in DC (a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner since 2021), Mahajan said AYRE’s menu will feature a few “local’ tweaks.
“We are going to do a different version of lamb chops than we do,’’ at Karma Modern Indian, Mahajan said. “Every little detail will have some tweaks. So everything we are doing (at AYRE), even if there are similarities, will bring a local version to them.’’
Asif Syed, former chef/owner at the acclaimed 21 Spices Indian restaurant in Naples, FL., will lead the AYRE team.
“Our dining experience is more of a culinary journey,’’ Mahajan told me. “We talk a lot about inspiration. This is Indian food in a very different light than what people have experienced. It’s hard to explain. I would encourage people to be a little more inquisitive and see for themselves how this changes their perceptions of Indian cuisine.’’
Photo Courtesy of AYRE by Karma