Chef Avishar Barua Opens His A lot-Anticipated Stay Fireplace Restaurant Agni

Following intently on the heels of opening his Worthington spot Joya’s Cafe, chef Avishar Barua debuts his newest restaurant Agni this week! Named for the Hindu god of fireplace, Agni is centered round live-fire cooking, which implies plenty of smoking, grilling, and in any other case enjoyable with fireplace.

Agni takes up residence within the former South Excessive Road area of Ambrose & Eve, which sadly closed in the course of the pandemic. The constructing has been given a rework that retains the identical basic format and homey touches of the earlier tenant.

All all through you’ll discover nods to Avishar’s Bengali and Midwestern heritage, imbued with the sense of playfulness that comes via in his cooking.

The beverage menu options wines by the glass and bottle and a set of cocktails which are enjoyable updates to basic libations. Pictured listed below are the Cubra Libre and Jack + Coke.

The Jack + Coke, as an example, takes its two namesake substances and provides in a little bit of tamarind and a contact of smoke.

I’m not going to explain all the pieces that’s on the menu, as a result of it’ll absolutely change over time. But it surely’s at present structured as a tasting menu. Every spot in your reservation will get a number of programs, with little surprises and additions alongside the best way.

However suffice it to say that we love consuming Avishar’s meals, from his adventures way back at Veritas in Delaware to his time main the kitchen at Service Bar, to Joya’s Cafe, which now we have to actively resist visiting day by day.

In the course of the family and friends preview, we managed to say hello to the chef, who kindly risked scorching himself by posing in entrance of the recent grill.

Stay-fire cooking like that is taking off in Columbus, with locations like FYR on the Hilton Tower, Nomad at Polaris, and the forthcoming Hiraeth from the house owners of Chapman’s. These specialised grills include moveable cabinets so cooks can smoke, sear, grill, and extra.

Agni incorporates a small chef’s desk that faces the grill. It’ll absolutely be a tough seat to e book, though be suggested that the grill places off numerous warmth.

As you stroll down the hallway to the again of the restaurant (and also you completely ought to try the murals within the loos), you’ll see down into the kitchen.

Once more, I received’t describe all the pieces right here, however you possibly can relaxation assured there’s lots to experience, with dishes that begin out acquainted however take shocking or ingenious turns.

And naturally you’ll discover with some wonderful dessert that attracts on acquainted flavors if Avishar.

I’m positive you possibly can inform that even after one go to, we wholeheartedly suggest Agni. We’ve lengthy been followers of Avishar, so it was a simple promote, however after years of knocking it out of the park at native eating places, representing Columbus proudly on High Chef, doing wonderful stuff at Joya’s – he’s actually coming into his personal, and Columbus eating is all the higher for it.

(And for those who’ve by no means been to Joya’s, you possibly can examine it right here, after which it’s essential go to for a kati roll or fried rice or tacky double crunch or breakfast sandwich or all of it!)

Agni is at present open Wednesdays via Sundays, 5-11 p.m. Reservations will be booked via their web site: dineatagni.com/reservations

Agni
716 S. Excessive St.
Columbus, OH 43206
Internet: dineatagni.com
IG: @dineatagni