FOODIE ALERT: New Canaan's Thali Restaurant to Close

A staple on New Canaan’s culinary landscape will be closing its doors.

So if you’re palate is craving the tastes of Indian cuisine, head to Thali restaurant this week. Chef Prasad Chirnomula announced Friday that he will be closing the doors of the popular restaurant next weekend.

Since coming to America in 1985 and introducing both traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine to Connecticut consumers, Chirnomula has distinguished himself as an innovative and exuberant restaurateur with a passion for his native Indian cuisine.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, Chirnomula will be closing the doors of his flagship Thali restaurant on Main Street in New Canaan. The restaurant, bar and event space opened its doors in 1998. The closing of the large restaurant space will give Chirnomula the opportunity to open a new, more intimate restaurant in New Canaan where customers will be able to sate their appetite for Indian cuisine.

“It’s been a blessing to be a part of this community for all these years,“ Chirnomula said in a statement. “The new space will provide guests with a warm and inviting dining experience and, of course, our robust take-out and private party business will continue.”

To celebrate the ending and beginning of a new chapter, on Monday, Nov. 9, Thali will present a week-long celebration to honor its loyal customers and showcase the dishes that have made this establishment one of the most celebrated Indian restaurants in the country. On Monday, Nov. 9, Thali will feature one-night only specials such as lobster vindaloo, hyderabadi biryani, my mother’s goat curry, goan prawn balchao and prawn Peri Peri, Kerala fish curry, and signature lamb chops.

Next Saturday, Nov. 14, the celebration will ‘almost’ culminate escalates with a limited seating reprise of Chirnomula’s 2007 James Beard Dinner. Thali is the only Connecticut restaurant to be honored with two James Beard House Dinners (2007 and 2011). Tickets for the Nov. 14 James Beard Dinner reprise that will be served at 7 p.m. are $145 per person.

As a final bow, Thali New Canaan will host “Brunch Without Limits” on Sunday, Nov.15. The event will star Thali chefs creating signature Thali dishes and breads to order. The event will also feature music and an open bar. “Brunch without Limits” will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Price: $50 per person.

And Chirnomula says he will announce his new restaurant location soon on www.thali.com. In the meantime, there are Thali restaurants in Ridgefield and New Haven.

Contributed photos.