For husband-and-wife restaurateurs Tony and Ann Chemmanoor, Mt. Vernon has always felt like home. The duo opened their first Indian restaurant, Bombay Grill, in the neighborhood in 1988, and debuted one of their many spin-offs, Indigma, on North Charles Street nearly 20 years later.

“We had restaurants all over Maryland at one point, but we always came back to Mt. Vernon because that’s where we started,” Tony says. “Our hearts have always been there.”

They say that the historical nature of the community, mixed with its diverse arts and culture attractions, have made it a great place to operate throughout the years. But, above all, the supportive neighbors are what they value most. As Ann puts it: “Mt. Vernon has such a good feeling of togetherness.”

Over the years, the community has helped Indigma through tough times. First, in 2010, when the space suffered a fire and had to relocate across the street. Last year, Tony and Ann decided to close Indigma due to ongoing repairs after another fire, and it was their Mt. Vernon neighbors who suggested that they take over the old Tavern on the Hill space around the corner.

“We kept running into some of our customers who were saying, ‘Oh my goodness, we’re having this withdrawal from Indigma,’” Ann says, with a laugh. “We’re really thankful for those people who have always been cheering us on.”

The couple liked that the Cathedral Street building wasn’t far from Indigma’s former home, and were enthusiastic about the large windows, outdoor patio, sidewalk seating, adjacent herb garden, and public parking lot across the street. Now, they are putting the finishing touches on the renovated space—where Indigma is expected to reopen within the next two weeks.

In its new chapter, the restaurant will have more of a bistro feel. A slightly smaller menu will list some of the old favorites, including lamb shank masala and acorn squash curry, alongside modernized dishes like grilled bison and naan breadsticks stuffed with crab.

“We’ve taken a little turn toward a bistro with a really casual, friendly atmosphere,” Tony explains. “The menu will reflect that. It will be all of the same flavors you get in authentic Indian food, but in more innovative dishes.”

Though the food will be familiar to Mt. Vernon diners, there’s a chance that old Tavern on the Hill regulars might not recognize the former breakfast-all-day spot when they first walk in. The partially open kitchen is now closed off, and the owners have built a new bar area—which will offer Indian beer, wine, and exotic martinis—near the main entrance.

When revamping the interior, Tony and Ann made it a priority to pay homage to the late Ted Pearson of Rita St. Clair Associates, who designed the former Indigma space but, sadly, passed away last spring. In keeping with Pearson’s vision, the 85-seat restaurant will feature vibrant saffron and curry colors, as well as repurposed wood carvings and cultural artifacts from the old Indigma space.

“He had this wonderful, artistic mind,” Ann says of Pearson “We wanted to keep the same colors as a way to pay tribute to his eye.”

During the first few weeks, the restaurant will only offer dinner service. But the owners are open to reintroducing Indigma’s popular lunch buffet once the spot gets up and running in its new home. They say it all depends on what their customers want.

“To me, it feels like a homecoming,” Tony says. “It’s all of our old friends coming back to see us again. The whole dining room sitting, laughing, drinking, and having a good time—you can’t replace that feeling with anything else.”

CH-CH CHANGES

Lupa: This weekend will be the last for Columbia diners to feast on coq au vin and croque monsieur at Petit Louis Bistro on the Kittamaqundi lakefront. After four years in business, owners Tony Foreman and chef Cindy Wolf have decided to transform the restaurant into a casual Roman trattoria named Lupa, which translates to “she-wolf” in Italian. In just a few weeks, the space will yield a new interior by local designer Katie DeStefano, as well as a fresh menu featuring Northern Italian cuisine. “It just feels like the right time to change things up,” Foreman said, in a statement. “Roman food is one of my favorite things in the entire world. I’m so excited to do something that is so close to my heart.” (No need to worry, city dwellers. There are no changes to report about the Petit Louis flagship in Roland Park.) 10215 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, 410-964-9999

LB Bakery: Downtown diners will be happy to hear that LB Bakery inside the Lord Baltimore Hotel has expanded its weekday breakfast and lunch offerings. In addition to the regular grab-and-go items, the cafe now features a new menu with dishes like a Scottish smoked salmon bagel, garden omelet, crab cake sandwich, fish and chips, and crispy Buffalo or Old Bay chicken wings. 20 W. Baltimore St., 410-539-8400

Urban Deli: Federal Hill locals have been making this cozy café a destination for morning coffee and hangover breakfast sandwiches since it opened on Light Street in the spring of 2016. Now, the eatery from longtime neighborhood resident Laura McCormack is relocating to larger digs a few blocks north. Expected to debut in March, the new Urban Deli location will take over the former home of Wok & Roll at 1025 Light Street, and serve an array of paninis, soups, salads, baked goods, and local Towson Hot Bagels. According to reports by The Sun, the former Urban Deli space is being converted by its next-door neighbors at In Bloom. Husband-and-wife owners Kevin Perry and Cecilia Benalcazar are opening their own deli in the space, offering sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, and grab and go pantry items. 1448 Light St.

NEWS

Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar Head South: Beginning next fall, Baltimore locals will be able to get a little taste of home while visiting H-Town. Atlas Restaurant Group recently announced that it will soon be expanding its Harbor East concepts Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar to the luxe River Oaks retail district (think shops like Cartier, Dior, and Harry Winston) in Houston, Texas. The new spots will both mimic their flagships, with Ouzo Bay’s signature Mediterranean flair and Loch Bar’s token seafood menu and lengthy whiskey list. 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

2/1: Mashin’ It Up: A Cider Dinner with Hersh’s and Minnow
In honor of this week’s CiderCon festivities, South Baltimore hotspots Hersh’s and Minnow are teaming up to offer diners a collaborative four-course menu paired with imported ciders from as far as the Basque Country and Normandy. Josh Hershkovitz of Hersh’s and Minnow chef Drew Lesoveck present dishes such as a warm octopus salad with spicy pickled garlic, oyster mushroom and prosciutto croquettes, merluza (a cod-like fish often used in Spanish cooking) served with chorizo focaccia and braised fennel, and a brown sugar molasses cake with cider-poached oranges. Minnow, 2 E. Wells St., 6 p.m., $82, 443-759-6537

2/3: Ice Cream for Breakfast at The Charmery
One morning per year, the team at The Charmery in Hampden opens its doors early to serve its customers sweet treats for breakfast. This weekend, break the rules and indulge in witty flavors including red velvet pancakes, cornflakes and milk, and biscuits and gravy. Plus, there will be Belgian waffles cooked to order, cold brew coffee milkshakes, and a special “Cereal Bowl” special filled with five baby scoops of your choosing. 801 W. 36th St., 10 a.m., 410-814-0493

SHUT

Tavern on the Hill: On the heels of multiple closures throughout the city, Mt. Vernon’s Tavern on the Hill recently announced that it will be shuttering its doors for good on Sunday, February 4. Owner Lee Cohen opened the pub in 2013, and it has since become a favorite for diners in search of all-day breakfast, weekly dinner deals, wine and whiskey tastings, and a sunny patio for dining al fresco. “We want to take this time to thank everyone who made the Tavern a great neighborhood bar and kept us alive for five years,” reads a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. To show its gratitude throughout closing weekend, the bar will offer customer appreciation specials including 20 percent off of your check on Friday, half-priced cocktails on Saturday, and all-day food and drink deals on Sunday. 900 Cathedral St., 410-230-5400