Set the Scene
Mumbai-born chef Tushar Tondvalkar runs the kitchen at Kavita, one of Vancouver’s newest South Asian restaurants and one of the few with a completely creative take on Indian cuisine. Set in a recently constructed building near the Olympic Village amid the warehouses of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, the restaurant is drawing serious foodies for the contemporary menu that incorporates ingredients from around British Columbia into dishes inspired by India’s diverse regional foods.
Tondvalkar worked at Vancouver dining spots like Blue Water Café, a longstanding high-end seafood spot, before buying a one-way ticket to Bangkok, where he staged at two celebrated Indian restaurants, Gaggan and Gaa. His experience there, he says “completely transformed my vision,” leading him to devote himself to the varied cuisines of his home country. Back in Vancouver, he opened Kavita in October 2025. Managing the airy modern dining room, which has 46 seats beneath its high ceilings, is general manager Yash Shah, who’s been a friend of the chef since both were young children.
What’s the Food Like
You can graze through Kavita’s a la carte offerings, from sunchoke chaat (where B.C.-grown sunchokes replace the more typical potatoes) to goat kebabs to paneer made from buffalo milk sourced at a local farm. But Tondvalkar’s true passion shines in his multi-course “Ammakase” menu. Typically served around the eight-seat chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen, “Ammakase” takes inspiration from the Japanese concept of “omakase,” or chef’s choice. “Amma,” the chef explains, means “mother” in several Indian languages, and his regularly changing menu takes you through the regions of his motherland. Kavita, incidentally, is named for Tondvalkar’s own mom.
Although the kitchen can accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences if you advise them when you make your reservation, guests choosing this chef’s choice option don’t know in advance what they’ll be eating. This parade of scrumptious surprises – between 10 and 12 dishes in total – might encompass scallops sliced thin and served in a tangy kokum emulsion, bouillabaisse-like Icelandic cod in a Pondicherry curry, or peppers stuffed with foraged mushrooms, enlivened with spicy chili oil.
Let’s Talk About the Drinks
The bar team has designed the cocktail menu as a map of India, with selections that highlight the country’s northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. From the northwest, for example, you might try the Jaipuri Laal Maas, which blends Canadian Club with spiced lamb fat, toasted cumin, yellow chartreuse, and Benedictine. From the southwest, there’s the Konkan – mezcal, coconut, crème de cassis, and a tamarind-like kokum cordial.
A short but well-crafted list of local beers includes options from 33 Acres, Strangefellow, and Superflux. For non-drinkers, the staff can pour a non-alcoholic wine, perhaps Le Petit Chavin Sparkling Chardonnay, or you can opt for a tangy kokum spritz.
Final Thoughts
Back in 1994, Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala introduced Vancouver to modern Indian cuisine when they opened Vij’s Restaurant. Since then, numerous South Asian restaurants, from family-run neighborhood spots to stylish, upscale dining rooms, have flourished in the metro area. At Kavita, Chef Tondvalkar and his squad are aiming high, with carefully crafted contemporary dishes that draw inspiration from across India – taking diners along on this culinary voyage.
Location: Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, British Columbia
Cuisine: Contemporary Indian
Pricing: $$$ (“Ammakase” tasting menu CAD$125pp/US$92. Small plates CAD$12-38/US$9-28, larger plates CAD$25-54/US$18-40)
Takes Reservations: Yes – OpenTable
Our Favorite Dishes on the Menu: Anything on the changing Ammakase menu, especially the housemade buffalo-milk paneer. Even the palate-cleansing kokum sorbet is a delectable interlude.
Hours: From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, till 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Closed Sunday & Monday.
Vancouver, Canada
