Award-winning restaurateurs Sid and Chand Sahrawat are preparing to work their magic in Ponsonby once again, with plans to open a new bar and restaurant in the Auckland suburb later this year.
KOL (pronounced ‘coal’ and inspired by the same word), will open its doors in late October, ready to serve up cocktails and tandoor-inspired snacks as the warmer months approach.
Located in the iconic villa at on the corner of Hepburn Street and Ponsonby Road, the site has a rich hospitality history, including Rocco and MooChowChow, and most recently operating as 10 Eleven by Marvel.
The Sahrawats say they had been discussing the KOL concept for about 12 months and when they heard the Ponsonby site was available, they knew they’d found their new restaurant’s home, signing up within days of their visit to the villa.
“Chand and I have been talking about a casual cocktail bar and tandoor restaurant concept for a while now,” Sid says. “We wanted to create a space with an emphasis on great drinks paired with a menu where everything is cooked over charcoal or fire, a place where you can get great cocktails and food without sitting down for a full meal,” Sid says.
“When we visited the villa, we knew it was perfect – it ticks all the boxes for us and we’re so excited to be returning to Ponsonby.”
The couple sold Sidart Ponsonby last year and currently own and operate modern Indian restaurant Cassia in Fort Lane and casual-fine dining restaurant Sid at The French Café in Symonds Street, Auckland.
