SALT LAKE CITY — Nine restaurants in Utah are featured in the inaugural Michelin Guide for the Southwest region, including one that bounced back from an unexpected move and reopening after a lengthy closure.
"It’s home cooking, you’re welcome to my home basically,” said owner Paramjit Kaur.
For a long time, Star of India was home on North Temple and Redwood Road. But two years ago, following a break-in with critical wiring being stolen, the restaurant was left without the power needed to open.
Since the building was part of the Larry H. Miller Group’s ‘Power District,’ and was scheduled to be demolished, the owners told Kaur they would not pay for the repairs.
With no place for a restaurant, Star of India closed for 7 months before finding a new spot on Main Street, where they've been ever since.
"[Kaur] has worked so hard, getting to this location and building it up, and getting all the customers back,” said restaurant regular Cindy Stewart.
Kaur was surprised Thursday when she learned Star of India was being recognized as a Michelin "recommended" restaurant.
"I still can’t stop crying; it still makes me emotional,” Kaur shared. "You don’t expect this when you work so hard, when you're here every day and put your effort and life into something, and then you see the outcome of it; it makes it fun.”
After seeing the recognition, groups of people visited the restaurant Thursday to check out the food, and Stewart arrived with a bouquet of flowers to congratulate Kaur.
"The wonderful food, the consistency of the good food, good service, friendly service, it’s fantastic; we've always been impressed with what they have here,” Stewart added.
Kaur hopes this is just the beginning, as ‘Star of India’ continues to celebrate Indian food in Salt Lake City and bring more people through their doors.
"Get up, start all over again, and then do it again and again and again, and then at the end, the magic will happen,” Kaur added.
