Coolidge Corner Restaurant To Close, Another To Open In Spring

BROOKLINE, MA— Rani Indian Bistro in Coolidge Corner closed this week. The last day for the restaurant that's sat along Beacon Street serving South Indian cuisine in two different forms for nearly three decades was Dec. 19.

"Rani is Closed. Thank you to everyone who has dined with us over the past 27 years. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you," reads a post signed by owners Samir and Prakruti Majmudar on the restaurant's Facebook post dated Dec. 18.

According to town officials the lease was set to come up, and the owners were ready to retire.

The owners also noted in November that they had been having difficulty maintaining a fully staffed kitchen and dining room because of low unemployment rate the high turnover rate and a shrinking pool of restaurant workers, in response to a less than happy review.

The restaurant opened in 1991 as Bombay Bistro and then 12 years later opened Rani’s specializing in seasonal dishes inspired from South Indian cuisine.

If you're wondering what may go into the space? Majmudar sold the business to a hot pot franchise, 6 Po Hot Pot.

On Nov. 27, the Select board approved a liquor license transfer to J & Z Food Corporation doing business as Six Po Hot Pot. Lily Zhao and Jessica Jiang said they have started looking to hire and plan to reduce the seating from 87 to about 77, and the plan is to serve alcohol Sunday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m and have a handicap accessible bathroom.

There's some construction and renovation but the owners are aiming to open in late March or April.

The restaurant will feature an authentic hot pot with a bit of a twist. Hot pot is typically served on plates with meats and vegetables prepared, but in this instance they'll be put on bamboo sticks. Diners will come in, select ingredients, they're put on skewers and then come back to the table and prepare your food in the hotpot on the table.

"It has a communal quality to it," said attorney Christin Scanlon.

You might remember across the street where Hamilton Bar and Restaurant now sits there once was a Korean Hot Pot restaurant. If you're looking for a hot pot experience in the meantime? Shabu-Zen is just over the border in Alston.

Watch the hearing at the Nov. 27 Select Board meeting:

Image via Google Street View