New Indian Restaurant Coming to Arlington Center

A new Indian restaurant is moving into the former home of Midami in Arlington Center.

Anhil Kumar, who owns two Indian restaurants in Central Square, Cambridge, and another in Medford, said he hopes to get his new Arlington venture, “Punjabi Tadka,” up and running within the month.

Kumar and his business partner appeared before the town’s Board of Selectmen Monday. The two were unanimously granted common victualler and all alcohol licenses for the 444 Massachusetts Ave. spot.

“Thank you for choosing Arlington,” Selectman Kevin F. Greeley said.

Kumar, who was born in India but has lived in Stoneham for 25 years, owns India Castle, at 928 Massachusetts Ave., and Dasi Dhaba, at 401 Massachusetts Ave., both in Cambridge, as well as Kabab Corner, at the intersection of Routes 16 and 28 in Medford.

The 47-year-old Kumar, who runs Sagar Restaurant Corp., opened India Castle 15 years ago, then Dasi Dhaba 10 years ago, Kabab Corner four.

Punjabi Tadka will have a standard Indian menu, according to Kumar (a six-page sample menu was submitted with his town application). He said he does not plan to renovate the interior of the restaurant.

The 50-seat Midami location has seen some turnover in recent years. Midami had only been open for about a year and a half when it closed near the end of last year, and prior, another Asian-fusion restaurant, Kayuga II, only lasted two years after replacing Asiana Grille.

Kumar has a 15-year lease at the location, according to his application.