Harrogate’s diners now have a broader range of cuisines to choose from, following the opening yesterday of a new restaurant offering South Indian food. 

Illam, on King’s Road, is a family-run establishment specialising in Keralan dishes, and customer manager Rahisa Kombath believes it’s a first for the district. 

She said: 

Illam, which employs six people, has 60 covers – 24 on the ground floor and 36 upstairs – and is currently offering an introductory discount of 20%, with no booking needed.

The restaurant is owned by Rahisa’s husband Sadiq Kattil, her father Abdul Majeed, and their business partner Sharaf Malayampadi. Sadiq is an experienced restaurant manager and head chef Abdul previously worked at award-winning Leeds restaurant Tharavadu. 

Rahisa said: 

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Swinton Estate restaurant to undergo £500,000 refurbishment


• Refugees set up Harrogate district's first Afghan pop-up restaurant


• Councillors delay decision on staff accommodation plan for Ripon Chinese restaurant