CLOSURE: Indian restaurant has closed and is turning into something else in Toronto

An Indian restaurant has quietly closed down without warning in Toronto, but it’s already poised to turn into something else.

By Aanch was an offshoot of Aanch, a chef-driven Indian restaurant. By Aanch was a smaller, more casual restaurant that still served Indian food.

Now, By Aanch has vacated their address on College Street and something new is already gearing up to take up residence in their old space.

Rooh will soon be opening where By Aanch once was, and thankfully for anyone mourning the loss of By Aanch, they’ll be serving a similar menu of modern Indian cuisine along with cocktails. The concept comes to us from the same people behind popular restaurant Bar Goa.

Bar Goa was featured in the 2024 Michelin Guide, serving dishes like slow-cooked curries, crab rasam puri, lobster seekh kebab, mango pickled scallops and lamb shank biryani.

It looks as though Rooh will be giving the space a whole new sophisticated look with bold graphic wallpaper, lots of jewel tones, dramatic lighting and luxurious textures and tiling. A representative from Rooh tells YourCityWithIN.com that By Aanch had been up for sale for a while.

Rooh should be opening sometime during May, and the last day for By Aanch was March 31.