San Francisco's Indian Restaurant Week returned Sunday for a two-week Diwali edition, running Nov. 1–14. It is not a discount program. The event is invitation-only, and six immigrant-run restaurants representing different regions of India are serving tasting menus created for the holiday. The menus will not be offered again.

The six restaurants

  • ROOH, chef Ashish Tiwari, with dishes including Himalayan momos
  • Copra, chef Srijith Gopinathan, with a four-course menu for $90
  • Tiya, chef Pujan Sarkar
  • Amber India, chef Shibiraj Saha, with an $85 menu as the restaurant marks 30 years
  • New Delhi Restaurant, chef-owner Ranjan Dey, with a Kolkata-style Kali Pujo feast
  • Bombay Brasserie at Taj Campton Place, chef Thomas George, with shrimp vada and beet tikki

Menus start at $75 and $85, and reservations are made through the Indian Restaurant Week website.

A twice-yearly event

Dey, who owns San Francisco's oldest Indian restaurant, organizes the event with the Consulate General of India in San Francisco. Consul General Satish Sivan called him “the real ambassador” at a preview party at Taj Campton Place. “It's all about unity and diversity,” Dey said. “That's what the rest of the world is trying to do, and we have been doing it for 5,000 years.”

The event was launched about a year ago and runs twice a year. A Holi edition is planned for spring.