Dilli Dilli opens in downtown Millburn's former Common Lot space

Dilli Dilli, an Indian restaurant with roots in Manhattan's Times Square, opened in September at 27 Main St. in downtown Millburn. The restaurant fills the former Common Lot space, The Miller reported on Oct. 27.

The property spans 3,000 square feet across from the municipal parking lot, according to a LoopNet listing. The building includes two floors and a basement, with a fully built-out kitchen left over from Common Lot's tenure.

Three partners run the operation. Gaurav Anand, CEO and chef, has opened several New York City Indian restaurants. Those include Bhatti Indian Grill in Murray Hill and Moti Mahal Delux, which earned a two-star New York Times review, according to his website. Vipul Gupta serves as culinary director and chef. Abla Atoubi is the creative partner.

Anand grew up in a New Delhi family of lawyers and restaurateurs and is largely self-taught, having learned by watching chefs and recreating their recipes, his website states. Gupta brings experience from kitchens in Delhi, according to Athleisure Mag.

The menu draws on both Old Delhi and New Delhi cooking traditions. Roughly 80 percent of the dishes carry over from the Times Square location, The Miller reported. Signature plates include Koyla chicken, chargrilled with Old Delhi flavor, and Pandara Road Butter Chicken, named after a late-night food street near India Gate. The restaurant also offers Tibetan momos and South Indian dosas, according to Millburn and Short Hills.

Delhi's original name was Dilli, Atoubi told Millburn and Short Hills. "The soul of these dishes has survived centuries; our job is preservation and celebration, not reinvention," she said.

The founders said they chose Millburn after identifying demand for a restaurant that felt both cozy and elevated, according to Millburn and Short Hills. Whether the Times Square location remains open alongside the Millburn outpost is unclear. The Miller described the restaurant as "originally from" Manhattan, while an earlier Millburn and Short Hills preview referred to Millburn as "a second location."

Guests should expect to spend $45 to $65 per person for food, and the restaurant has been drawing steady crowds since September, The Miller reported. Reservations are available through Resy.