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Triangle restaurateur Chari Kambara has created a space in downtown Chapel Hill that he hopes will give everyone a place to enjoy the flavors and sounds of his native India.
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Taal, a family-owned restaurant, held a soft opening last week in the 5,280-square-foot, former CholoNad space at 310 W. Franklin St. The menu promises an elegant and modern take on the flavors of southern and northern India, served alongside craft cocktails.
Both the menu and seating are limited this month, but that will change once Kambara receives the restaurant’s alcohol permits and puts the final touches on an extensive renovation, he said.
A grand opening could be held in August, giving them time to work out any kinks and get feedback from customers about the service and the food, he said.
The fine-dining side of the operation can serve up to 80 customers, he said, while another 70 or so people can enjoy spaces geared more toward UNC-Chapel Hill students and patrons looking for a casual experience.
One is a sports bar that will be available for private parties and serve special bar food items, in addition to the regular menu. It has an LED wall for watching live games and events, and will also create a space for customers to enjoy karaoke with friends.
Outside on the patio, Taal Social will offer Indian street food in a more laid-back setting.
The space represents its namesake, “Taal,” the Indian word for rhythm or beat, Kambara said. Music is a universal language that brings joy to people, and “we wanted to give the same kind of [joy through the] aroma, the taste, the experience with the food.”
Taal is Kambara’s third restaurant, and his second in Chapel Hill. Last year, his family launched Bharath Cafe, a fast-casual Indian restaurant in a small strip mall at 1704 E. Franklin St.
The café has a sister location on Slash Pine Drive in Cary, both of which are known for their Vijayawada-style biryani — aromatic, crispy chicken and vegetables tossed in a spicy sauce hailing from the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
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Kambara, 53, is native of southern India who moved to North Carolina in 1998. The restaurant business is a family affair, he said, with his wife Gayatri Sanga, his brother Vijay Kambara, and his partners, Madhu Sunku and Siva Nagarjuna, all playing roles in the renovations and management. His father has also pitched in to help, he said.
The restaurants are a passion, one that pays him with the satisfaction of providing good service, Kambara said.
He may have inherited that trait from his mother, who cooked food for a few dozen employees when his family owned a carpentry business in India and also catered meals for friends, family and parties, he said.
“What gives me more pleasure is when my customers are very happy,” Kambara said. “When they say, ‘Hey, we love your food. We enjoy your food. It was one of the best.’ I think that gives me more satisfaction than, hey, I made like $5,000 or $10,000.”
Kambara bought the former CholaNad restaurant business on West Franklin Street in April, when CholaNad’s longtime owner, Mathivanan Pothiyappan, was arrested in Chatham County on attempted first-degree murder charges.
Over the last few months, Kambara and his partners have fully renovated the space, adding new kitchen equipment, dishware, furnishings and bar tops. He and his brother handpainted gold Taal logos onto the tabletops, finishing each with a protective layer of resin, Kambara said.
The new space is comfortable and inviting, with tile floors and undulating lines of a music staff twisting around walls painted the color of desert sand. The furniture is warm, with wood tones and accents of bright orange booth seating.
Hidden spotlights draw the eye up to henna-brown line drawings of sitars, mridangam and nadaswaram — traditional instruments that give Indian classical music its unique and sometimes hauntingly beautiful sound.
The final touches, including the sports bar area and a life-size logo showcase behind the host stand, could be wrapped up before UNC students return next month, Kambara said.
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Taal is open at 310 W. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill for lunch and dinner.
This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 7:30 AM.