From India to Austin: Vir Singh and Son Jae

Anyone who has dined at the Star of India on Anderson, the Bombay Grill in Westlake, or the recently opened Royal India on 290W has tasted the dishes of Vir Singh. A farmer in his native India, Singh journeyed to New York and joined a friend at an Indian restaurant. After a few years he opened his own restaurant in Dallas, and later put down roots in Austin where I first met him about 12 years ago. Vir is a quiet and humble man, and you would never know thew extent of his accomplishments, including several local hotels.

He is the patriarch of an ambitious family and no one exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of the family more than his son Jae (Jagsir). When I first met Jae he was about 17 going on 30. I’ve never met a more composed young man. Now, at the ripe old age of 25, he stands as heir apparent to his father’s group of restaurants and appears more than up to the task. When I first tasted his Cabbage Baji I was most impressed. His skills at preparing other vegetarian dishes common to his father’s homeland are equally honed and on display at The Star of India.

Vir’s daughter helms the long-running Bombay Grill in Westlake. And here’s something you don’t see everyday: the father virtually handed the daughter the restaurant as a gift.

Vir and Jae collaborated on the opening of Royal India (including one of the first Dhosa bars) which is a more upscale extension of Star of India with a degree of spice that is readily apparent but not offsetting, at least to me (well, perhaps if a spicy Saag Paneer is not your cup of tea you may wish to skip this one). Manager Raj came from the Indian Palace and brings a number of years of experience. There’s also a new Royal India planned for Balcones and 183.

No family squabbles in this group as Austin has seen in the past. You have to admire the tenacity and pluck that led from a farm in India to a significant chunk of the Indian dining market in Austin.