Bolton: Thira Restaurant, Farnworth, officially opens

One of the owners and chefs of Thira Restaurant on Worsley Road, Bijumon Kalathanatt Sankara Pillai, takes his inspiration for the cuisine from the Indian state where he is from, Kerala, which means land of coconuts.

All of the food is freshly prepared with many of the dishes traditionally cooked with coconut milk.

The menu features traditional dishes such as masala dosa, Appam, prawn moilee, kozhikodan biriyani but diners can still expect the usual Indian classics.

It takes over the former Indian restaurant Royal Monal.

Wife of Bijumon, Sari Bijumon, who is very much involved in the Farnworth branch, said: “We specialise in South Indian food, with most of our dishes having a coconut base.

Sari Bijumon and her niece Gowri Anilkumar (Image: Newsquest)

“After opening in Blackburn in 2016 it was going quite nicely and continuing to get busier, so we wanted to expand and wanted something bigger.

“The building here is beautiful and there is parking as well.”

Bijumon is a top chef with more than 25 years of experience in five-star hotels, including the world famous Taj group of hotels.

Sari says that they have had a great response since opening on December 15, 2022.

She said: “The response we have been getting is very nice, with some who have said the food is exceptional.”

When Sari first became involved with the restaurant, she wanted to support her husband, but it has quickly become her passion too.

She added: “When we started, I just wanted to support by husband, because it was his ambition, but eventually this became a part of me.

“And it’s like a baby to us.”

One of her favourite things about working in the restaurant is meeting all the different people that come in.

She said: “When you’re involved with the customers and you get amazing responses, you get that fulfilment.

“The people who come in are wonderful.”

The couple have been married for 13 years, and have three children, Vishal, Vinay, and Vivek.

The restaurant is available to order from on Just Eat too.

Bookings can be made online (www.thira-restaurant.co.uk), but the public can just walk in at the moment.

The restaurant is also looking for more staff as they look to the future.

For more information email info@thira-restaurant.co.uk or call
01204 773533.

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