Iconic Sydney Indian kebab restaurant celebrates major victory
A cult favourite Indian kebab shop has celebrated a major victory after a council decision put the future of the establishment in jeopardy.
Sydneysiders have rejoiced after a late-night Indian kebab institution was given the all clear to return to serving partygoers into the early hours of the morning.
Indian Home Diner, located on Oxford Street and a few steps from Paddington’s bustling pubs, had been operating until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights for years until a complaint was filed with Woollahra Council in March.
Owner Robert Chowdry, who had been trading in breach of Development Application conditions, was denied permission to trade until 3am legally, and threatened with a $6000 fine for every night he opened past midnight.
The decision was based on noise concerns and the belief trading hours were “not in the public interest”.
Mr Chowdry previously revealed that not being able to operate until 3am would “cripple my restaurant” and said he couldn’t afford to lodge an appeal by himself.
The future of the establishment seemed bleak, but that was until popular community Instagram page Bondi Lines and Uber Eats got involved.
They threw a “Rave 2 Save Indian Home Diner” event at nearby pub, The Unicorn Hotel, on May 28 to raise money for Mr Chowdry’s DA appeal.
Candidates for the federal seat of Wentworth, Dave Sharma and Allegra Spender also threw their support behind the establishment, with the latter describing it as a “national treasure”.
After a formal review, requested by the restaurant, the decision was overturned at a council meeting on Tuesday evening.
Officers deemed that trading until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights would not have adverse social impacts and allowing it to trade for those hours was in the public interest.
Liberal councillor Sean Carmichael established a petition in May in support of the diner, and following the victory said, “a well-loved slice of Oxford Street has, for a change, been saved”, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The restaurant celebrated on social media after receiving the good news.
“It’s official! IHD is back to original times,” a post shared to Instagram read.
More Coverage
“This could not have been possible without the immense love and support that the IHD community has shown us. We are a small family-run business and from the very beginning it has always been about bringing great food to good people.
“That’s all we ever wanted to do! Never did we imagine we would have such an impact on so many lives or that complete strangers would come together like this to rally beside us during our challenging times.
“We started as a small community, which through these difficult times has turned us into one big IHD family. A special shout out to Bondi Lines. You guys are simply amazing! Words cannot express the gratitude in our heart. Thank you.”