G’day,

Those in the know, know where to go.

We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Tushar Tondvalkar, Owner & Executive Chef at Kavita in Mount Pleasant. Kavita is one of Vancouver’s most exciting new dining rooms, pairing a striking open-kitchen format with a deeply personal take on regional Indian cooking, seasonal local produce, and the restaurant’s signature Ammakase tasting menu. Tushar brings a thoughtful, chef-driven perspective shaped by years in Vancouver’s top kitchens and time spent cooking abroad, with a particular gift for translating memory, place, and culture into refined, contemporary dishes. It was a pleasure to sit down with Tushar to chat about building his dream restaurant, the many regions and stories that shape Indian cuisine, his journey from Mumbai to Vancouver, and all of Tushar’s favourite spots.

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Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.

See the FULL LIST of Tushar Tondvalkar’s Favourites:

Coffee: Federal Store
Chai: Elaichi Chai
Cocktail Bar: Good Thief
Dying to Try: Jeju
Fried Chicken: Downl ow Chicken Shack
Food Neighborhood: Mount Pleasant
Hidden Gem: Federal Store
Indian: Hyd erabad Biry ani House, Dosa Corner
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Kissa Tanto
Pizza: Nook
Sushi: Tetsu Sushi Bar
Take an Out of Town Guest: The Keefer Bar, Good Thief, Meo, Lala, HK BBQ Master, Chinatown BBQ, and Gary’s
Outside of Vancouver: Miradoro Restaurant, Row Fourteen, Vineyards in Oliver

Thanks for joining us, Tushar!

Head to Kavita, an intimate, deeply personal restaurant where regional Indian flavours, an open kitchen, and a one-of-a-kind Ammakase experience come together in a way that feels both transportive and distinctly Vancouver. While there, be sure to try the Haleem and a Lal Maas or spicy mango margarita, which are Tushar’s favourites.