Bombay House and Rooh Signal a New Chapter for Indian Dining in Columbus

Columbus is witnessing a notable expansion of its South Asian dining landscape in 2026, with two Indian restaurant concepts making bold moves in different parts of the city. Bombay House Restaurant & Bar is preparing to open at 496 Polaris Pkwy, taking over a former Winking Lizard location and bringing upscale Indian dining to one of north Columbus's most trafficked commercial corridors. Meanwhile, Rooh — the progressive Indian restaurant long celebrated in the Short North arts district — has returned from a renovation with a refreshed space and an inventive breakfast pop-up called Mornings by Rooh that is drawing enthusiastic attention from Columbus food writers.

🍛 Bombay House Brings Upscale Indian Dining to the Polaris Corridor

The Columbus dining scene is welcoming Bombay House Restaurant & Bar, a new upscale Indian concept opening at 496 Polaris Pkwy in a space previously occupied by Winking Lizard, a well-known local bar and grill. Reported by The Columbus Dispatch in July 2026, the move carries real significance: the Polaris corridor in north Columbus is one of the metro area's highest-traffic commercial stretches, anchored by Polaris Fashion Place and surrounded by dense suburban residential communities that include large South Asian populations in Dublin, Westerville, and Hilliard. The fact that an upscale Indian dining concept is absorbing such a prominent footprint — rather than a national chain or another casual American concept — reflects the growing confidence that sophisticated South Asian cuisine can command premium positioning in suburban Columbus. Bombay House's 'Restaurant & Bar' branding strongly suggests a full beverage program, likely including signature cocktails alongside an extensive food menu. The Dispatch's description of the restaurant as serving 'diverse flavors' points to a kitchen drawing from multiple regional Indian culinary traditions — possibilities include Mughal, Punjabi, coastal, and South Indian influences — rather than the more uniform pan-Indian format common to suburban Indian restaurants in Ohio. For Columbus's South Asian communities spread across the northern suburbs, Bombay House is poised to offer a sophisticated dining destination closer to home, filling a long-standing gap between fast-casual Indian options and a full upscale experience previously available mainly in the Short North or downtown. [3]

🍛 Mornings by Rooh: Indian-Inspired Breakfasts Come to Columbus's Short North

Rooh, Columbus's celebrated progressive Indian restaurant in the Short North arts district, has made a striking return after a brief renovation closure, bringing a redesigned interior, a refreshed dinner menu, and a breakfast pop-up concept called Mornings by Rooh that is earning high praise from local food writers. The concept draws direct inspiration from the ownership group's Swadesi Cafe in Chicago, a beloved South Asian breakfast destination, and applies that creative sensibility to Columbus's most walkable and culturally engaged neighborhood. The morning menu fuses Indian flavors with familiar Western breakfast formats, executed with evident culinary sophistication and a playful spirit. The standout beverage is a jaggery, brown sugar, and sea salt latte finished with ube rice pudding cold foam — described by food writer Nick Dekker of Breakfast With Nick as absolutely delightful, earning a perfect ten. The mango ras malai croissant translates the beloved South Asian milk dessert into a flaky pastry that is creamy and lightly sweet, while the Rooh egg sandwich layers eggs, American cheese, crispy potato salli, and spiced mayo on a potato bun for a handheld nod to Indian street food. A dense tandoori chicken croissant spiral with pickled onions provides a savory counterpoint, and a buckeye-inspired Dubai tart adds a Columbus-specific flourish to the menu. As a limited-run pop-up, Mornings by Rooh represents a time-sensitive opportunity for the city's South Asian community and adventurous Columbus diners to experience Indian-inflected morning cuisine at one of the city's most inventive restaurants. [4]

Sources: [3] The Columbus Dispatch · [4] Breakfast With Nick