Indian Restaurant Comes to Space Eyed by Giudices

An upscale, modern Indian restaurant is preparing for a soft opening this weekend on Route 46 in Parsippany where two Montville Township cast members from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" had a different vision for the location.

Amiya Parsippany is opening at 252 Route 46 West. The original Amiya is still open in Jersey City after launching about seven years ago.

Before Amiya, the Route 46 location housed Rigoletto, What's Your Beef steak house and Villa Domenico.

But at one point reality TV star, best-selling author and Montville Township residents Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice had a different vision for the location. (Read about Teresa Giudice's appearance on "The Celebrity Apprentice" here.)

"Me and Tre are actually opening a new restaurant in Parsippany, New Jersey called Villa di Vino," Joe Giudice wrote in "Fabulicious," his wife's latest cookbook, released in 2011. "It's going to feature all of her great recipes and my wine. Come by and we'll hook you up!"

Teresa Giudice said in an interview last week with Patch they were looking to open Villa Di Vino at the space that was formerly Villa Domenico, but the deal fell through.

She said one of the ideas was to serve appetizers from her cookbooks, and have wine tastings. Joe Giudice makes his own wine.

Villa Di Vino, or a venture like it, could still be in the future.

"He's always looking. He wants to do something different," she said.

Contemporary Indian cuisine

Raj Agarwal of Denville, one of the partners who owns Amiya, said they hope to raise the standard and image of Indian food in the U.S., and bridge a gap for people who might be shy about trying new cuisines.

It aims to be welcoming with a trendier atmosphere and by offering some more familiar fare with an Indian twist—in addition to classic Indian dishes.

Agarwal said the menu is one of a kind in New Jersey and that they are investing heavily in their chefs, bringing on board chefs from five-star restaurants in India, he said.

The restaurant has a bar, but Amiya expects it will be a few more weeks until it has its liquor license.