Taking over the former Vinz Wine Bar space on Grand Avenue in Escondido, Firangi Indian Gastropub is a new concept from chef and restaurateur Raj Mutti, a familiar name in San Diego’s hospitality community. Mutti is the force behind Curryosity, the popular Indian fusion restaurant in South Park, as well as Spice Lounge, a long-running North Indian restaurant located on Hornblend Street in Pacific Beach.
At Firangi - which means "foreigner" in Hindi - Mutti is teaming up with Chef Saab, a former Los Angeles-based chef celebrated for his boundary-pushing cuisine. The duo met at a food festival in Orange County and bonded over their shared desire to create a space that honors Indian flavors while pushing them into new, uncharted territory. Their collaboration is rooted in community, creativity, and a love of food that tells a story.
Firangi aims to be a true Indian gastropub, pairing reimagined street food, inventive curries, and vegan-forward dishes with a curated beverage program featuring craft cocktails and local beers. Diners can expect playful small plates like Chicken Tikka Poutine, made with cheesy waffle fries smothered in coconut curry and topped with tender tandoori chicken. Other creative highlights include Deconstructed Samosas, Shrimp Pakora, and Indian Street Corn with blended spices, butter, and feta. Firangi’s Soft Shell Curry Crab and Firangi Mussels are aimed at seafood lover's.
For traditionalists, the menu also honors the classics, offering rich, comforting curries like Butter Chicken, Dal, Green Rogan Josh, and Vegetable Korma, along with tandoori specialties such as Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Shrimp, and 12-hour Marinated Rack of Lamb. A full range of naan, rice, and street-inspired bowls round out the offerings.
Drinks at Firangi are equally well curated, with craft cocktails like the Dirty Chai (a masala chai vodka concoction), Layover in Bombay, and the tamarind-laced Imili Temptations. Non-drinkers can opt for creative mocktails like the Chai Bliss or the spiced Indian lemonade known as Nimbu Paani.
While Curryosity in South Park introduced San Diego to dishes like coconut-infused vegan korma and tamarind martinis, and Spice Lounge has long been a go-to for tandoori and classic curries in Pacific Beach, Firangi will serve as a culmination of Mutti’s culinary journey - elevated yet accessible, familiar but refreshingly new. Firangi is poised to be his most ambitious and eclectic offering yet.
Firangi Indian Gastropub is expected to open in June at 201 E Grand Avenue in the heart of downtown Escondido. For more information, visit firangisd.com.
Originally published on June 1, 2025.
