PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Now open in Center City, Ancient Spirits and Grille brings contemporary European fare with an herbal twist to Chestnut Street.
The restaurant and bar focuses on Ayurvedic practices — holistic wellness remedies native to India — according to owner Syam Namballa.
"It’s a way of life,” he explained. “How you eat, how you do your day-to-day activities. Everything has to be in balance.”
Namballa said people can tailor their menu choices based on their own spiritual energy, or dosha, by accessing a QR code at the table.
“You have six questions based on your physiological, your emotional and your behavioral type,” he said. “Once you answer the six questions, it determines what kind of body type you are, and based on the body type, your drinks and your food is customized.”
Chef Chris Tavares shared some highlights of the fare: grilled octopus from Portugal, rack of lamb, traditional kebabs, and so on. There’s also a vegetarian tasting menu.
“This is a restaurant and fun place,” said Namballa, “not a holistic center, but we are introducing the first phase of holistic-ness”: food.
For more on Ancient Spirits and Grille, listen to the KYW Newsradio original podcast What’s Cooking on the Audacy app or in the player above.