April 24, 2017

Meet Rohan Talwar of Norah Restaurant in West Hollywood

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rohan Talwar.

For Rohan Talwar, founder of IB Hospitality and owner of Norah in West Hollywood, hospitality reaches far beyond food, drink, and ambiance. His love of travel, coupled with his appreciation for elevated cuisine and design, shapes his distinctive philosophy on service. “In any restaurant, true hospitality and a sense of welcome should always come first. I want to treat guests in my restaurants the way I treat people in my own home,” he explains.

With seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine, rare international wines, adventurous cocktails, and a quintessentially Los Angeles design, Norah meets all of Talwar’s lofty standards. “I wanted to create an unpretentious, inviting environment with high design and genuine warmth,” he says. With its eclectic American cuisine and Thomas Schoos-designed dining room, Norah is a must-visit West Hollywood destination and neighborhood staple, exemplifying Talwar’s unwavering dedication to guest experience.

Growing up in a household that was always brimming with generosity and warmth, a dedication to hospitality was instilled in the Bombay-born restaurateur from an early age. After studying business in England and the United States, Talwar joined forces with his father to work at the family’s tile company in India, where he gained invaluable business experience and knowledge. In 2012, however, Talwar’s passion for hospitality led him to create IB Hospitality, a decision he describes came together naturally.

Talwar’s first restaurant, Ellipsis, opened in 2012 in Bombay, India, a distinctive concept that introduced many of the city’s culinary enthusiasts to seasonal New American fare and craft cocktails through dinner, lunch and weekend brunch. To provide the necessary complementary ambiance, Talwar hired Los Angeles-based designer Thomas Schoos, who filled the multi-level space with dark wood accents and a mixture of vintage and contemporary wall art.

Following the success of Ellipsis, Talwar moved to West Hollywood, where he immersed himself in the city’s vibrant and diverse culture. Identifying an opportunity for refined dining in a neighborhood well known for its vivacious nightlife, he opened Norah on Santa Monica Boulevard in February 2016. After living in London, Sydney, New York City, and beyond, Talwar brings a global perspective to his hospitality concepts. He continues to cultivate new opportunities, combining his inclusive outlook on service with the courage to pioneer new markets.

Has it been a smooth road?
There were several obstacles and challenges relating to moving to a new city and building a business from scratch. Particularly in the construction period and team building.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Norah Restaurant story. Tell us more about the business.
Norah is a neighborhood gem in West Hollywood’s culinary scene and offers eclectic American fare in a verdant and sophisticated dining space that balances elegance and comfort with an industrial feel. Executive Chef Mike Williams’ entirely made-from-scratch menu innovates and refines approachable flavors, focusing on seasonal curation and local ingredients. The dinner, brunch, and tasting menus are complemented by a thoughtfully sourced selection of old world leaning wines, as well as an inventive cocktail list that features seasonal variations on classic libations. The emphasis at Norah is on hospitality and every meticulous detail ties back to placing the guest first. The exceptional service culture, headed by General Manager John Snowden, fosters warm, genuine connections, and strives to provide guests with an elevated dining experience that is luxurious, relaxed, and unforgettable.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think a focus on authentic, local and sustainable experiences will be on the rise over the next several years. The industry will also move to an all-inclusive model on pricing in order to suitable compensate and attract quality front and back of house talent.

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