The space at 155 E. Morse Blvd. just off Park Avenue has seen a revolving door of restaurant concepts over the last decade — Nopa Grill, Daya, Proper & Wild, The Bridge. The latter was fitting, seeing it proved to be a bridge to the space’s newest tenant, Jala, an Indian restaurant touting its “fine dining” and “modern” aspects. And with Tabla being just a three-minute walk around the corner, the Battle of Biryani, the Tussle of Tikka Masala and the Rumble of Rogan Josh may be taking shape on these brick-lined streets in Winter Park.
The space in which the contender resides remains largely unchanged since the (im)Proper & (very) Wild days, except for some twee flowered recesses and shrubberied walls that influencers use as a backdrop to twirl and arch like they’re Bollywood extras. Yes, there are Indian wedding vibes at Jala, and if you think the stagecraft is limited to decor, you would, unfortunately, be wrong.