Don’t Tell Aunty gastropub updates Indian classics

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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Don’t Tell Aunty, a new Indian gastropub in the Symphony neighborhood between Back Bay and Fenway, is shaking things up with spices, craft cocktails and live music.

Spearheaded by Flying Lion hospitality group, the team behind Madras Dosa Co. and Nowon in the Seaport, the restaurant takes traditional South Indian recipes and serves them with a contemporary twist.

“We always remember where we come from and keep the roots of our flavors in the food, but we also adapt where we are and that’s where the fusion part happens,” says the marketing director and partner of Flying Lion hospitality group, Ramya Guttikonda. “It’s bringing the best parts of both worlds.”

Start off with a signature cocktail and crispy fried okra served with tamarind sauce. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DON’T TELL AUNTY

Guttikonda worked with partners Koushik Babu Koganti, founder and owner of Flying Lion, and Will Corado, bar program director for the group, to bring the Don’t Tell Aunty vision to life.

Some of the most popular dishes on the menu are the kale chaat, a street food dish with crispy kale fritters topped with potatoes and yogurt, mint and tamarind sauce, and the kothu Bolognese, with shredded bread, bell peppers and onions in a Bolognese sauce.

Cocktails are equally innovative here. The Kashmiri Velvet puts an Indian twist on a Manhattan with ghee fat-washed bourbon, Kashmiri-infused sweet vermouth and black walnut orange bitters.

The cheeky restaurant name was inspired by Guttikonda and her partners’ experiences growing up under the watchful eyes of their aunties. News of their every move traveled quickly back to their parents.

Crispy kale fritters topped with potatoes and yogurt, mint and tamarind sauce. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DON’T TELL AUNTY

“We make fun that we don’t need CCTV cameras in India, we have all the eyes of the aunties looking out,” says Guttikonda with a laugh. “[The name] is a fun take on that experience.” Despite the teasing, Guttikonda says her aunties are coming around to the idea of the restaurant.

The Don’t Tell Aunty team rents the space, formerly occupied by Boloco, from Berklee College of Music. Part of their lease agreement is providing a stage for students to perform on. Guttikonda says in a few weeks they’ll launch live music nightly as well as Bollywood-themed parties and other events. Even without those programs, the atmosphere is vibrant with energetic music and Bollywood films screening on the TVs.

At the end of June, the restaurant will also launch an Indian brunch menu featuring items like a savory French toast with curry and chive butter.

“The design of the menu is so when a group of people come in there, there should be something for everyone regardless of dietary restrictions,” says Guttikonda. “And when they have the food, they should feel full and satisfied like they’ve had a meal at home.”

In other words, it should taste like Aunty cooked it.