Ghee Indian Kitchen

The story

Ghee Indian Kitchen – Kendall: Chef Niven Patel's Award-Winning Indian Cuisine

The Vision Behind Ghee Indian Kitchen

Chef Niven Patel grew up in the American South with traditional Indian parents. As a child, he found joy in composing menus and cooking for his family. After working in the Cayman Islands, the Florida Keys, and studying in Europe, he returned to South Florida to open Ghee Indian Kitchen—a place where he could replicate the feeling of inviting guests into his own home. “I want them to smell the aromas and spices... and get more engaged in their meal,” he says.

That philosophy extends beyond the kitchen. In 2014, Patel started Rancho Patel, a two-acre farm in Homestead, Florida. The warm, humid climate—similar to India—allows for mangoes, eggplant, avocados, beets, and other ingredients typically used in Indian cuisine to thrive. Today, the farm supplies about 35% of the produce used in the restaurant, making the cooking deeply seasonal and local. As Patel puts it, “It’s music to my ears when I overhear my team sharing with the guests that the vegetable they are about to eat was harvested just this morning.”

A Team That Makes It Work

Patel is joined by Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur. Alkassar brings global experience managing over thirty restaurants in Europe and the Middle East. Together, they have expanded Ghee to multiple locations, including the original Dadeland outpost in Kendall, which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026 for its good quality, good value cooking. The recognition underscores what regulars have known for years: this is Indian food that respects tradition while embracing the best of Florida’s farms.

What to Expect

The menu at the Dadeland location changes with the seasons, but the approach is constant. Snacks like Yellowfin Tuna Bhel with farm avocado and charred vegetables, or Green Papaya Salad with peanuts and jaggery, set the tone. Curries range from Chicken Tikka Masala to Kerala Lamb Curry, and the Tasting Menu offers a family-style tour of the kitchen’s highlights. Many dishes are gluten-free or vegan, and the cooking avoids unnecessary flourishes.

Dining at Ghee Indian Kitchen in Kendall, you can sit indoors or on the outdoor patio, order takeout or delivery, or book a private event. The atmosphere is relaxed but refined—a reflection of Chef Patel’s conviction that great food starts with great ingredients and a sense of home.