Black-and-white wedding photographs of owner Kayur Popat's parents beam down from Jalsa's walls, a nod to the restaurateur's Indian roots. After all, it was Kayur's family that first proposed he begin serving Indian food at his suburban pizzeria, Friends & Family Pizza Buffet, according to a profile on Philly.com. With the success of that venture—redubbed Bombay Junction & Pizza Buffet—Kayur decided to open a more upscale location downtown. And thus, Jalsa was born.

In the kitchen, a Goa-native chef captains the culinary crew members as they whip up curry sauces and homemade Indian ice cream, and a clay oven glows with tandoori dishes and fresh breads. Indian artwork and dangling chandeliers join the family photos on the walls of the dining room, where plates pair with cups of mango and strawberry lassi on sleek black tables. Strings of white curtains shroud the cushy white booths amid colorful walls and elegant exposed brick. After nightfall, the upstairs transforms into a dance floor where a live DJ spins tunes before turning back into a jukebox at the stroke of two.