AN INDIAN restaurant is set for a new lease of life after closing its doors for the last time at the weekend.
Malikas in Cowley Road has closed, with the new owner of the site looking to open an Italian restaurant later this summer.
Having learnt about the industry in Italy, Ertil Tota is now hoping to showcase his experiences at the former Malikas premises.
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He told the Oxford Mail: “I hope to open after a month or so because I want to do some changes to the place.
“I want a bar and a restaurant, and see if I can get some extras too, but if not, it will be an Italian restaurant.
“I used to study in Italy as a chef and it was my dream to own and run a restaurant.
“I used to work in Tuscany, which has the most amazing kitchens in Italy, so that’s my idea of what I’d like to do.”
Mr Tota acknowledged it’s a tough time to start a new business, but is more than ready to roll his sleeves up.
“It’s a bad time because businesses are still recovering and prices are going up and up,” he said.
“We’ll give it our best though to make it work.
“We haven’t decided a name just yet, but it will definitely be an Italian name.”
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This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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