Daana Restaurant to close in Curtin—but there’s still time to book
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Beloved Curtin restaurant Daana has announced it will close its doors after eight years.
In a media release that came as a surprise to the HerCanberra team, owners Sunita and Sanjay Kumar say that “Sometimes you just know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings…”
They say they started Daana in September 2015 “with a single step and a massive leap of faith.”
Sunita and Sanjay Kumar describe their beginnings in Westside Acton Park as “humble”, a 40ft shipping container their first premises before their immediate popularity allowed them to expand to their Curtin restaurant and then catering contracts at The Abbey by Daana in Gold Creek and The Curators Café Bar & Functions at NFSA. A plethora of local and national award nominations and wins followed.
Sanjay and Sunita Kumar.
Luckily for Daana fans, the catering business will remain.
“We became part of Canberra’s and Australia’s culinary canvas, and we were named Australia’s Best Indian Restaurant at the Restaurant & Catering Awards in 2022,” says Sunita and Sanjay.
“Over the past eight years, starting as absolute greenhorns in Australia and the hospitality industry here, we have stumbled, picked ourselves up, learned, grown, and survived a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.”
“Although exhausting and fraught with many challenges, our journey has been both extraordinary and highly fulfilling, and we have made so many friends for life along the way.”
“We often get asked, what kept us going? And our answer is the blessings of our guests and the support of our fantastic team members, both past and present.”
The pair state that the Curtin closure is at least in part due to their lease ending in September and plans to redevelop the location “ruling out a long-term lease”.
However, the pair don’t rule out the possibility of a new Daana somewhere else, sometime in the future.
“Being [the] optimists that we are, one never knows how the tide may turn, and we start another venture to continue the Daana legacy elsewhere in future.”
“We thank all our guests, the food critics, the media, the vendors/ suppliers, and our team members at Daana for being way with us every step in our attempt to create a unique and warm dining destination. We will continue to serve you with love and sincerity and look forward to the same support and affection in the future.”
Daana in Curtin’s final service will be on Saturday 16 September.
“So, there is time for you to book now and savour our food and hospitality before we bid goodbye at Curtin.”
