Eloura, a restaurant blending Mediterranean and East Asian cuisines, will open on March 3 at 10 W. Mifflin St. in Madison. The venture comes from the co-owners of the Indian-Italian fusion spot Zafferano Ristorante, siblings Kalyani and Akash Venkatraman. It features separate sections for coffee, dining, and events.
The Venkatraman siblings, who draw from their family's background in India's restaurant and hotel industry, launched Zafferano Ristorante just over a year ago at 2969 Cahill Main in Fitchburg. That spot serves dishes such as butter chicken pizza. For Eloura, they selected the downtown location after an immediate attraction to its inviting space. As Kalyani Venkatraman recalls, "My brother and I walked in, and we were like, 'Oh my gosh, like this is instant love.' The space itself was so inviting and beautiful. We just couldn't pass."
Initially undecided on the concept, the owners settled on a Mediterranean base—praised for its healthy, enjoyable, and varied options—infused with East Asian elements. This approach aligns with their strength in fusion, as Venkatraman notes: "Fusion is our forte, so we're sticking to that."
Eloura will operate distinct sections with a dedicated kitchen team, separate from Zafferano's. The coffee shop, open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers quick bites, coffees, and teas with a focus on Mediterranean and East Asian flavors, including a baklava latte. The main dining room, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., will provide lunch and dinner featuring innovative combinations like lamb kebab bao and Mediterranean miso udon. Additional areas include a bar and events space. Reservations for the March 3 grand opening are available on OpenTable.