After 20 years of serving traditional Indian cuisine, Garam Masalaa Malta will be closing its doors permanently on Sunday 30th June, marking its last week in business.

Making the announcement on Facebook, the couple behind the restaurant, Sunil and Katherine Khosla, noted that this has been a very emotional and difficult decision to make.

“We’d like to thank our staff, past and present, for being such an integral part of our business and for helping us to provide so many wonderful experiences and dishes to our guests over the years,” they wrote.

The first outlet in Msida 

In comments given to WhosWho.mt, they shared that after COVID-19, “the restaurant never recovered.” The pandemic has led for the closures of many business, caused by reduced customer traffic, financial troubles and supply chain disruptions, among others. 

The couple share that the business started in June 2006 in Msida, their first outlet. For the first six years since the establishment of Garam Masalaa, Sunil was the main driving force as he was the cook behind all the dishes.

“The genuine food is what drew the crowd,” Katherine notes. A decade after its opening, the business moved to Qawra, its present location.

Katherine and Sunil with their children

“Towards the end, COVID-19 and Brexit spoiled it for us,” they reiterate. Furthermore, Katherine highighted that three and a half years ago her husband suffered from an injury requiring the assistance of her three children to run the business, an act which she is very grateful for. 

Now, they share that it’s time for them to retire and move on to the next adventure.  “We don’t have many plans at the moment. However, if health is on our side, we would like to travel more now that we will have more time on our hands,” Katherine and Sunil said.

Asked about their outlook over the past years, the couple stated that overall, it was a beautiful journey, “thanks to the loyalty of many customers.”