A new Kassia will be opening in Cowplain next month - but with a healthy twist

Kassia, which has restaurants in Drayton, Clanfield and Southsea will be opening Kassia Kitchen on London Road.

It will replace the existing curry house, Palash, that has been trading in the shop space since 1994.

The re-branded eatery will provide a takeaway and delivery service, instead of the eat-in bar and restaurant atmosphere that the other three Kassia restaurants have.

The menu will be smaller and more health conscious than those that are offered at the existing restaurants.

It will offer healthy meals with grilled meat as well as vegetarian and vegan options and will no longer use ghee – an Indian butter used to fry foods.

There will also be a healthy meal-prep service, where people can place food orders to enjoy throughout the week.

Some of the classics will remain on the menu – such as their jalfrezi – but will be made using diet-friendly ingredients such as natural yoghurt.

However, a couple of the original full-fat favourites from Palash’s menu will remain, to pay tribute to a few loyal customers who have been eating curry there for over a decade.

Kassia owner Kaz Miah owns several other restaurants in the city, including Green Mango in Southsea and previously Zayn’s and Red Lounge in Drayton.

He said: ‘We’re trying to revive the old Palash, like the good old days. We still have loyal customers so wanted to keep their dishes.’

Kaz started working at Palash as a tandoori chef when he was 15 before taking over ownership of the curry house last year.

He became business partners with owner Syed Minul, who has now left the business.

When Kaz took over ownership of Palash, he said: ‘It was a sentimental thing. Because it was my first job, and I saw the previous owner struggling and trying to sell it, I couldn’t help but buy it. The worst case scenario for me would have been if it had not found a buyer and had to close.’