Little Italy’s reputation as one of the best food spots in the city is well-known, and there’s a new concept debuting among all of the restaurants on College Street: Naari Thai BBQ.
The space used to be home to Oro, but owner Hemant Bhagwani embraces growth and evolution in his culinary concepts, and Naari is the latest result.
“It’s a different lane from my Indian‑forward projects, but it keeps our core DNA: craft, ingredient respect and bold, balanced flavours,” he says. ““What’s the same is the spirit of constant evolution. The College Street room previously housed Oro, a shapeshifting concept I created to iterate and stay fresh. Naari is the next chapter in that same address— focused and fire‑driven, but still playful and seasonal.”
The idea of live-fire cooking remains, too, with modern Thai recipes in the form of shareable plates and two menus that allow for a choose-your-own adventure experience: an omakase and an a-la-carte option. Highlights include the BBQ Coconut Chicken Satay with turmeric, soy and tamarind, the oysters with Orange chilli nam jim and crispy shallots and the avocado Som Tum, a chilled Thai avocado salad with fruits and toasted peanuts.
The decision to have both menus star at Naari was deliberate, Bhagwani says.
“The à la carte gives guests freedom to build the table — graze on snacks, go heavy on the grill, or lean into curries. Our omakase menu is a curated walk through the kitchen’s techniques and flavour map ‚ great for first‑timers or anyone who wants the chef to steer.”
The omakase option is wallet-friendly, priced at just $65 a person — a choice Bhagwani says was also deliberate.
“Tasting menus shouldn’t be a special‑occasion only thing,” he says. “We priced ours so more people in the neighbourhood can discover Thai barbecue through a guided experience— on a weeknight, before a concert, or as a casual date — then come back to explore the ever changing omakase menu.”
Naari Thai BBQ is located at 501 College Street.
