Zaroka Forcibly Closed by Yale with No Compensation

After 24 years in New Haven, Zaroka Bar & Grill on York Street has closed. Although Yale University originally forced Zaroka to close by April 30, 2025, the university made Zaroka to close three weeks early. Yale’s neglect of a neighboring property led to structural issues—including a wall collapse—that compromised Zaroka’s building as well. Mahesh had planned for a final three weeks in the space, but now he’s unable to even enter the building to auction off valuable kitchen equipment or retrieve personal belongings. The university has offered no compensation for the food left to rot in fridges, the labor costs lost, or the opportunity for Zaroka to host a proper farewell. For Mahesh Pirthiani—who took over Zaroka in September 2020 after being a loyal customer for over a decade—this closure is “a nightmare.”

"It's very emotional," said Mahesh Pirthiani. "You put so much into it, and then someone just says, 'Okay, we're going to take the bulldozer and destroy it.'" Pirthiani took over Zaroka after owning a nearby 7/11, and sold it in June 2021 to take care of Zaroka. Pirthiani put deep care into creating an authentic Indian and Pakistani restaurant from food to atmosphere, installing small mirrors throughout the walls, carving diamonds into the paint to resemble a temple, and adding brand-new floors, toilets, sinks, grease traps, water-resistant walls, and a tandoor oven. Despite that attention to detail for the restaurant and all who sit inside it, Yale University called to inform him that the building would be demolished. For what purpose? With what compromise? Any consideration for his business? He has no answers. He has not been offered any compensation for the forcible closure or compromise with the university to keep his space in any fashion.

Pirthiani, who wanted to keep Zaroka running for as long as possible, invested tens of thousands of dollars into maintaining and improving the restaurant. With elderly parents to care for, the challenges and obstacles he faced when opening the business, and the significant amount of money he's poured into the restaurant now being destroyed, he's not sure about Zaroka's future beyond the building.

Even with the uncertainty, Pirthiani continued to serve dishes and create an atmosphere of utmost care. His chefs still made his mother's puri recipe, which has roasted peppercorns and cumin seeds kneaded into the whole wheat flour dough. They still made Sindhi-style creamy dal with smooth ghee tadka simmering on top. Pirthiani is dedicated to ensuring every visitor gets exactly what they'd like, whether on the menu or not, with whatever dietary restrictions they need. He teared up thinking about a couple who visited the day after Christmas one year when Pirthiani was able to prepare a dal without peppers to accommodate the husband's severe pepper allergy. "The wife had tears when she was eating. She said they'd been married for two years, and this was the first time the couple shared full meals in a restaurant together. I had tears of joy that at least I could do that."

He has even served people who came in not to eat at all. The techno collective Neu/Body started their parties at the basement of Zaroka, and now New Raven, the house and electronic party, has only hosted its parties at Zaroka since December 2023. Downstairs from the restaurant area, people sweat on the dancefloor and break at the bar for margaritas and Taj Mahal beers. He has loved hosting the parties and the energy they bring to the restaurant and city.

We were able to walk through Zaroka on what we didn’t know was one of the final days in the restaurant. Pirthiani took pride in everything he had built and maintained at Zaroka. He pointed out the golden and bejeweled window decorations, a nod to the definition of “jharokha” (phonemically spelled “zaroka”). He showed the dolls and carvings of Urdu deities throughout the restaurant. He pointed out where he stood on a railing, three stories up, to paint the ceiling—nearly falling—just to create a fresh and welcoming space for his customers. He does not want to see it all turned into rubble.

Zaroka's final days were going to include a New Raven party on April 26th, an Easter weekend celebration, and a friends and family buffet. Now, Mahesh is unable to even say a final goodbye to the space.

Despite the demolition, the heart and mission of Zaroka will remain unaffected by bulldozers.