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India Gate back in the takeout business five months after fire

Foodies in need of a butter chicken fix can rejoice: the popular St. John's restaurant India Gate has partially reopened for the first time since a fire ripped through its Duckworth Street building in May.

Takeout orders are now being filled, with evening pickup available from 4 to 8 p.m — a relief to the restaurant's owner.

"We are glad we got the OK to do takeout, so we can keep our business. We almost went bankrupt, because it took almost five months to get to this level, to get the permits from the city," said Owner Davinder Sood.

Things were tight for India Gate as Sood waited for insurance to come through.

"Small businesses only have a certain amount in their accounts to keep up with the expenses, and all the paperwork and red tape to go though takes time," he said, adding his business wasn't found to be at fault in the fire on May 14, which was caused by an electrical issue in an ice machine.

Sood kept on half of his 26 staff members, who are now filling up orders.

$500,000 repair job

Interior renovations will now get underway to restore India Gate's dining areas, as Sood said he's just received the necessary construction permits.

"We had to take out everything because of smoke damage," he told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show, estimating the total renovations will work out to $500,000.

The restaurant has been a mainstay in the city since 1990.

Sood said while the fire has been a challenge, he and his staff are pulling through with plans to totally reopen in December.

"St. John's has been great to us," he said. "We'll definitely come back."