Chef Chetan Shetty—formerly of the Michelin-starred Rania—helms Passerine, a seasonal Indian restaurant in New York’s Flatiron District.
Created with partners Maneesh K. Goyal and Alvina Patel Buxani, Passerine reflects Shetty’s dual influences: his Indian heritage and the vibrancy of New York’s culinary landscape.
The restaurant’s name, Passerine, is drawn from an Indian folktale, The Songbird and The King. Symbolizing freedom and creativity, it reflects Shetty’s personal philosophy—an approach to Indian cuisine rooted in tradition yet driven by curiosity and reinvention.
Mapa Mueller tells a story through texture and color
The interior design by Mapa Mueller carries that same sense of transportive storytelling.
To achieve this, Mueller layered jewel tones and rich textures inspired by both passerine plumage and contemporary Indian fashion. Deep teals, burgundy, and ochre play against walnut millwork, with flashes of cobalt blue adding moments of surprise. Velvet drapery with tassels that resemble suspended feathers adds softness, while antique brass detailing and custom millwork bring a sense of refinement.
“The palette is full of contrast, but it’s carefully balanced so it never feels overwhelming—much like the complexity and beauty of a bird’s feathers, all held together in something so small and delicate,” says Mueller.
Transporting from Flatiron to Passerine
Guests enter through a botanical wallpapered drawing room, where vintage-inspired chandeliers float above contemporary seating, and the walls and ceiling are wrapped in pattern, creating a cocoon-like entry.
The journey continues into the main dining room, where oversized pendants cast a low, glowing light across tables. A corridor painted entirely in deep green semi-gloss leads guests into the 30-person private dining room.
“To me, Indian food—more than any other cuisine—has the remarkable ability to transport you to another place,” Mueller says. “That sensation became the core inspiration. My hope was that, after a couple of hours at Passerine, guests step back into the bustling streets of New York and, for a brief moment, wonder if it had all been a dream.”
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