PREVIEW: Delicia

After two-and-a-half years of neighborhood opposition over zoning for parking, proprietor Nicole Harlan-Oprisu and her business partners are finally preparing to turn on the lights at Delicia. Located at 5215 N. College Ave. in the vacant Movie Gallery spot, the restaurant will focus on Latin-fusion cuisine. This will be Harlan-Oprisu’s fifth northside venture—and has proven to be one of her most challenging. “This is the biggest project we’ve worked on, from nothing to restaurant,” she says.

Playful craft-cocktail concoctions like the Fire & Ice margarita will come with a mild basil-hibiscus-habanero reduction, chilled with balls of ice made with three chiles. “The more the ice melts, the hotter and hotter the drink gets,” says Harlan-Oprisu. Fans of New Latin fare can munch ceviche and warm octopus tostones to their hearts’ content. There will be salads draped with nopales (cactus), seared scallops drizzled with tequila-lime crema, and stewed pork flavored with plantains. And in the spring, she plans to offer street or takeaway fare next door at La Piccolina.

MORE: Harlan-Oprisu is also behind The Northside Social, one of Indy’s top 25 best bars.

Photo by Tony Valainis

This article appeared in the January 2013 issue.