EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The dining experience at Jyoti’s Kitchen feels a lot like its owner’s home because, in many ways, it is.
Before the restaurant’s ribbon cutting this spring, friends borrowed decorations, artwork and furnishings directly from Jyoti Sharad’s house to help transform the space into a cozy gathering place inspired by the northern Indian hospitality she grew up with.
“My home looks like this,” Sharad said, gesturing around the restaurant. “I always have a tablecloth. I always want it to feel cozy and welcoming — like home.”
That sense of hospitality has been at the heart of Sharad’s cooking long before Jyoti’s Kitchen opened in March at 2230 Wealthy St. SE…