Two-Level Dining Experience Coming to Winter Park

WINTER PARK, FL — Sama Restaurant, an ambitious two-level concept from owner Amit Kumar, is targeting a February 2027 opening at 1449 Lee Rd, Winter Park, FL 32789, Kumar told Business Debut. The ground-up, three-story build will house two distinct dining experiences under the Sama name.

What to Expect

The project includes a full restaurant on the ground floor and a second-floor bar-driven concept. Combined, the space is expected to seat roughly 160 guests across both levels. Kumar described the design as substantial in scale, noting that the third floor will function as office and employee areas while the two primary levels serve guests.

Ground-floor service will be full-service with wait staff, while the upper level, Sama Terrace, will center on bar offerings, small plates, and an energetic evening atmosphere.

Menu and Vision

Kumar said it is too early to release a finalized menu, as the team will conduct several months of testing and refinement closer to opening. However, the ground floor will highlight regional Indian cuisine with an elevated, exploratory approach. “India is a very diverse country… every mile has a different kind of food,” he told Business Debut, adding that the team intends to draw from multiple regions and “put our heart and soul to elevate that dish.”

The upper level will feature world-inspired tapas influenced by Mediterranean, Asian, Mexican, and Japanese cuisines. Kumar said the goal is a creative bar-led program where food remains equal in quality to the cocktails and atmosphere.

Calling Sama his “most ambitious project so far,” Kumar described it as a long-held dream. “This is what we wanted to show—the real Indian cuisine’s advancement… We want to showcase that Indian food is not just tikka masala and korma sauce. It’s way more than that,” he told Business Debut.

Opening Timeline

Sama Restaurant is targeting an early 2027 debut, with expectations centered around February depending on construction progress.

Hours

Exact operating hours are to be announced. The current plan calls for lunch and dinner on the ground level and dinner-only service for the second floor, beginning around 5 p.m. and ending between 11 p.m. and midnight.

Follow for More

Website and social media links are to be announced as branding is still in development.