“Naya is a fantastic restaurant, it would be a real asset,” said Ann Nichols, president of the Oakwood Historical District Neighborhood Association.

The restaurant will be located in the 10-story, mixed-use building proposed for the corner of Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road, according to the press release.

Although Nichols is not happy with the proposed building, she said including an upscale restaurant in the proposal is appealing.

“We who are opposed to this, are not opposed to everything,” she said. “If we have to have that huge building, I’d at least like to have a great restaurant.”

Naya, which means “new” in Hindi, currently has one restaurant located in Grand Rapids and the East Lansing version is going to be a little bit smaller, said Rimple Nayyar, general manager of Naya.

“It is a ‘new’ concept in the sense that we’re trying to bring globally inspired food to one place,” he said.

The menu features many small plates, ranging from sushi to lamb chops to Thai mussels, along with a selection of entrées ranging from steak to Indian dishes, Nayyar said. The specialty in Grand Rapids is the suckling pig.

Much of the food at Naya comes from local farmers, and the restaurant attempts to use all-natural ingredients whenever possible, he said.

The wine bar and drink selection will also be an important part of the restaurant.

“We want to bring in a martini bar, and focus on local beers rather than mass-produced beers,” Nayyar said.

The Grand Rapids restaurant offers different events such as live music and wine tastings.

“It’s too hard to say (right now) if that will be included, but I think it’s part of the plan,” Nayyar said. “I’d love to offer it, it’s part of our identity.”

However, Nayyar doesn’t expect the restaurant to offer dance lessons, available in Grand Rapids, due to size limitations.

Other residents also feel adding Naya is a smart decision.

“If you compare East Lansing to other college towns, we are really lacking in the diversity of our dining options,” said Katharine Czarnecki, an East Lansing resident and board member of the Grand River Connection.

Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbot Road, is currently the only wine bar in East Lansing.

“Downtown East Lansing will continue to struggle against Eastwood Towne Center unless we can provide unique and interesting dining options,” Czarnecki said.

Naya should attract a mix of older residents and young professionals not interested in the college scene, she said. However, Nayyar said he expects to draw in anybody looking to experience something different, including students.

Kinesiology senior Rachel Winters said she would expect Naya to be popular among students.

“There’s ‘wine Wednesday’ at one of the fraternities, and girls go crazy over it,” she said. “I think it’d be a hit.”