An Indian restaurant scheduled to open Nov. 1 in Midtown has been delayed, but it is still on track to open.

“We are definitely opening,” said Ranjani Prasad, owner of Mati’s, which was formerly Mati’s Indian Express in Natomas.

The new location is 1601 16th St.

Prasad explained that the delay in opening was due to obtaining permits.

“We’re just waiting for that one piece of paper,” she said. “They have to come check and make sure everything is OK. Once we have that paper, it will take one week to wrap up.”

Prasad said she didn’t want to speculate on what day the restaurant will open.

Dave Herrera, vice president of the Sacramento Branch of Colliers International, said the delay was due to a kitchen hood that wasn’t large enough, and installing a larger hood system should clear the road for the restaurant to open.

“It’s going to be a one-of-a-kind Indian restaurant for downtown and Midtown Sacramento,” he said. “It’s an Indian restaurant that has similarities to the style of Panda Express.”

Prasad explained the restaurant’s concept to The Sacramento Press in September:

“We’re not sit-down, and we’re not a buffet,” she said. “We’re more like a Panda Express, where people can see what we have and sample it. When people have a sample, they never leave without food.”

For those unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, each dish is labeled with the type of food it contains as well as a description of how spicy it is.

Prasad said there is something for everyone, and the Midtown location will be more central to her loyal customer base.

Customers interviewed at the former location at 3880 Truxel Rd. in September said they would be happy to follow the restaurant to its new location in the Fremont Building at 16th and P streets.

Photo 1 is the space Mati's will occupy. Other photos taken in September of the previous location.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.