Despite several delays, a popular Natomas Indian restaurant is now calling Midtown home.

Mati’s – formerly Mati’s Indian Express – opened Monday in the Fremont Building at 16th and P streets.

“We passed our last inspection at nine in the morning, and we were open two hours later,” said Shawn Prasad, co-owner of the business.

The move from Natomas is intended to make the restaurant more centrally located to its customers, co-owner Ranjani Prasad told The Sacramento Press last September.

Mati’s has not made changes to the menu, which still serves Indian food in a style similar to Panda Express.

“Now we have a lot more seating,” Shawn Prasad said Tuesday, adding that the current 2,200-square-foot restaurant can seat 46 people inside, compared with 16 at the old location.

Planned outdoor seating will bring an additional 28 seats when the weather gets warmer, he said.

The restaurant was originally scheduled to open Nov. 1, but Shawn Prasad said the permitting process took far longer than expected, and problems with the kitchen’s hood system added to the delay as well.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed Sunday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.