Shop Around: New Bush River Road restaurant offers best of both worlds

Naveen Mallipeddi may have figured out a way to put an end to many a date night and family night out argument.

Last month, the local franchise owner opened Persis Biryani Indian Mexican Grill at 1728 Bush River Rd. in the site of the former El Chico Mexican restaurant. Persis Biryani will have its official grand opening later this month.

Persis Biryani is an Indian food chain with 16 locations across the United States from North Carolina to Wisconsin. Mallipeddi decided to incorporate Mexican fare into the menu at the eatery's new Columbia location as a way to draw in fans of El Chico.

"Just going out as a customer myself with my family some of us would want one type of food and some would want another," Mallipeddi said. "With this location just being El Chico--which was a famous local Mexican restaurant--I just decided to combine both tastes into the menu."

So far, the concept seems to be successful for the restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner seven days a week.

"We have been very busy," Mallipeddi said. "We honestly weren't prepared for the crowds we've had so we are making some adjustments to meet the demand but it is a good thing."