Paul Chhabra is set to introduce Suffolk to the gastronomic delights of his native land.

The restaurateur is transforming a corner of Harbour View West shopping center into the city’s first Indian eatery.

Chhabra, who already has Rajput Indian Cuisine restaurants in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, says he has been waiting for the right moment to open the third in Harbour View.

“We have been living in Harbour View for about five or six years,” he said. “People have been talking about an Indian restaurant (being) needed here.”

After initial investigations, Chhabra said demographics and timing didn’t seem right, adding that the closure of U.S. Joint Forces Command two years ago was another of his reservations.

But he said he began talking to the owner of the premises soon after the Mexican restaurant that had been located there closed early this year.

“I didn’t know it was closed until somebody sent me an email,” he said. “’Hey, the Mexican closed (the email said); I think there’s a chance of doing an Indian at this location,’ and it looked good to me, and it was the right time.

“I saw the lease paper in the window, called them, and it started moving from then.”

Chhabra plans a lot of changes to the 3,050 square-foot restaurant site. He said he will open it up by taking out an interior wall or two, build a high-end wine bar that will exist in addition to the regular bar, and create an 80-seat banquet room.

The restaurant will seat 140 to 150 all together, he said, opening from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and noon to 3 p.m. weekends, with dinner hours from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturdays and perhaps later than 10 p.m. on Sundays as well.

On the menu will be traditional dishes mostly from northern India — where Chhabra comes from — with some items from southern India also, he said.

Poultry, lamb, goat, seafood and vegetarian dishes will be served, including tandoori-style from the clay oven, he added.

Curries, Chhabra continued, will range from mild to extra spicy, and many dishes will feature organic ingredients, while others will be gluten-free, including one of the bread items — though not the traditional Indian naan, which requires gluten.

After first breaking into the restaurant business in New York, Chhabra moved to Hampton Roads and, together with a partner, opened Nawab in Norfolk in 1992.

He returned to India for a few years, spending time with family and learning more about running an Indian restaurant, before establishing the first Rajput Indian Cuisine in Hampton in 1999 on his own.

Chhabra plans to richly decorate the Harbour View restaurant with the colors of paprika and saffron; he said his wife was returning from a trip to India with decorations.

“It will be good décor, and definitely good food and service,” he said.