Downtown Bettendorf has welcomed a new dining destination with the opening of SinDo Pan Asian, a family-owned restaurant rooted in tradition, travel and a shared love of food. Celebrating their official grand opening the week of January 26, SinDo brings together global flavors, generational experience and a deep connection to the Quad Cities community.
At the heart of SinDo Pan Asian is Owner and Executive Chef Aman Razdan, whose culinary journey spans more than 30 years and multiple continents. Raised in India, Aman learned early on that food and family go hand in hand, a philosophy that now shapes every aspect of SinDo. “I was born and raised in Bombay, India. It’s a melting pot of so many different things. That’s where we bring some of the influences of flavors here,” he said. “I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 17.”
Chef Aman immigrated to the United States in 1997, where he met his wife Martina, earned his culinary degree and built a career. He raised his family in Bettendorf, and over the years became a familiar name in the local dining scene. Many in the Quad Cities will recognize Chef Aman as the former chef of Red Crow Grill, which he later purchased and transformed into Hemispheres Bistro. He’s also the chef behind Plus Saporis, also in Bettendorf near the TBK Sports Complex.
Truly a family operation, Chef Aman is working alongside his sons, Arion and Simon, who each bring their own experience and perspective to the restaurant. “My sons have been working with me since they were 15 years old,” said Chef Aman. It’s clear to see how much they enjoy learning from their dad. “Working with my father is honestly an honor. As a son, it’s a dream come true,” said Arion Razdan, who is the Grande Manager and Social Media Manager at SinDo. “I’ve always had a calling to the restaurant industry,” added Simon Razdan, Chef de Cuisine at SinDo and also the lead chef at Plus Saporis. “I’m so glad to be continuing that with my family.”
In preparation for SinDo’s opening, Chefs Aman, Arion and Simon spent three weeks in India, visiting family while also researching regional flavors, gathering spices and developing ideas for the new menu. The trip allowed them to reconnect with their roots while bringing fresh inspiration back to the Quad Cities.
“SinDo is a big city concept. Pan Asian is not one single entity, it’s not one single cuisine,” said Arion. “It’s a broad variety. It encompasses Indonesian cuisine, Indian cuisine, all of south Asia, China, Japan, Korea and even a little bit of Russian cuisine.”
With the grand opening of SinDo, the Razdan family adds another chapter to their culinary story, one that builds on decades of experience while looking ahead.
“I couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” said Chef Aman about the Downtown Bettendorf location. “There’s a lot of development here right now – apartment complexes, and the city has more plans to bring other commercial businesses downtown, plus residential development. That would tremendously grow downtown.”
Currently, SinDo is open for lunch and dinner every day and has an online takeout menu. To see the menu and learn more, go to: www.sindopanasiancuisine.com.