At 2 a.m., most restaurants around North College Avenue have long been closed for the night. But one multicultural fusion restaurant can be seen still serving patrons.

That restaurant is Gaia Masala & Burger, a recent addition to the Fort Collins restaurant scene that merges Indian, Mediterranean and American cuisine under one roof.

“At Gaia, we are serving as a global culinary destination, where you can find the flavors of different regions of the Earth under one roof,” said Hira Kunwar, co-owner of Gaia Masala & Burger, in a statement on the restaurant’s website. “We strive to bring the flavors of the world to your plate, introducing you to new and exciting taste of fusion.”

The choice to name the restaurant Gaia Masala & Burger reflects the care the owners and staff strive to put into their operation.

“Our name, derived from the Greek word ‘Gaia,’ meaning ‘Earth,’ reflects our commitment to nourishing our guests just as Mother Nature nourishes her children,” said Nandalal Neupane, co-owner of Gaia Masala & Burger, in a statement on the restaurant’s website. “At Gaia, we are dedicated to serve quality food and the best service you have ever asked for.”

Gaia’s expansion into Fort Collins was first planned in April 2024, with opening day slated for Jan. 10. However, adjustments needed to be made to the building, previously occupied by Half Fast Subs. A new kitchen hood and approval from Poudre Fire Authority spawned challenges for the restaurant and caused the debut to be pushed to Jan. 20.

“I always prefer to go through the positives, and with the kind cooperation of the city, they cooperated so well with our staff, and they always make us move forward,” said Ankit Neupane, general manager of Gaia Masala & Burger’s Fort Collins location. “Finally, we are here, and we are proud to serve the customers in Fort Collins.”

The restaurant is located at 649 S. College Ave., which is across the street from Colorado State University. Gaia’s other Colorado locations include Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs, which each have notable college communities. From Ankit Neupane’s observations, CSU students continue the good will that college students in other cities have with Gaia.

“We are so proud to say that our locations are actually loved by students,” Ankit Neupane said. “We are in Boulder, we’re in Denver and we’re in Colorado Springs. Everyone loves Gaia, but almost 45 or 50 percent of the guests are students, which is a great feeling for us.”

Gaia Masala & Burger closes at 3 a.m., markedly later than most other restaurants in Colorado. The Fort Collins location continues Gaia’s philosophy with their other restaurants: Gaia should remain available to satisfy customers’ hunger, even late at night.

“Hunger has no schedule, and we feel that sometimes,” Ankit Neupane said. “We decided to open until late so that we could serve to all the food lovers who get cravings in the late night.”

Gaia’s late night schedule has made the restaurant popular with students and locals alike.

“Everything was made to order,” said Ena Rodriguez, Fort Collins resident. “The food is very fresh and authentic, and the people here are fabulous.”

To the owners and staff, Gaia Masala & Burger is more than an opportunity to provide food and service to Fort Collins. Service goes beyond food, and Gaia aims to serve care and gratitude to the cities they call home.

“I hope our customers, Fort Collins and everyone will support us, and that they will try us,” Ankit Neupane said. “I usually say to my customers, ‘We only not serve food. We mix some love and respect in that food, and we serve it to you.’ That’s our motto.”

Reach Robert Sides at life@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.