New India Bazaar & Cuisine didn't always have a secret restaurant. For four years, it was strictly an Indian grocery in a strip mall on Seventh Street in Central Phoenix. It wasn't until January 2012 that its Punjabi-minded eatery opened, ever so quietly, for business.
And for those in the know, there is very good Indian food at New India. From a four-page menu consisting of several popular Punjabi dishes such as tandoori chicken and mutter paneer, the chaat (Indian street food) offerings and vegetarian dishes are the two best reasons to visit New India. Plus, opt for your entree as a thali dinner, and get an oversize TV tray filled with other Indian delights for a meal as flavorful as it is wallet-friendly.
Here's an excerpt from this week's review:
"There are enough top-notch chaat selections to make for a wallet-friendly light dinner or, better yet, a shareable meal with friends. The holy trinity may be the popular samosa chaat, a crispy pastry broken into pieces and topped with garbanzo beans, yogurt, onions, tamarind and mint chutney, and a handful of chili powder for a dish akin to an exotic pie; a spicy helping of bhel puri, a festive mixture of puffed rice, peanuts, and small pieces of potatoes and other veggies; and New India's version of dahi vada chaat, a cold and tangy complement to the former hot and spicy dishes, featuring small chips instead of vadas (fried fritters) soaked in yogurt with potatoes, onions, and garbanzo beans."
Hungry for more? Read my full review of New India Bazaar & Cuisine.
