Peace in: Ghandi Cafe back open on Bleecker St.
Tangy chicken tikka massala is among the favorites on the menu at
Ghandi Cafe.
BY GABE HERMAN
After closing for renovations
early in fall 2018, Ghandi Cafe
reopened last month and continues
to serve its tasty Indian cuisine.
The cafe, at 283 Bleecker St., offers a
self-described “authentic Anglo-Indian
cooking style.” The cozy, hole-in-thewall
shop just east of Seventh Ave.
opened in 1999.
When the eatery was shuttered several
months back, a sign in the window
said, “Sorry, we are closed for renovation.”
But some wondered if it would
be the latest local favorite to be run out
of the area by increasing rents and another
big chain store coming in.
On Instagram, a Yankees fan named
Todd Hayes posted a photo of himself
with a sad look in front of the shuttered
Ghandi Cafe on Sept. 18. “Soul crushing....”
he wrote, “all the way to Manhattan,
cab ride to the West Village to
eat at his favorite Indian place before
the game... and CLOSED for renovations.”
But in mid-October a small sign appeared
in the window, stating matterof
factly: “Ghandi Cafe, Inc. Re-Opening
Soon.”
Sure enough, they are now back
open, after a sleek redesign of the interior
that feels more minimalist, with
mostly white chairs, tables and walls.
But the menu is the same, thankfully,
including personal favorites like mixed
ALDABERTO RODRIGUEZ / INSTAGRAM
vegetable curry, chicken tikka, dhansak
curry, which is cooked with lentils and
spinach, and vegetable samosas. Other
favorite dishes according to its menu on
Seamless include chicken tikka masala,
vindaloo curry and butter chicken,
which is cooked with cream, almonds
and butter. All dishes come with basmati
rice.
When dining at the cafe, complimentary
mukhwas is served at the end of
the meal, with fennel seeds, some candy
coated, for a sweet meal capper and
breath freshener.
Ghandi Cafe has generally positive
reviews on social media, with one Instagram
post from yum_inthecity writing
next to a mouthwatering food pic with
curry dishes, naan and rice: “Probably
one of the best curry I’ve ever had in
the city.”
On Facebook, Llajjaira Gomez wrote
in a review, “I have been coming here
for years, the food and service are still
amazing!” And Robbie Hayes wrote,
“Oh my, I stumbled upon this gem by
chance and I’m so glad that I did. First
impressions are it’s very small (narrow)
but who cares about that, the service
was impeccable. And as for the food,
wow, it was absolutely fantastic. So
tasty and fresh.”
Ghandi Cafe offers delivery, but be
warned that it can sometimes take a
very long time, even well over an hour,
depending on how busy the place is.
More information can be found on its
Web site, www.ghandicafe.org .
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
Eats
The Ghandi Cafe’s space is narrow but its taste is big.
PHOTO BY FA.RIAH / INSTAGRAM
Samosas and more tantalize at the Bleecker St. Anglo-Indian-style
eatery.
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/www.ghandicafe.org
/www.ghandicafe.org