By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
Cole Harbour is now home to a restaurant that offers more than the standard fare of burgers and fries.
India Palace opened last month at the old Cafe Michele location on Cole Harbour Road. And according to owner Amar Sethi the community is long overdue for an addition to the restaurant landscape.
"I am the only one on this side of the harbour to offer homemade Indian food," he said. "I am not competing with anyone else, because I offer what no one else is serving in Dartmouth."
Sethi and his wife Bulbul already own an India Palace in Halifax. He said it is so successful he knew it was time to introduce Dartmouth to India's culinary delights. And he has done it with a slight nod to the uninitiated as well as the Indian food converts.
"The best way to give people a sample of our food is to offer it in a buffet setting, so that is what we have done here," said Sethi. "If you are not familiar with the food what better way to taste a little bit at a time and decide for yourself what you like?"
Sethi said the only argument he and his wife ever had was about the format for the restaurant.
"She did not want a buffet, but I convinced her it was the way to go," he said.
"And our customers seem to be pretty happy."
With so many customers focused on healthy eating, Sethi said Indian Food is a much better choice than other restaurant fare. He said the many vegetarian dishes at the buffet are always tasty and well planned.
"Instead of the usual fries, baked and mashed we offer dishes with chic peas, spinach and cheese and many more," said Sethi.
"We will change up the offerings daily."
Anyone looking for their fill of Butter Chicken will be more than satisfied said Sethi. This is a dish he will always have at the buffet.
"And really it is time for an affordable restaurant that caters to people of all ages and is interesting," he said.
