Restaurant of the Week 'Urban Spice'
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Transcript of Restaurant of the Week 'Urban Spice'
TO RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR GAIL AND THE RESEARCHERS TO REVIEW, CALL GAIL GERSON-WITTE AT732-758-0888 OR E-MAIL TO: [email protected]. VISIT MY BLOG: WWW.WINEDINEANDLEISURETIME.COM.
RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK, BY GAIL GERSON-WITTE OF WINE AND DINE
GAIL GERSON -WITTERestaurant Writer
KEVIN MCALLIONRestaurant Researcher Soc.DR. MARVIN MANSKY
The NYC Dining Doctor
MARALYN HILLPresident, Int’l Food Wine& Travel Writer’s Assn.
DINING CRITIC’SREPORT
BETTY WHITERest. Researcher Soc. Pres.
IVY WINTERSNYC Dining & Travel Writer
INNOVATIVEREGIONAL INDIAN CUISINE
DINING CRITIC’SREPORT
“The party room, with a changing multicol-ored light wall, is dazzling. Tandoori menuselections are tops, with the char-grilledMURGH RESHMI SEEKH ($11.95), as mypick. Love the sweet smelling groundchicken with whole spices, on a skewer,but the buffets, (Lunch Buffet $10.95), withmany hot & cold exciting dishes are en-chanting ($12.95 on weekends) & main-tain high quality.”
“The SEEKH SUBZ LAZEEZ ($6.95), tastyvegetables & cottage cheese, on a skewerare softly seasoned with tempered CuminSeeds & the PANEER MATHI TIKKI($6.95), are good starters. Multiple regionsof India get menu play here, with a pleasingvariety of vegetarian, seafood & meat op-tions, each one better than the next.”
“As a seafood lover I picked the JHINGAMASALA ($18.95), as my recommenda-tion. The jumbo shrimp in a sumptuousgravy, were flavored with Fenugreekleaves and the chef’s own herb & spices.Breads are exquisite especially thePUDINA PARATHA ($3.95), a wholewheat bread adorned with CorianderLeaves & fresh Mint.This goes well withthe FISH MALABAR CURRY ($17.95).”
“Known as a pearl in an ocean, wherespices are created to enrich you & theonly Empire Lassi. The DAL MAKHNI,black lentils & butter & cream ($10.95),are perfect & the JEERA BASMATIRICE, fine grained & flavored with Cuminseeds ($5.95), go well with TANDOORIROTI ($2.95) & the KEBAB MELONI($18.95), a fab plate of Tandori Chicken,Shrimp, Seekh Kabab, Fish & Malai Kebab.”
Urban SpiceUrban SpiceUrban SpiceUrban SpiceUrban Spice
“Everything from THE GARLIC & ONIONNAAN BREADS ($3.95), to the wonder-ful MURG KI CHAAMP ($13.95), is madein house in a special clay oven & freshdaily & I could taste the difference. Thebar is stylish & a true hot spot in the area& desserts like the signature item OR-ANGE KULFI ($5.95), homemade IceCream & nuts in an actual Orange Shell,are magnificent.”
The atmosphere, food &service, at the fabulous UrbanSpice, are all completely intune, with no jarring notes tointerrupt the harmony of finedining. The restaurant is deco-rated with modern, flowinglines & rich, sensual colors.The subdued interior, with ex-quisite chandeliers, shapedlike the Middle Eastern, when Moghuls ruled,modern artifacts with traditional touches, gauzedrapery partitions, Indian art & light woods, of-fer a wonderful setting, in which to dine, or havea party. The menu includes an appetizing ar-ray of signature regional Indian dishes, butmainly Northern India, as well as vegetarianoptions. Portions are generous without beinggrandiose, & attractively eye-catching withoutbecoming eyesores. Proportions, flavors, col-ors & textures, are all right in sync.
CEO Kamal Arora & his lovely wife Kiran,are the parents of 13 yr old Vansh & 11 yr oldSampada. They lived in Delhi & as ‘foodies,”wanted to present the colorful, inventive, manycultured cuisine, of India, to the U.S. They ar-rived here in 2004 & first, as a partner in MoghulExpress in 2005, & then in 2006, presentedMithaas Sweets, which, like an Indian
Starbucks, isjust as you’ll findin India. Also
owner of Moghul Caterers, they are known asthe Wedding Champions, in the tri-state area.Now Kamal, which means ‘magic,’ wanted hissophisticated clients, to properly explore theirsight, aroma, sound, taste & touch senses in adazzling restaurant atmosphere. FollowingIndia’s rich culture of culinary traditions, he thenpresented a tasteful, fashionable restaurant, ina stand alone building, with a very picturesquesetting. With a late-night cocktail lounge, trendydecor & flawless service, he hired a very knowl-edgeable staff including the world-renownedExec. Chef Rajkamal Sahai & directed by Man-ager Firoz R, Buhariwala. Firoz, has 35 yearsexperience in the industry & trained in France,at the Rooftop in England & Eiffel Tower, isknown a leader in this business and has servedmany Hollywood and Bollywood stars.
GAIL SAYS “GO!”
“I’ve just found a beautiful passage to In-dian food. A luscious well-made vegetar-ian appetizer, was the ALOO PAPRICHAAT ($4.95), a tasty & crisp, wholeflour delicacy, mixed with yogurt, potatoeschickpeas & a great sauce. I loved theFISH TIKKA ($17,95), Salmon cubes ina Yogurt Sauce, that had pleasing spicesblended. Firoz’ special EMPIRE LASSIwas a winner, as was the RICE KHEERBasmatic Rice combo dessert ($4.95)”
42 Marconi Ave, Iselin, NJ 08830(732) 283-1043 • www.urbanspice.comOpen 7 Days lunch & dinner, Mon-Wed &Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Mon-Wed 5:30-10pm,Thu 11:30am-2:30am, Fri 5:30-10:30pm,Sat-Sun 11:30am-10:30pm. Seating 132;Private Party Manhattan Room-seats 32;Sat-Sun Brunch; Credit Cards: All Major;Parking in private parking lot: ModeratePrices; Good for Groups; AccomodatesChildren; Reservations Accepted; Take-outa party; Full Bar; Wheelchair Access; NearRt 27 & GSP Exit 131; Gift Cert; All spicescan be adjusted to your preferences &are specially designed for each dish;Chinese-Northern & South Indian PartyTrays; Call Catering Office at 1655-170Oak Tree Rd., Edison NJ 08820, 732-549-7976, www.moghulcatering.com; MithaasSweets, 1655-170 Oak Tree Rd, EdisonNJ, 732-947-3014, www.mithaasusa.com;Moghul Express,1670-A Oak Tree Rd,Edison NJ, 732-549-6222.
“The important thing to realize is that it takes a good teamto accomplish good things & here they all join to create verymemorable dining and party happening and here they all,”Carolyn Delafrange, travelingfoodfanatics.com blogger.
ManagerFirozKamal & wife
Kiran Arora inthe Manhattanprivate partyroom.
BUFFET LUNCHEONMon-Fri, $10.95,11:30-2:30
GRAND BUFFETSat-Sun,$12.95,11:30-3:30
BUFFET LUNCHEONMon-Fri, $10.95,11:30-2:30
GRAND BUFFETSat-Sun,$12.95,11:30-3:30
“CHEF RAJKAMAL SAHAI is a trendsetter & encompasses a variety of regional cuisinesmaking use of local spices, herbs, vegetables & fruits & cultural habits, in his extraordi-nary cookery. His sophisticated use of spices & herbs & the blend of many cultural re-gions are presented, in a chic, tasteful way, in all of their finery. Once you dine, you willbe planning your return.” Charlie Horner, Press Research Editor-Writer (top left).
YELP: Urban Spice has real ‘joie de vivre.’ The prices are fair and -above all else - it’s a differently delicious Indian restaurant withauthentic home made cooking & very smooth service. ”ZAGAT: “Absolutely delicious and lovingly prepared food that isa must-try!”