Indian food has come to Hertel Avenue. As much as India Gate has been a blessing for those living in the Elmwood Village, it's now time to share that bounty with North Buffalo. The owners of India Gate have opened their third restaurant (second in the city) in a location that boasts around eighty seats. Hertel already has a fairly diverse food scene, and Indian cuisine goes a long way towards adding to that strong mix. I've been eating at India Gate on Elmwood for years, and yesterday was the first time that I tried Jewel of India. If you're familiar with India Gate, then you know what you can expect at Jewel of India. If you're new to either one of these, then you're in for a treat.
The owners of India Gate have been serving up consistently great Indian food for years. And thanks to the previous establishment that occupied the Jewel of India, the dining area is up to date and is a pleasure to visit both day and night. There is new furniture and lots of natural light, and the owner is working on setting up a similar buffet as the Elmwood location. The extensive menu can be a bit overwhelming for anyone not versed in Indian fare. But for those who like the offerings as much as I do, these restaurants have something for whatever your taste buds happen to be craving. Mine are usually craving anything hot, but NOT Indian hot. (There are different levels of hotness that you can order - regular hot is as much as I can take.) My standby order usually consists of chana saag, a mixture of spinach and chick peas served with basmati rice on a hot plate, and naan (Indian bread) along with raita (dipping yogurt). I also love the sweet taste of a glass of mango lassi during the course of the meal to balance out the spicy food selection.
For meat lovers, there are plenty of beef, chicken, lamb and shrimp choices (I'm a fan of the Indian curry flavors), along with other items that you might find of interest such as pickled veggies, homemade cooked cheese selections, a plethora of breads, items dipped in chick pea batter, tandoori, kabab... for a full overview, See PDF menu. (See BRO article on India Gate)
I find my self eating on Hertel at least once a week these days, mainly due to the increased culinary options. I hope that Jewel of India installs a patio. With the extra wide sidewalks I can imagine, one day, this street teeming with people sitting out on nice days, with awnings, umbrellas, flower boxes and planters. While there are some really beautiful buildings on the street, there are some real duds too. Fortunately, even the duds are fixable as the original buildings still stand - it's the jacked up storefronts that need to be replaced. As for the Jewel of India, if business booms and they have a long run on the street, it would be cool to see them add a series of chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) on top of this building and diwali rangoli designs to the facade. Wishful thinking for now, but you never know down the line.
Featuring our all you can eat Lunch Buffet for $8.95 per person (coming soon to Jewel of India) 11:30am - 2:30pm
Tuesday Night Dinner Buffet for $13.95 per person (coming soon to Jewel of India) 5pm - 9pm
Jewel of India (also see Taste of India and India Gate)
1264 Hertel Avenue (off street parking)
Buffalo, NY 14216
Call 716-877-1264 or Fax 716-877-1255
I'm really looking forward to trying Jewel out as my wife and I have loved India Gate for a long time. Welcome to Hertel!