Indian food returns to downtown Springfield
Date: 10/3/2012
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comSPRINGFIELD — A large crowd gathered on the sidewalk, in front of what was The Sitar, last week to welcome a new Indian restaurant during its grand opening.
Panjabi Tadka has some familiar faces from The Sitar, but the ownership is new.
Co-owner Narinder Kaur explained to
Reminder Publications that the owner of the Paramount block, Heriberto Flores of the New England Farm Workers Council, reached out to us and gave us an opportunity to own a business here."
Flores had told
Reminder Publications earlier this year that he wanted to bring back Indian cuisine to downtown when The Sitar closed its doors.
Kaur added, "We missed the food. The city missed the food ... We hope to get a good response. We live in Springfield and love this city."
The menu features items from Northern India including traditional Indian plates, including kofta, korma, and curry, in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. As well as main courses baked in a tandoor oven.
Panjabi Tadka will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then re-open for dinner service from 5 to 10 p.m. On Sundays it will be open from 5 to 10 p.m.
Flores said of the opening, "This is great."
He has one vacancy in the Paramount block, the former restaurant space that had been occupied by Luva Italian Restaurant. Flores said he has been looking to develop the space into a high end Puerto Rican eatery and has three prospective tenants. He expects to make an announcement soon about the new business.
"There will be more business, more activity and light to make [the neighborhood] more comfortable for everybody," Flores said.
For more information on the new Indian restaurant, log onto
www.panjabitadka.com.
