Markeshia Ricks Photo
Chef Indar at House of Naan readies the bites for the Tandoori oven.
The small nuggets of chicken went into the bowl, followed by a garlic and ginger paste. Then a basil spice mix made of olive oil, fresh basil and chili followed.
Chef Indar at House of Naan Indian Kitchen & Bar, the new Indian restaurant that has moved into the former home of the Indian Palace at 65 Howe St., could have easily stopped there. But he didn’t.
Next came lemon juice, chili powder, garam masala (a spice blend common in Indian cooking), black pepper, salt, cumin powder, coriander seed and more olive oil. Then he gave it all a mix.
“It’s supposed to marinate in refrigeration for 24 hours,” Harry Singh, co-owner of House of Naan, explained while the chef gave the chicken a toss. After they’ve soaked up all the spices, they were skewered on a spit and cooked in a Tandoori clay oven for a few minutes.
Owners Singh and Singh
The end result: shareable, flavor-filled bites of chicken known as chili basil bites. They hint at the other eats and treats one can find starting Friday, when House of Naan will open its doors for the first time to the masses.
House of Naan’s grand opening is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; small samples will be offered gratis. The restaurant will them open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.
This is definitely not the India Palace, the restaurant that preceded House of Naan and served more traditional Indian restaurant fare. That restaurant closed its doors permanently after a fire last year.
The bevy of spices.
Singh and his partner, Karandeep Singh, began kicking around the idea of opening a restaurant together more than two years ago. They gutted the place, putting in a full bar on one side and tables for sitting on the other. The ceiling is now sporting a coat of deep blue paint and exposed wood beams. One wall features the name of the restaurant emblazoned on a medium hued, rustic shiplap. (Though they share the same last name, the men are not related.)
The bites.
The friends wanted to open up something different from what the previous restaurant had been, and something different from even the restaurant that Harry’s father owns at the corner of Grove and Orange streets, Sitar Indian Cuisine. His dad helped advise the pair.
With its location in the Chapel West/Dwight neighborhood, the restaurant is across the street from The Novella, a swanky new apartment complex, and Miya’s Sushi. It also is around the corner from popular eatery and late-night chill spot, Rudy’s Restaurant & Bar.
That made the location perfect for the men who wanted to deliver Indian cuisine in a fast casual way, while pairing it with a full complement of cocktails. They also wanted less a traditional, sit-down Indian restaurant, more a place where people could hang out and drink, without it being a dive.
“We wanted something new and something modern,” Karandeep Singh said. “Not to the modern where it’s fine dining, but not traditional. We’re in the middle.”
In addition to the chili basil bites, one can find a spiced lamb burger and tikka fries on the menu. One can also find more traditional Indian fare such as vindaloo and chana masala.
Karandeep also said that at the bar customers will find cocktails infused with spices that are traditional to Indian cuisine. There also are local craft beers on tap. In addition to serving lunch and dinner, House of Naan also will offer a happy hour and an after-hours menu that focuses on small plates for those who want a quick bite and drinks after an event, or those just out looking for a late night nosh.
“At night you’ll get a completely different vibe,” Karandeep said. “The lighting changes at night, and it’s just a different type of environment.”
He said that opening House of Naan in New Haven was appealing because of all of the growth that has happened in the area over the last few years. The men saw an opportunity to invest in an area of the city that they see as being on the rise with not only new apartments but the growth of more restaurants.
“New Haven is growing really fast,” Karandeep said. “Howe Street is growing. We have Rudy’s and Miya’s, and the apartments, shifting people down to this area. It’s great and we thought why not grow the food scene down here more. That’s our main reason for choosing this spot.”
The “Open for Business” series is supported by Frontier. Frontier is proud to be Connecticut’s hometown provider of TV, Internet and Phone for your home and business. Their number is 1.888.Frontier and their website is frontier.com.