Fans of Indian food are in for a treat when The India Hut opens on Revere Street later this week.
Owned by married couple Nive Krishnan and Hemlal Sakundala, The India Hut will feature the latter’s locally-famed butter chicken samosas and some spicier flavours of southern India, when it opens on Oct. 24.
“We are almost done with the décor. Our restaurant is the first Indian-themed restaurant in Nova Scotia and I believe Canada, with Indian movies. When people walk inside, they’ll see Bollywood, Tamil, Malayalam and other film posters,” said Krishnan.
While Mumbai-based Bollywood produces world-famous films and boasts megastars such as Shah Rukh Khan, southern India also has a thriving movie industry that remains popular. The Tamil and Malayalam are spoken by many people in southern India, where both Krishnan and Sakundala originally hail from.
“Come taste the difference,” said Krishnan.
The couple moved to Nova Scotia from Niagara Falls in 2016, and settled in New Glasgow, before relocating to Truro in June of this year.
Sakundala, an electrical engineer who could not find a job in his field, worked instead as a chef in Niagara Falls for four years.
After he moved to Nova Scotia with Krishnan, the pair started selling food at the Tatamagouche Farmers Market and also down in Musquodoboit Harbour. They have been selling their food at the Truro Farmers Market since June.
Krishnan and Sakundala chose to start their restaurant in Truro as the town is a major transport hub linking Halifax to other parts of the province. With the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus also located here, students interested in trying something new will give the couple a bigger customer base than New Glasgow can offer.
“I find that the food is very much welcomed here. People like change,” said Krishnan.
They will also offer fusion dishes such as their own take on Syrian eggplant and Indo-Thai coconut curry, in an attempt to broaden their appeal even more.
For those who want more classic Indian food, Sakundala’s butter chicken samosas will take pride of place on the menu, as they are already a big hit at the Farmers Market.
The grand opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 24 at 15 Revere Street. Customers will have the chance to enter a prize draw.
