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IndiGo Indian Bistro's owner Sheen Mathew wants to clear up a common misconception about Indian food: that it has too much heat for most diners' palates. And he's starting with his neighboring restaurateurs on Manchester's Spencer Street.
The Italian owner of the pizzeria next door thought Indian food was too spicy for him, Mathew said. "So I packed him some lunch off the buffet and asked him to try it. He came back and asked, 'How do you make that?'"
Indian food lovers know that spice levels can be customized, and that the food is more about complex flavors and textures. But even those who think they're familiar with this cuisine might be surprised to see IndiGo's menu. The restaurant opened in Manchester's Shop-Rite plaza in mid-August.
Most Indian restaurants focus just on dishes from the northern part of the country, Mathew explained, with many meals made with cream-based sauces. IndiGo's menu spans both northern and southern India. Southern Indian dishes are often made with coconut, and are on the spicier side, Mathew said.
American diners aren't always apt to recognize the southern Indian dishes, Mathew said. (He said his customer base is about 80 percent Indian.)
"They know chicken korma or chicken tikka masala," Mathew said. "So when a new dish comes in, they ask about it." His American customers like the large vegetarian menu, he said.
Mathew has been in the restaurant business for more than 13 years, and worked in Switzerland, Dubai and Hong Kong before coming to the United States.
IndiGo is his second restaurant in Connecticut; he previously owned Utsav in Vernon before selling it to his partner. He intended IndiGo to be a takeout business, which is where the "Go" part of the name originated.
But once he started building it out, he realized there was room for seating.
A large buffet takes up most of the restaurant's square footage, and its daily choices are extensive: a variety of appetizers, vegetarian, chicken and lamb entrees, tandoori and kebabs, salads, condiments, chutneys and desserts. Naan bread is served tableside, ensuring its freshness. The buffet options are posted on Facebook daily.
Buffet prices are $8.99 per person on weekdays. Lunch boxes to go, packed from the buffet offerings, are $5.49 and include a choice of entrees, basmati rice and naan. The weekend buffet price, $11.99, includes more appetizers, entrees and specialty dishes like dosas (crepes) and appum (rice pancakes.)
The dinner menu features southern "tiffin" (lighter entrees like dosas), chicken, lamb and seafood delicacies, curries, biryani rice dishes and several unusual tandoori items, like whole snapper marinated in spiced yogurt and then roasted in the oven.
There's even an Indo-Chinese section of the menu, with entrees like chili chicken, Gobi Manchurian and pepper salt prawns. This is popular in northern India, Mathew explained. "People go crazy [for Chinese food]. I wanted to blend that in."
Each Sunday night brings a special themed buffet dinner, focusing on a particular style of cooking.
Mathew has applied for a liquor license, with the hope that IndiGo eventually will serve beer and wine. Customers are welcome to BYOB in the meantime, he said.
Beyond IndiGo's diverse specialties, Mathew says he wants the restaurant to be known for its service.
"I love meeting people, getting to know people and different cultures," he said. "I try to make friends out of customers."
IndiGo Indian Bistro is at 232 Spencer St. in Manchester. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Mondays. 860-646-8600, indigo-bistro.com.
Small Bites
The Italian owner of the pizzeria next door thought Indian food was too spicy for him, Mathew said. "So I packed him some lunch off the buffet and asked him to try it. He came back and asked, 'How do you make that?'"
Indian food lovers know that spice levels can be customized, and that the food is more about complex flavors and textures. But even those who think they're familiar with this cuisine might be surprised to see IndiGo's menu. The restaurant opened in Manchester's Shop-Rite plaza in mid-August.
Most Indian restaurants focus just on dishes from the northern part of the country, Mathew explained, with many meals made with cream-based sauces. IndiGo's menu spans both northern and southern India. Southern Indian dishes are often made with coconut, and are on the spicier side, Mathew said.
American diners aren't always apt to recognize the southern Indian dishes, Mathew said. (He said his customer base is about 80 percent Indian.)
"They know chicken korma or chicken tikka masala," Mathew said. "So when a new dish comes in, they ask about it." His American customers like the large vegetarian menu, he said.
Mathew has been in the restaurant business for more than 13 years, and worked in Switzerland, Dubai and Hong Kong before coming to the United States.
IndiGo is his second restaurant in Connecticut; he previously owned Utsav in Vernon before selling it to his partner. He intended IndiGo to be a takeout business, which is where the "Go" part of the name originated.
But once he started building it out, he realized there was room for seating.
A large buffet takes up most of the restaurant's square footage, and its daily choices are extensive: a variety of appetizers, vegetarian, chicken and lamb entrees, tandoori and kebabs, salads, condiments, chutneys and desserts. Naan bread is served tableside, ensuring its freshness. The buffet options are posted on Facebook daily.
Buffet prices are $8.99 per person on weekdays. Lunch boxes to go, packed from the buffet offerings, are $5.49 and include a choice of entrees, basmati rice and naan. The weekend buffet price, $11.99, includes more appetizers, entrees and specialty dishes like dosas (crepes) and appum (rice pancakes.)
The dinner menu features southern "tiffin" (lighter entrees like dosas), chicken, lamb and seafood delicacies, curries, biryani rice dishes and several unusual tandoori items, like whole snapper marinated in spiced yogurt and then roasted in the oven.
There's even an Indo-Chinese section of the menu, with entrees like chili chicken, Gobi Manchurian and pepper salt prawns. This is popular in northern India, Mathew explained. "People go crazy [for Chinese food]. I wanted to blend that in."
Each Sunday night brings a special themed buffet dinner, focusing on a particular style of cooking.
Mathew has applied for a liquor license, with the hope that IndiGo eventually will serve beer and wine. Customers are welcome to BYOB in the meantime, he said.
Beyond IndiGo's diverse specialties, Mathew says he wants the restaurant to be known for its service.
"I love meeting people, getting to know people and different cultures," he said. "I try to make friends out of customers."
IndiGo Indian Bistro is at 232 Spencer St. in Manchester. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Mondays. 860-646-8600, indigo-bistro.com.
Small Bites
