Gandhi’s Restaurant Lovingly  Serves Up Authentic Indian Cuisine

Gandhi’s is a truly authentic Indian dining experience. Guests are initially greeted by a large image of Gandhi in the cozy living room-style waiting area. The area is furnished with items from the owners’ personal collection, chosen and placed so as to encourage conversation and education. All of the items, in addition to being beautiful and intricate, have a story.

Owners Raj and Sherry Vohra, who have been married for 17 years, opened Gandhi’s in January 2016 and have been presenting this unique dining experience ever since.

They’ve lived in Wellington for the last 12 years, Raj said, and wanted to share authentic Indian culture and food with the community. He and his wife were proud to name the restaurant in honor of the Indian independence leader.

“Because Gandhi was the father of the nation, and because the decision to open a restaurant was probably one of the most important decisions we will ever make in our entire life, we wanted something to really represent what we were trying to do here, which was create a sense of community, teach about a culture of love, which is India, and expose people to the amazing qualities of Indian food,” Sherry said, adding that Gandhi’s is a place “where food and people matter.”

The restaurant offers three unique dining experiences: a white glove service dining experience, a sit-down street food experience, and a grab-and-go tea and dessert cafe. During the day, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. traditional Indian street food is available. At night, the casual dining area reverts to fine dining, where bright red turbans are worn, and food is served on traditional Indian ware.

“Nothing comes out of a can, container or jar here,” Sherry said. “We make our own cheese here. We make our own yogurt here, so everything is in its highest probiotic state. Everything here is gluten free, except for our breads. If people call ahead, we can certainly back out ingredients that we need to.”

Sherry sees herself as the host of the experience and often greets guests with homemade Mango Lassi or Sweet Lassi, or a mug of chai tea to warm the soul.

She also enjoys introducing guests to the intricacies of Indian cooking.

“I make every cup of chai. That’s my way of loving all of our guests when they come in,” Sherry said. “If you went into a home in India, the very first thing we do is offer water and then a beautiful cup of tea with a traditional Indian biscuit.”

That concept carries over to every dish on the menu. “It’s made with love. Every dish, by the time it goes to the place, for each and every guest who eats with us, is perfection,” Sherry said.

When you tell someone that something is spicy, Sherry explained, people often think about heat, rather than flavor. With Indian food, it is full of layers of flavors that infuse the food all the way through. The spices are layered into each component of the cooking process, she said.

“With Indian food, it’s very complicated and complex, because the infusion and the mixology of the sauces is what gives the food that very unique quality and taste,” Sherry said. “Right now, with the reintroduction of Indian food back into society, it’s about teaching people that Indian food doesn’t need a gallon of water to douse the heat, but it is full of beautiful, wonderful, amazing flavors like cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, goda masala, cloves, and it’s infused during the whole process.”

In her restaurant’s food, Sherry sees the colors of India.

“You have all of these colors which are uniquely India,” she said. “When you go there, you’ll see the colors of Diwali and Holi, and like Easter eggs, it’s a beautiful infusion of color. Indian food is a lot like that.”

The recipes at Gandhi’s are authentic North Indian. Whole spices go into each and every dish to bring out the flavors, Raj explained. The process for each dish takes time.

One of the most popular, or signature, dishes is the Chicken Tikka Masala. It comes with homemade naan bread and rice.

“Some people think it is just Chicken Tikka Masala, but it’s actually a mixology for the sauce, just like you would a cocktail,” Sherry said. “You have to have just the right amount to really bring out the tradition and flavor of the dish.”

The Chicken Tikka Masala has a tomato-based sauce that’s homemade, Raj said. Approximately 10 different spices go into the sauce, which takes almost three hours to prepare before it is served over the chicken breast.

All of the spices mix and mingle to create a unique flavor. “There’s the whole flavor of India in one meal,” Raj said.

The rest of the menu features a variety of North Indian traditional meals, as well as curries, lamb chops and shrimp, scallops, goat curry, vegetarian dishes such as Muttar Mushroom, Baingan Bharta, Paneer Tikka Marsala and more. Desserts include homemade ice creams, such as Chef’s Kesar Badam Kulfi, Pistachio Kulfi, Gulab Jamun and more.

And, as you leave the restaurant, Gandhi is leaving with you.

“This is a destination restaurant. It’s the closest you’re going to get to India without going to India,” Sherry said.

Gandhi’s food is available for dine-in, catering, take-out, private VIP dinners, delivery through Delivery Dudes, as well as offering the restaurant for special occasions. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with hours from noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Gandhi’s is located at 4075 S. State Road 7, Suite F2B, in the Marketplace at Wycliffe. For more information, call (561) 328-9441 or visit www.mygandhis.com.