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A NEW restaurant offering authentic Indian cuisine recently opened at the Grand Plaza Hotel with a view of central Tumon.

The Grand Taj Curry & Grill has a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere all around for guests.

Director of Operations and chef Kotwal M. Singh, owner of the restaurant, said after working for other companies not only on Guam but also in Saipan, New York and China, he wanted to do something on his own.

“I worked for others and made them a success. I want to see if I can work for me,” he said.

The food items he prepares are all authentic such as the Lentil Soup, Tandoori Chicken, Saffron Rice and Naan Bread.

“The ingredients are real Indian – I make my own yogurt; I grind my own spices; I marinate overnight. So basically it’s hometown cooking or a mother’s home cooking. There are no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, no MSG,” he said, adding there are also food selections that are more vegetarian.

The most popular dishes include a barbecued eggplant dish mixed with cream, butter, onion and other spices. Another popular dish is Tandoori Chicken.

“We cook the Tandoori Chicken – roast it, take out the bone and cook it – then there is the Chicken Masala,” he said.

Northern India

Singh emphasized that the meals on his menu come from Northern India, which is different from food cooked in the south, west and east of India. He explained that people normally perceive Indian food as too spicy.

“In reality it’s different because when they come here and try, it’s very different. Our cuisine here is all strictly North Indian cuisine. It’s a lot of garlic, onion, tomato, almond, cashew nuts, cream and butter,” he said. “When you go to South India, the food is mostly coconut milk, a lot of black pepper corn. They also use curry leaves,” he said.

Although he can make the other foods from other parts of his native country, he really wants to learn what the customers like. He doesn’t want to have guests come in and eat something spicy and not come back.

“That’s what I want to see. I want them to come back,” he said.

The response he’s received so far has been positive, especially from individuals who have never tried authentic Indian cuisine.

Singh stressed he doesn’t serve meals based on quantity such as price but more on quality, which are the meals he offers.

Lunch is just buffet and $10.99 plus a 10 percent surcharge. For dinner time, guests can choose a variety of delicious items from a reasonably priced al-a-carte menu.