Mayuri Turns Ten with a Lot of Love from Friends!

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By Jawahar Malhotra

HOUSTON: It seems like just yesterday (how often do you hear that these days?) when Mayuri opened up its doors on Westheimer and Fountainview and everyone was raving about the space, the menu and “Oh, those lovely Indo-Chinese dishes”.

Oh, how Time flies by and even though, as Bob Dylan sang “The Times, they are A’Changin’”, Mayuri has kept its appeal as the go to spot by the Galleria when looking for a perfect combination of North and South Indian food and those wonderful Indo-Chinese dishes, which the restaurant practically introduced to the Bayou City.

Mayuri owner Dayaker Reddy (left) with General Manager Charanjit Singh at the party last Sunday, July 20

Mayuri owner Dayaker Reddy (left) with General Manager Charanjit Singh at the party last Sunday, July 20

The spacious restaurant with the large storefront windows still has the buffet line down the middle where you can pick up fresh naans, dosa and other items from the window to the tandoor and oven. The party room was renovated a few years ago and enlarged to hold more tables, with a super sound system and a ceramic tile floor.

And that’s where the Tenth Anniversary party to which all the restaurant’s friends and guests were invited this past Sunday evening, July 20. The buffet line was blocked off on one end for the bar and the appetizers kept rolling out (Oh, those succulent but spicy lamb chops!) all evening long.

Dayaker Reddy with his wife Suneela welcomed guests to the restuarant’s 10th Anniversary party.        Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

Dayaker Reddy with his wife Suneela welcomed guests to the restuarant’s 10th Anniversary party. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

Akila Mamandur wowed people with her voice and range.

Akila Mamandur wowed people with her voice and range.

Without any fanfare, the party started with Adarsh Menon, who only a few months ago relocated form Pittsburg and works for an oil company, belting out a recent Bollywood Hindi song in his deep, resonating voice. He kept the guests entertained and was joined in by 14 year-old Akhila Mamandur, whose voice is so controlled and was anything but young that she should audition for American Idol. She took to the mic like a fish takes to water and the two – Adarsh and Akhila – sang out a number of duets in Hindi and Telegu as some people from the audience got to the dance floor to lay down some moves. Skivalli Rangaraj also got up and sang a song.

Adarsh Menon provided live entertainment for the party.

Adarsh Menon provided live entertainment for the party.

Dayaker Reddy, who owns the restaurant but spends most of his time in Hyderabad, India, was in town for the big party, along with his wife Suneela. A private person who doesn’t prefer the limelight, Reddy will stay on for a couple of weeks before heading back to Hyderabad. He leaves most of the day-to-day operations to General Manager Charanjit Singh.

As part of its tenth anniversary celebration, Mayuri has a special promotion going on till July 31: buy one entrée and you can get the second one free.