Gourmet India: Central and Genuine

By Sarah Taqvi

IAN Correspondent

HOUSTON: It’s hard to come by Indian restaurants where all the dishes are authentic and more importantly, made from fresh ingredients. Gourmet India is one such restaurant that is centrally located along Westheimer. From chaats to tandoor grills, it is the perfect cure for the cravings of traditional North Indian cuisine.

In 1996, founder Mulkraj Lakha brought the talents and appetizing foods from former restaurant, Bombay Palace, to this new location. Now with Lakha serving as head captain of the kitchen, the new owner, Musfiq Hossain, has made sure that customers are aware of his accommodating style of business.
“My first priorities are quality, quantity and the service,” Hossain says. “I always make sure to match the budgets of my customers. Always.”

And the menu has a range of food options to choose from. If you’re in the mood for on-the-go food, Gourmet India offers pakoras to samosas to even spicy papdi chaats. And the vegetarian and meat options are diverse too. From paneer and daal makhani, to chicken tikka masala, chicken wings fresh off the grill and lamb biryani, all Indian food enthusiasts can find something here to entertain their taste buds. Taaza khaana with achaa mazza (Fresh food with great taste).
Also currently, the restaurant serves wine and alcohol – on the house.
With a 7-day buffet and a la carte ordering, Gourmet India is ideal for large gatherings. The current accommodation is up to 110 people, and Hossain is looking into remodeling the restaurant to expand the space even more.
As a native of Bangladesh, Hossain has been living in Houston for over 20 years. While in college for business administration, he worked at many Italian restaurants and got a good handle on how to run restaurants behind the scenes.

Hossain has now been in the restaurant business for more than 14 years and says the experience, as owner of an Indian restaurant like Gourmet India, is such that it may not seem high-end but offers high-end service.
Hossain says that at times, it can be difficult to keep up the reputable standards of his restaurant because it gets costly to maintain as they always prepare fresh food. But he is ready for the challenge because the fact stands: loyal customers keep coming back.
So if you’re looking to treating your stomach with bold flavors and timely service, stop by Gourmet India.
Gourmet India is located at 13155 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77077. For more information, visit www.gourmetindiahouston.us or call (281) 493-5435.

(Article & Photo contribution: Vanshika Vipin)