Haldi Chowk 35 Authentic Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Middletown Township

First time here. Restaurant is under new management. Got to meet with Salil Bhandari, who is the new owner/executive chef. He is warm, caring and personable. His culinary background caters to French and Italian influences and he hopes to bring these influences to Indian cuisine.

I am a fan of Indian fusion cuisine and wanted to try a few items that you don't typically find at Indian restaurants.

Top Highlights from my visit

1. It's nice to meet a chef that genuinely cares about the product. Salil took time to explain each dish and what to expect from a taste/consistency perspective.
2. Food here isn't greasy and heavy.
3. Ingredients can be adjusted (my wife has an oil allergy and they were accommodative)
4. Vegan/Vegetarian/Healthy Eating Friendly
5. Ingredients are made from scratch. This includes the breads and even butter!

Summary: Appetizer: Beet & Yellow Squash Croquettes 5/5 Main Course: Paneer Pot Pie 5/5 Dessert: Indian Cheesecake 5/5

Appetizer Beet & Yellow Squash Croquettes: A Delightful Fusion

Beet and yellow squash croquettes were a delicious and unique Indian appetizer that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. These crispy and flavorful croquettes are made with a combination of roasted beets, yellow squash, breadcrumbs, and Indian spices. They are then coated in a batter and pan fried until golden brown.

The first thing you'll notice about these croquettes is their vibrant purple color. The beets give them a slightly sweet and earthy flavor, while the yellow squash adds a touch of freshness and brightness. The Indian spices add a layer of complexity and flavor to the dish.

When you bite into a croquette, you'll experience a burst of flavor and texture. The exterior is crispy and crunchy, while the interior is soft and creamy. The beets and yellow squash add a touch of sweetness and earthiness, while the Indian spices add a layer of complexity and heat.

These croquettes are served with a mint chutney/yogurt raita based dipping sauce. The dipping sauce helps to balance out the flavors and textures of the croquettes.

Overall, the Beet & Yellow Squash Croquettes were a delicious and unique appetizer that is sure to please everyone at your table.

Main Course Paneer Pot Pie: A Warm and Comforting Delight

On a cold winter day, there's nothing more comforting than a slice of warm, flaky pot pie. But if you're looking for a unique and flavorful twist on this classic dish, look no further than paneer pot pie from Haldi Chowk.

Paneer pot pie is a delicious and hearty dish that combines the Indian cheese paneer with a creamy sauce and vegetables, all encased in a flaky naan crust. The paneer gives the pie a unique and slightly chewy texture, while the creamy sauce and vegetables add flavor and richness. The crust is golden brown and flaky, and it provides the perfect contrast to the soft and gooey filling.

One of the things I love most about paneer pot pie is that it's so versatile. You can add any vegetables you like to the filling, and you can also adjust the spice level to your liking. They've added peas, and carrots to the filling, and it is seasoned with a blend of Indian spices.

If you're looking for a delicious, hearty, and comforting meal, I highly recommend giving paneer pot pie a try. You won't be disappointed!

Dessert Indian Cheesecake / Rasmalai Cheesecake: A Dream come true

If you're a fan of Indian desserts, then you'll love the Indian Cheesecake at Haldi Chowk. This unique and delicious dessert combines the flavors of two classic desserts: rasmalai and cheesecake.

The Indian Cheesecake at Haldi Chowk combines the best of both worlds. The cheesecake is made with a creamy filling that is infused with the flavors of rasmalai, rosewater and topped with EDIBLE GOLD. That's right!, Edible Gold!

Things I loved most about the Indian Cheesecake was that it's not too sweet and relatively light and airy. It's not too heavy, so you can enjoy it without feeling guilty.

Overall, the Indian...

Frankly I cannot get enough of this place. I mean that on several levels. Starting with the food; just wow! I've eaten at several Indian restaurants, Aamantran, Bombay River, Neelam and a couple others in the area, though they were great to good in no particular order, the food at Haldi Chowk just really finds a way to be better. It's Northern India fare which typically comes with a bit of heat on the dish already which the server will tell you is their mild, but it can be made milder to suit your tastes if needed, just be sure to mention it when you're ordering. And if you like it hot, you've come to the right place because they can kick it up several notches too! There's even a contest on Sundays at 12:30 to see if you can win the high heat challenge. I've had numerous dishes here, though my personal favorite is the chicken korma, throw a dart at the menu, because it's all good. Great dishes, perfect naan, a fantastic mango lassi and yes they often have a buffet. On other levels of 'can't get enough of this place'...

Buffet: Not a lot of options compared to other establishments. Typically, you'll find two meat options, a veggie and/or a fish option. The buffet station itself is poorly placed too. Rather than put away the eight tables they have against the wall on the left when you first come in, they instead position it to the left and right sides of the main entrance. On a cold day some of the hot dishes closest to the door turn cold. You also have to navigate around new customers coming in as you self serve your way around the buffet. They'd be better off placing a few chairs there for waiting customers as well as a hostess station and instead, set the buffet up against the aforementioned wall.

Service: Not enough servers at peak times. If you're on a tight time schedule during a peak time, be sure to tell your server ahead of time.

Seating: It's a small establishment and nearly every empty space has a table and chairs in it. Most times that's okay, because it's pretty empty, but at peak times, the wait is just too much. Then once seated, it may feel overcrowded and uncomfortable with the tables and chairs so close to one another. Honestly, they need a larger space for that many tables.

Parking: It's a popular strip mall in the area so parking can be rough. Also the spaces themselves are somewhat narrow. On windy days hold your car door tightly and pray others do the same.

Summary: The food is just plain great though so it's still getting four stars and I definitely recommend you go. I'll definitely be back a couple times a month. Between the big portions, the friendly service and well cooked dishes to order, it's definitely worth...

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Haldi Chowk35 Authentic Indian restaurant known for its diverse menu and promising flavors. Unfortunately, my visit left me with mixed feelings and a sense of disappointment.

The ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant, with warm lighting and a cozy atmosphere. The staff/owner was welcoming and attentive, and the menu offered a variety of Indian dishes, which initially filled me with excitement. He took time to explain the detailed fusion menu and also share the standard menu.

My dining experience took a downturn when I ordered theDevil Shrimp Guac puffs as an appetizer. The dish sounded intriguing, but the reality fell far short of my expectations. The shrimp were deep-fried to a crisp like double fried, which might have been pleasant if not for the fact that they were served on a bed of guacamole. The combination felt odd and the flavors clashed rather than complementing each other. The shrimp were overly greasy, and the guacamole lacked the freshness and zing that I associate with this classic dip. It left me with a heavy, unpleasant feeling, and I could barely finish the dish.

For the main course, I ordered the Pepper Chicken Curry with Garlic naan, a classic Indian dish that I had been looking forward to, looks like kadai chicken with lot of pepper masala. Unfortunately, the dish turned out to be a rollercoaster of disappointment. Some pieces of chicken were undercooked, while others were overcooked and dry. The curry sauce, although flavorful, couldn't compensate for the inconsistency in the chicken. It seemed as if the dish was prepared haphazardly, leading to a lackluster dining experience.

Despite the restaurant's pleasant ambiance and attentive staff, the quality of the food fell short of my expectations. The Deep Fried Shrimp on Guacamole was an unfortunate experiment that missed the mark, and the Chicken Curry left me with a sense of culinary disappointment. I left the restaurant feeling unsatisfied and with a strong desire for an improved dining experience.

In summary, Haldi Chowk has potential but needs to pay more attention to the quality and execution of their dishes. Until improvements are made, I'd hesitate to recommend this restaurant to fellow food...