Cumin N Eat — Restaurant in South Whitehall Township

We were visiting a friend near Allentown. He ordered dinner from here, I was very particular about a few items so he said - "it's a good restaurant and you would like it"

He ordered -

Chicken 65 (Spicy) - I am in the USA since 2014 and I have never had this spicy level. it was damn hot and tasty as well. only thing was, it was over-fried - still very good and hot Malai Kofta - I just loved it, creamy gravy with soft pieces of koftas. Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani, and Veg korma.

The food was just awesome and I loved it.

I am just writing to let everybody know, I am from the Parsippany area, NJ and there are around 20 Indian restaurants in my area, and no one coming close to Cumin N Eat. Allentown folks - you guys are lucky, Cumin N Eat just won my heart. I will make sure whenever I pass this area, I come here and eat, even if I have to detour 15-20 miles extra, it totally deserves it.

5 out of 5.

Update (29-May-2023)

I wrote the review at that time but since then, I was waiting to visit this outlet in person.

While coming from Poconos, I decided to take a detour and came here.

The first thing I noticed- was no dine-in without reservation!! ☹️

How would I know this? None of the Indian restaurants ( not talking about fine dining or upscale restaurants) has this thing, I thought I ll get the table, but nope it was a 20-25 min wait to get a table so the lesson is " call and reserve the table".

They don't have resources so they don't prefer dine-in, but they do have 4 tables so that patrons like us who prefer hot food at the table rather than packing/to-go/door dash/GrubHub it.

Anyway coming to food-

The lady over there- she helped us while ordering, suggesting what is good for us.

We ordered

Fish marina- confused bw fish Apollo and marina, Apollo is more yogurt based so we chose marina. What I loved apart from the spiciness & fresh fish is their uniform coating. Normally in fish fry, the coating is not that uniform. Loved this item and the quantity was good.

Mutton biryani: Fri-sat-sun- biryani is available for only 3 days, and mind you I have been a lover of biryani since the day I tasted it first. On the east coast- it is one of the best biryani I have ever had, definitely top 3 for me. This is not Hyderbadi nor Kolkata, it's their own version. pieces were well-cooked and you can feel pieces are covered in spices, I meant it's not there just for the sake of it or added separately, like many Indian restaurants. and yes Raita- it's good as well, unlike other restaurants where they serve watery ones, god knows what that is.

Chicken dum ka- it was also good.

be careful about the spicy level; here spicy means "really spicy"

Menu: interesting, they did not just fill out the pages with 100s of items and confuse customers. they have their cooking style (masala base) and mix it with Chicken/Lamb/goat/egg/veg- that's it!

The only thing that was not in my favor was it's far from my home; then the owner informed - me they have one branch in Seacaucus and now I can't wait to go over there.

This small restaurant is one of my fav Indian restaurants on the east coast. (I am among the top reviewers on various platforms) so I know what I am talking...

Ordered malai kofta and chicken tikka masala at the front counter at 5:54 pm, and paid a pretty generous tip up front. At the time, there was only two other people there, definitely didn't look slammed. Woman at the counter said it would be about 25 to 30 minutes.

20 minutes later: a large group of guys came to dine-in, outside (It didn't look like they had a reservation, but maybe they did).

40 minutes later: plate after plate after plate of food comes out for the large group...

60 minutes later: More plates served to the large group... I'm still empty.

70 minutes later: I receive my food with no apology, explanation, or reparation. Just dropped the bag on the table and walked away.

The food was pretty good, but it's hard to get the bad taste out of your mouth when you're treated like a moldy leftover. First come, first serve!

Edit: After receiving a response from the owner, I stand by my score. If I give the benefit of the doubt that the large group placed their orders prior to my arrival, it is still the restaurant's responsibility to inform the customer that the kitchen is not adequately staffed to handle additional orders at that time, or to provide accurate information if the delay may be far outside of reasonable expectations. Alternatively, provide updated information as it is made available if you know the situation has changed. The score is not at all related to the handling of the bag, it is related to the handling of communication, contract, and expectation between the host and patron.

To the owner: If I similar situation arises with a future customer, I would recommend more fluid communication (notification prior to the expected time that the situation has changed) and a reparation (however small... ideally something to tide the stomach while the customer is hungry and waiting. In this case, a small appetizer is not possible because the kitchen was understaffed, but maybe a free drink? If nothing is possible beforehand, maybe a small add-in or discount after the fact? Something to communicate that you care about...

My family and I stumbled upon Cumin N Eat, an Indian restaurant, while searching for a vegan-friendly dine-in option in the area. We made a reservation and promptly headed over.

The restaurant had a simple, no-frills ambiance, but the exceptional food and customer service more than made up for it. Our server patiently guided us through the menu, which was a bit confusing for some of us who were new to Indian cuisine. Thanks to their help, we all thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered.

We began with the vegan Samosas ($8), which were fresh, crispy, and had a delightful hint of spice.

For my vegan dinner, I opted for Mixed Vegetables with Korma, cooked in a rich coconut and cashew gravy. I ordered it with a mild spice level. The sauce was flavorful and creamy, and it was accompanied by perfectly cooked Basmati rice.

As for vegan sides, I tried the Plain Roti ($4), which lacked flavor by itself but was decent for dipping. Also, the Vegetable Fried Rice ($11), a tasty and generously portioned choice.

My non-vegan family members ordered Garlic Naan, which looked and smelled amazing. They also appreciated the option to choose their preferred spice levels for their dinners.

Cumin N Eat served everything in to-go containers, which was convenient since we took our leftovers home. They provided plates for transferring the food as well.

The restaurant impressed us with its commitment to fresh, made-to-order dishes. If I ever find myself in the area again, I wouldn't hesitate to return. It caters to both vegans and non-vegans, and I'd recommend making a reservation for a seamless experience. Overall, Cumin N Eat offers great food, generous portions, and...