NAPA, May 11, 2009 — Neela’s is open! It’s been one month since Neela Paniz opened the doors to her new restaurant in downtown Napa. Since then, old fans from around the country are finding their way to her door and locals have embraced Neela’s as their own.
Touting Neela’s own famous brand of Indian cuisine—home-style dishes prepared in a light, contemporary style—the restaurant radiates a warm ambiance with vibrant colors, a welcoming Ganesh and beautiful Indian art, including an antique, hand-painted mural depicting the court and rule of Bapuji, a Rajasthani king – plus ongoing Bollywood music videos in the bar where guests can sip wine and beer, and a selection of Indian delights: Nimbu fizz, mango lassi, sweet lassi and Masala chai.
Everyday eating! For lunch, Neela’s offers Lunch Thalis—India’s traditional plate presented on a stainless steel platter with “katoris”, small bowls containing an all-inclusive meal with choice of entrée served with rice, lentils, naan, cucumber-tomato relish, bhajjia, vegetable fritter and chutney. Neela’s has changed its dinner menu, now offering all items à la carte - from tandoori dishes, curry and vegetable specialties to house-made chutneys, curries, raitas and dals to fresh-baked flat breads—chapatis, parthas and naan.
Additionally, Neela’s features a locals’ Thursday Bread Night—a selection of stuffed flat breads served with salads and raita, including Keema Naan (ground lamb with onions, ginger and garam masala), Tikka Naan (minced tandoori chicken), Mooli ki Roti (shredded daikon with ginger and chili), Aloo Paratha (potatoes with cumin and wild pomegranate), Palak Puris (fried spinach infused bread) and many more.
Characterized by its sophisticated and subtle use of spices and vegetables, the food of India is considered to be one of the most diverse and exciting cuisines in the world. In Indian homes, marketing is done daily, primarily at the farmers’ markets. The produce is never more than a day old and the chickens are plucked to order. In most meals, meat is used as a supplementary ingredient while combinations of lentils and rice provide complete proteins.
True to the culture, Neela’s menu features the many different provinces of India—vegetarian dishes from the south and tandoor-cooked dishes from the north, as well as chaat (street foods) and classic dishes of the British Raj—all made with the freshest ingredients available to create bright, home-style fare.
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