Jalsa Indian Kitchen in Somerdale features ‘New Indian’ menu, unique, culture-rich experience.
The 25-foot video screen and custom-made chandeliers set the mood for fine dining.Provided | Jalsa Indian Kitchen
Jalsa Indian Kitchen, offering a celebration of regional Indian flavors in a pleasant dining environment that will immerse you in Indian culture, opened in mid-July on Evesham Road in Somerdale, which borders Cherry Hill and Voorhees.
Chefs from Mumbai, Dubai and Delhi at the Jalsa Indian Kitchen offer a progressive “New Indian” menu where age-old recipes are turned into modern Indian dishes.
Walk into the restaurant and the diner immediately is struck by the custom-designed interior, with artwork imported from India.
But the eye quickly goes to a wall of the restaurant where a 25-foot-wide video screen — the only one of its kind in such a restaurant — shows colorful views of Indian scenery and landmarks.
Care was taken in the design of the new restaurant to ensure that the vibrant culture of India is represented.
Each of the stained-glass chandeliers throughout the restaurant was custom-made for the restaurant in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Katchi artwork umbrellas decorate the walls. Small Indian lanterns light up each table. Custom handcrafted wooden gold sculptures representing the universe, adorn the wall. Curtains from India add a cultural touch.
A tour of the restaurant showed how the owners painstakingly thought through every design detail and have anticipated the many ways that customers may want to use the facilities.
They wanted enough separate dining space to host family and community celebrations, from birthday parties to showers to business events. The Taj Mahal Party Room, away from the main dining room, can hold that large event, or the room can be separated into two with a soundproof partition. The restaurant also provides an individual party room music system for singing/dancing or for business meeting purpose.
Video screens throughout the restaurant — including the massive one — are programmable to fulfill a customer’s requests.
Even the color of lighting over one specific table can be changed to match the mood or occasion for the diners.
Clearly, the atmosphere is special, but the menu choices are the primary reason customers will be attracted to the new venture.
Jalsa Indian Kitchen calls its menu “a modern interpretation of Indian cuisine.”
“Every plate tells a story,” explains the restaurant’s owners. “The food at Jalsa jumps several chapters to draw outside the lines.”
But an individual diner also can play a role in the preparation of a dish: Chefs will make sure the food is prepared for special requests, including the spiciness level.
Consider a few of the Jalsa dishes:
- Tender lamb chops seared in a clay oven, marinated with red chili and sprinkled with garam masala, a special Rogan Josh seasoning glaze, and paired with pickled Sirka onions, slow roasted sesame baby potatoes, and a mint and pomegranate dip.
- Tandoori Paneer Tikka, made by marinating paneer Indian cheese in a blend of seasonings and yogurt, then roasting it to perfection in a tandoor. The marinade ingredients include cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper and garam masala. Served hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.
- Delhi-style Chicken Curry, made with tender boneless chicken stewed in a tomato-based sauce seasoned with aromatic curry powder spices and flavors are a delight to the senses. Delicious with fresh naan and basmati rice.
ABOUT THE RESTAURANT
Jalsa Indian Kitchen is a few minutes from Cherry Hill and Voorhees and about 10 minutes from Haddonfield.
Address: 711 Evesham Road, Suite #12, Somerdale, NJ 08083
Website: jalsaindiankitchen.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (856) 566-1212
Alcohol: BYOB
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
