Community Corner

Even When Not in a Rush, Try Hurry Chutney

Raritan eatery offers one-of-a-kind experience in Indian cuisine.

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Warren Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Hurry Chutney

Raritan's Hurry Chutney, a 15-minute drive from Warren, isn't a fast food restuarant offering Indian food as the name sounds, but rather a play on "Hari Chutney," the green, cilantro-flavored chutney.

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But the name does also convey the restaurant's break from the staid Indian restaurants most are familiar with—there's no buffet here, everything is prepared fresh. The tandoori is grilled on order, so you know everything is served hot, savory and fresh.

It's also decorated in a modern decor, and populated with 48 tables to handle the large crowds the food has been drawing in since the restaurant opened in July 2010.

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Fans of Indian foods will find all their favorites—in addition to tandoori recipes, there's a variety of kababs, lamb chops, and lots of fish and seafood—salmon, crab cakes, shrimp. The staff says the Tilapia in white sauce is one of the most popular items on the menu.

But there's more—the vegetarian offerings include Shaam Savera Kofta (spinach and ricotta cheese dumplings), several kaneer dishes and more.

Few restaurants have as complete a list of appetizers as Hurry Chutney offers. The menu begins with soups and salads, and vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers. The restaurant generously offered a sample of its popular Hara Bhara Kababs, three egg-sized potato and pea kababs served on bed of spinach with chutney. The kababs were savoring and full flavored, with a touch of chili—taken with a few leaves of spinach and the chutney really brought out the delicious flavors.

There were so many enticing dishes to try on the menu: Drums of Heaven (chicken drumsticks sauteed with scallions and garlic), Cochin Crabcake, Lamb Seekh—even Kadai Paneer, cubes of cottage cheese sauteed with onion, bell pepper, ginger and garlic, sounds delicious.

And there's rice and noodle dishes (including Chinese-style Hakka noodles), breads, side dishes featuring pickles or chutneys, and exotic desserts.

There's too much to list, so go to the website at www.hurrychutney.com, where you can view the complete menu—be sure to click on the Special Offer link and get coupons for free Lassi drinks (available salted, and in mango or rose).

And best of all, you won't break the bank—the lamb, shrimp, pomphret and salmon tandoori entrees are the most expensive on the menu at $14.95, but many are under $10. Daily lunch specials will fill you up for about $9.

The restaurant is expanding in the next few months, with Princeton and Springfield locations coming.

But you might want to hurry: a recent visit by New York Times staffers led to a promised feature story planned for the June 5 Metro section. After that, the 48 tables might not be enough.

Signature dishes: Hara Bhara Kabab, Chicken 65 (chicken cubes sauteed with onions and bell peppers in a hit sauce), Chicken Achari Kabab (grilled chicken marinated in yogurt and Indian pickle sauce), and Tilapia in White Sauce.

A note about the location: Finding places on Route 206 is notoriously challenging, but the small shopping center with Hurry Chutney was desgned a bit better than most: traveling north on Route 206 between the Somerville Diner and Walgreens, the entrance to the center is at the far end—so when you see the sign, you have time to slow and make the turn. 

Hurry Chutney

97 Route 206 N, Raritan

888-9CHUTNEY (924-8863)

Hours:Mon-Fri: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Sat and Sun: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cost: $


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