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Why East India Company is a great choice for a family meal – or your next business lunch

East India Company celebrates the essence of South Asian flavours and traditional Indian hospitality through its trio of outstanding restaurants

In 1968, new immigrants to Canada Kamal and Sudha Mehra opened Winnipeg’s first North Indian restaurant, India Gardens, aiming to recreate the flavours of home in their new settings. The restaurant’s success led to the establishment of the first East India Company restaurant at 349 York Ave. in Winnipeg in 1994, which is still in existence.

Nearly 10 years later, the Mehras brought their traditional, mouth-watering flavours of Indian cuisine to Ottawans, opening two East India Company restaurants at 210 Somerset St. W. in Centretown in 2002 and at 1993 Robertson Road in the west end in 2014.

A family-run enterprise, both Ottawa locations are managed by the couple’s sons, Anish and Nitin. Anish is a certified sommelier and hotel management graduate who manages the front of house. Executive Chef Nitin, a graduate of Algonquin College and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, is the kitchen whiz who seamlessly blends traditional recipes with contemporary cuisine, carrying forward a legacy of handcrafted recipes passed down through five generations. Nitin sets the menus for all three restaurants and is also behind the East India Company line of ready-to-cook bottled sauces available across Canada.

A household name in Ottawa

Twenty-three years in the capital has seen the East India Company blossom into a favourite fine-dining experience for families, as well as for friends looking to catch up after hours over a flavourful Indian meal. While the chefs are personally trained by Nitin Mehra, front-of-house staff ensure patrons have an exceptional experience with efficient and attentive service.

The menu features a wide range of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes catering to all dietary restrictions. The restaurants also have an extensive wine list and bar menu to choose from. If choice is what you’re looking for, the lunch or dinner buffet, available daily, has been a mainstay of the restaurant since its early days and is the perfect way to try traditional fare alongside innovative creations. A weekend dosa brunch is also served on Saturdays and Sundays. But classic curries, generous portions and reasonable prices are not the only aspects that make East India Company unique.

Indian hospitality at its finest

Spacious dining areas, private and semi-private dining rooms, Indian music, and décor featuring centuries-old Indian wood carvings, paintings, and intricate tapestries create a vibrant ambience befitting meetings, celebrations or other intimate gatherings. East India Company is also renowned for its catering services – for business lunches, office gatherings, corporate events, parties, fundraisers and weddings – all of which feature a customizable menu and expertly trained on-site catering staff.

Continuing a passion of delighting customers while honoring their Indian roots, the Mehra brothers have ensured that their restaurants maintain their reputation for exceptional quality and consistency over the years – in terms of food, service and ambience. Happy customers are at the heart of the enterprise’s ethos and staff work diligently to make that a reality. The restaurants also offer take-away and delivery options, recreating the same rich flavours to be enjoyed in the comfort of your home.

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