- Susan Mulford
Longevity in the restaurant business is commendable
for it is often rare. Mohan Singh with his wife, Parkash’s support, single handedly sculpted, over the past twenty five years, one
of the best traditional Northern Indian cuisine restaurants in the area. The India Pavilion located at 17 Central Square on Western
Avenue in Central Square, Cambridge (617-547-7463,) offers a warm and inviting atmosphere. Extremely popular with locals is the generous
lunchtime buffet for only $6.95 featuring such items as hand made appetizers, delightfully seasoned entrees like spicy chicken curry
accompanied with vegetable korma and basmati rice, naan (Indian flat bread), plus a selection of delicately sweetened Indian deserts.
Leisurely dining is encouraged especially during dinner as the extensive menu offers numerous choices from the northern and more recently
the addition of many recipes from the southern regions of India. A selection of fine Indian wines, known for their pleasant, light
and refreshing bouquet, are available to compliment any dish. When meeting their gracious host Mohan, as well as his lovely daughter,
Jaswinder, son-in-law, Sukhwinder, and son, Harinder, (they help their father manage the business) guests quickly realize that it
is the family’s love for people, their overt sense of hospitality, and their love of the food of their original country that has provided
the motivating force for these 25 years of unprecedented success. This formula has resulted in the creation of several other popular
Indian dining spots in the Cambridge area. The newly redecorated Haveli, 1248 Cambridge Street, Inman Square (617-497-6548,) offers
the same quality dining as India Pavilion in a similarly relaxed atmosphere while Punjabi Dhaba, 225 Hampshire Street, Inman Square
(617-547-8272,) does an unprecedented “takeout” business for those in search of a healthy alternative to fast food. The most recent
addition is an Indian café called Curry Creations, 80 River Street in Cambridge (617-497-6144,) which recently evolved from Mohan’s
India Food and Spices Market. Numerous friends, loyal customers, illustrious members of the community, including Cambridge’s Mayor
Michael Sullivan recently gathered to wish Mohan and his family continued success.