CLEVELAND PARK: First Look at BINDAAS Like its Name "Independent, Cool and Carefree" Opens August 10

Today, August 5th, I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit Bindaas, a new concept in Indian Food that takes its lead from Indian street food. Located in Cleveland Park, in the Bardeo section of Ardeo/Bardeo, the new interior is welcoming and 'neighborly' seating 35 (plus 9 more at the bar) and surrounded by street art, large bottles of colorful spices, wine and feeling that you made the right decision.

A Personal Favorite Chooza Kebab

The idea of bringing Indian street food is genius, and the menu has a mix of regional delicacy's, taste's and aroma's that you generally cannot find in the US and would thrill any world traveler. Represented are delights from Delhi, Mumbai, Goa. Dishes like Bhel Puri, a Bombay seaside snack with raw mangoes, lentils, puffed rice which is sweet and savory, a wrap, the Kati Roll with Goan Pork, Pathar Gosht, a lamb kebab cooked on a stone oven served over a bed of saffron rice with saffron and cashews, and Uttapam, a fermented rice pancake with lentils and shrimp pepper. My personal favorite is the Chooza Kebab, a chicken kebab mildly spiced makhani sauce, with vegetables on a bed of saffron rice. You can pair the menu with wine or, my preference Indian Beer. The Menu is here

The bar has bar top lights installed to create intimacy for the diner at the bar, there is a good international wine list and a selection of Indian beers...you can sit and eat, or drink and watch Bollywood movies on the TV.

As expected there are 'nods' to Indian culture everywhere, walls are adorned with typical Indian street art which fits perfectly with the ambiance of the restaurant and adds color and humor to the surroundings. Large jars of colorful spices evoke the markets, as do the basket design light shades.

In my conversation with Chef Vikram Sunderam it was evident that this is a labor of love, an opportunity to showcase the regional differences of the food and through each menu choice extend our knowledge of India's rich cultural heritage.

Bindaas opens on Wednesday 10th, August. I will be there and will return often to what is a unique concept, that opens up a menu of street based food, that we in Washington DC have not experienced before.

Bindaas is located at 3309 Connecticut Avenue, NW