By Sue Baldani
When Kunal Sharma took over Neelam in 2021, he was proud to bring it back into the family after selling it in 2011. The Indian restaurant has been a beloved staple in Berkeley Heights since 1984 when his uncle decided to bring authentic Indian food to the town. Today, Kunal carries on that tradition.
“The trend in today's world, especially with Indian food, is fusion - combining it with other cuisines - but within that transition, the authenticity of the recipes is getting lost,” he says. “Indian food has so many spices and flavors, and making just one dish is a process. So, if we do something different, it loses all the shine and great flavors that come about.”
Of course, for any dish to taste its best, the quality of the ingredients is of utmost importance. “I do not compromise on the quality of the ingredients,” says Kunal. “I always choose the best produce, meat and spices in the industry, even if it costs more. I want the best for my customers.”
Everything on the menu is made with fresh ingredients, never frozen, and all of the meats come from a Halal butcher shop, so regardless of religion, everyone can eat at Neelam.
Some of the most requested dishes, he says, are Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken, along with the Karahi Chicken and Paneer Makhani. “Palak Paneer is also very popular, as is the Chicken Tandoori Malai Kebab, Samosa and our Beetroot Tikki Kebabs.” There are also plenty of vegetarian options.
Plans are being made to change the menu and add some new dishes, but the favorites will remain there. “We are also planning to introduce lunch platters so people can choose what they want to eat. Right now, we are serving buffet, but sometimes people come in with a mindset of eating a specific dish, and it might not be in the buffet that day since we change the menu daily.”
The restaurant also offers complete catering services, not just in the local area. “We catered an Indian wedding with 400 people in Miami and just did one in Napa Valley. Word of mouth is spreading.”
When Kunal took over Neelam, his wife, Vandana Sharma, an interior designer, used her impressive skills to redesign and create a beautiful, comfortable and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant has a large repeat customer base, with new people coming in all the time.
“It's not a fancy place; instead, I believe people should say it's their favorite place. Our customers bring their girlfriends or their families and kids, and they introduce us to them. It’s a big honor for us because they want to show them that this is where they love to go to have lunch or dinner or celebrate birthdays and other special occasions.”
Kunal and his staff enjoy interacting and building relationships with customers. “We don’t just want to put the food down and leave; we want to understand their needs and, at the same time, give them space. And since it’s BYOB, they can bring their own bottle of whatever they like.”
To enjoy authentic Indian food in a friendly, family-owned establishment, plan a visit to Neelam soon. For more information, go to NeelamRestaurant.com.
