It’s Tikka time: Hilton Head’s only Indian restaurant opening mid-island.
For Hilton Head diners who have been missing real chicken tikka masala and Bombay lamb chops, your wait is over. But don’t go looking for the sign, it may not be there yet.
A new venue, Masala Mantra Indian Bistro, is in the old Zaxby’s location and will be the island’s only Indian restaurant when it makes its Lowcountry debut Wednesday at lunch.
Owner Sudev Valavil started as a chef at an Indian restaurant in Tampa in 2016. Now, he runs four restaurants of his own. Although he is originally from a city of Puducherry on the southern coast of India. Valavil said that the food at the restaurant is inspired by northern Indian cuisine and revolves around breads and curry-based entrees.
The predominant spice featured in the curries is garam masala, a scent and flavor most closely associated with northern Indian cuisine.
This will be Valavil’s fourth location since October 2019, when he opened one in Cape Coral, Florida. Masala Mantra can also boast of having a location in Dubai, UAE.
Menu stand-outs
Appetizers include Kashmiri ($6) naan bread baked with raisin, nuts and dates and shrimp manchurian ($14) featuring fried shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. In addition to tandoori and curry-based entrees, there are 15 vegetarian dishes before the dessert menu arrives that includes rice pudding and mango cheese cake.
The new restaurant will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturdays, the restaurant will stay open until 10:00 p.m. Valavil said that the buffet is not currently available.
