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Deepika Singh

Dayton at Work And Play: Deepika Singh

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Conversation with Deepika Singh, co-owner (with her husband Jay) of Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine (across the street from the Dayton Dragons at 217 N. Patterson Blvd).

I love eating at Gulzar’s, and stopped in to check out the restaurant’s new space, which is adjacent to their old space. I asked Deepika how she came to be in the restaurant business.
“My husband Jay and I were both born in India and came here as children. When we married we decided to join Gulzar’s, Jay’s family business. The original Gulzar’s was started in Richmond, Indiana by my husband’s father. He named the restaurant Gulzar’s after his own father’s name. Now Jay’s older brother runs the restaurant in Richmond and we run this place in Dayton.”
“We opened downtown three years ago and are really happy with how well it’s gone. Some people who live or work downtown love Indian food and were glad to have us here. Others are new to this type of food but open to trying new things. We have a buffet for lunch every day so people can try all kinds of food and discover what they like the best.”
“When this space next to us opened up we decided to rent it and to give the restaurant a new look. As we designed this new space we asked our customers for ideas. Martin Pleiss, a customer who works at the Dayton Art Institute was a big help. The restaurant now seats 168, more than twice the seating they had before.”
“My husband and his father are the cooks here. You mentioned that you’ve enjoyed eating here, Bill. The dishes you ate were northern Indian food. In this new space we have a new menu. We’ve added some south Indian items you may want to try.”
I asked Deepika what she did before coming to Gulzar’s. “I was a teacher, and I loved it. I was born to be a teacher, and I feel like I still teach. Teaching is part of running a business.”

Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine – Now Bigger and Better

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Deepika & Jay

After just 3 years in business Gulzer’s Indian Cuisine has moved.  The new space more than doubles the seating going from 73 seats to 168, which includes private space to reserve for meetings or events.  But don’t panic, they are literally moving just next door to the former Flyboy Deli spot at 219 N. Patterson Blvd, across from the Day Air Ballparkb downtown.

Deepika Singh, who owns the restaurant with her husband Jay, was kind enough to give me a tour, but was quick to point out that all the finishing touches were still in progress as I was taking pictures. She says they really weren’t looking for a new place, but when the space became available, it just seemed like the right thing to do.  She also hinted that they’ll hold on the space next door and that may become an American restaurant in the future.

The transformation of the space is impressive, bringing in the bright colors, wall accents and more to create an Indian flare in the eatery.   The Singh’s are proud to offer a sanctuary wher people can escape the stresses of daily and simply enjoy moments of good food and good company.

A bigger space means a bigger buffet and an addition of an ice cream cooler as well. The buffet is available for lunch, seven days a week and offers many vegetarian options.

You can now sit at the bar and enjoy a mango lassi, cocktail or a bottle of wine with your meal.

Or grab a table across from the bar.

One of two area’s that be reserved for private events:

Also with the new space, a new menu, with Owner Jay and his father, Paramjeet, are the  chefs. Tbey are best known for  recipes from the northern region of India, especially their Karai dishes – which blend three sauces cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, and pepper as a base. In Indian food its all about the curry and gravy’s are the foundation for each dish and then flavors are built from there. Here’s just a peek of the menu:

Monday – Friday, (Lunch Hours) 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Gulzer’s Indian Cuisine

219 North Patterson Blvd
Dayton, OH 45402

937-985-9420


Mon Thurs 11am  – 2:30pm and 5-9pm
Fri 11am  – 2:30pm and 5-10pm 
Sat 11am – 3:30pm and 5-10pm
Sun 12 – 3:30 and 5-9pm

Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine Opens Thursday

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Deepika amongst the construction.

Downtown Daytonians have long cried for Indian food downtown and now Gulzar’s will fill that niche!

In March of 2020 AJ and Deepika Singh  signed a least to open Gulzar’s on Patterson Street across from the ballpark.  They anticipated opening in the summer of 2020.  And then the pandemic and all plans were put on hold.  And now after long delays to get the building supplies they needed, they are ready to open! Deepika took time to chat with us, as she was surrounded with electricians working on wiring and in the process of bringing the register system online.

 Featuring a Northern Indian cuisine they will offer a lunch buffet weekdays for $13.99 and menu entrees at dinner, beginning on Thursday, May 5th.  This is the 2nd Gulzar’s location, the other one is in Richmond Indiana, which opened in 2015.  In fact is was one of their Richmond customers that suggested this location, after AJ and partner Jay had been looking in the Dayton area for a while.  Deepika shared with us that they “knew within 15 minutes of seeing this site it was the one.” The restaurant can seat about 70 guests.

The family has a long history of running restaurants,  Deepika grew up  in India as part of a family business, serving Indian food.  Then a family friend sponsored her father to come be the head chef at an eatery in Cincinnati.  And while she often cooks at home, her Dad will do most of the cooking at the Dayton location. She says he is especially known for his Karai dishes – which blend three sauces cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, and pepper as a base. In Indian food its all about the curry and gravy’s are the foundation for each dish and then flavors are built from there. 

Gulzar’s Karai

Because each dish is made fresh when you  order it each dish is easily customizable, which can  makes it’s menu very friendly to vegans, those that eat gluten-free or any other allergies.  Their menu is vast and even includes many lamb and goat options.

Deppika shared that their restaurant is know for their “service and family ambiance. It’s so much more than just making money, we love to gather,  share good food and family is everything.”

Still to come, the patio and the liquor license, and then an official Grand Opening, but in the meantime head on in and enjoy!

Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine

217 North Patterson Blvd,
Dayton, Oh 45402

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm
Friday 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm,
Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 12pm-9pm