A touch of spice

Praveen Nair, a member of the class of ’92 at Weehawken High School, has returned to his hometown to open his own restaurant, “Touch of Spice,” just a few blocks from his alma mater.
A successful IT professional in the U.S. and abroad for the past 10 years, Nair has always been a “foodie.” He grabbed the opportunity when the Park Avenue location – one that he deems “perfect” – suddenly became available.
Nair teamed up with Chef Francis Gomez from Calcutta, India, who has 25 years of culinary experience in the United States and abroad, to help realize his lifelong dream.

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There are daily lunch and dinner buffets.
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Together, they have a created a menu consisting of a variety of dishes from all over India. The menu contains favorites like Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, and a variety of Tandoori dishes. The brand new kitchen is equipped with its own Tandoor oven to create the fluffiest Naans and khulchas (stuffed Indian bread) to compliment an array of delicious curry meals.
Nair hopes to spice up the neighborhood by enticing his customers’ taste buds with flavors from all over India.
Nair, who hails from south India, will be incorporating some of the south Indian flavors into the menu as well. The restaurant is aptly named “Touch of Spice” after the variety of health-benefitting spices that will be incorporated into the menu.
Not to scare away first-timers, the cuisine will have the option of hot and mild options based on the customer’s preference.
The restaurant provides a daily $8.95 lunch buffet with choice of appetizers, soup, entrées, and desserts, along with lunch box specials including chicken wraps and veggie wraps. Dinner service will provide the option of a la carte or buffet depending on the customer’s preference. First-timers will have the opportunity to choose their food from the display.
Touch of Spice provides a cozy and casual ambience for its customers to relax and enjoy some good quality, home-style, Indian food without breaking the bank. They will also be providing free delivery and take-out options.
According to Nair, Weehawken is perfect because it has the characteristics of a quaint little town as well as providing some of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Nair is proud to be opening the first Indian restaurant in Weehawken. During the renovation phase, Nair says, he was constantly greeted by the residents of Weehawken offering their support and encouragement, which he greatly appreciates.
The restaurant is at 4114 Park Ave., next to the Pathmark shopping center. It’s open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Go to www.touchofspice.com for more information.