It all started with the wrong telephone number. I was in a hurry, and I was craving my favorite new restaurant, so I googled the number and placed the order. When I arrived downtown, I was met with a look of confusion. “Oh, you must have ordered from our Virginia location.” It came as no surprise that the best new restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids would have other locations. 

PIND Indian Cuisine was created by two brothers from India. The Virginia location was opened in 2015 where it was recognized as one of the most popular restaurants for five years consecutively. The Grand Rapids location was then opened in 2020. Currently, the brothers are partners in operating two PINDs amongst a book of other restaurants. PIND (which translates to “village”) serves up delicious, traditional Indian food that is always spiced to perfection.

I tend to shy away from restaurant reviews because I am a creature of habit, I stick to what I like, and I don’t usually explore an entire menu. So, while I cannot critique a myriad of dishes, I can tell you my personal go-to’s. The Chicken Tikka Masala is my all-time favorite. The pieces of chicken are tender and served in a Makhni sauce that is a gorgeous red color. I don’t usually like spicy food, but when given the choice between mild, medium, and spicy at PIND, I choose medium spice and find it to be the perfect level. 

My favorite sides are the Vegetable Biryani and the Vegetable Fried Rice. PIND’s menu should be celebrated for its abundance of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. There are fourteen vegetarian dishes alone, and they include a wide variety of vegetables in their Vegetable Biryani, including peas, cauliflower, and peppers. The rice dishes do present a tad spicier, so if you’re sensitive to that, you may want to try them at a mild level initially. 

The portions are large. An order of Chicken Tikka Masala easily feeds two, and the rice dishes would serve two people as a main dish and more like three or four people as a side. If you pair these with an order of their delicious Garlic Naan, it makes for the perfect meal. I have ordered this meal several times, and it is always hot and wonderful. PIND’s parking lot is located just west of the restaurant’s entrance. You will be required to take a ticket, but like the Downtown Market, if you are getting a to-go order, you will not pay for parking for the short term. 

Beware: when you arrive for take-out, you are likely to encounter a line of patrons also awaiting their orders. PIND is that good.