India Chef: Where everybody knows your name

Hafiz Uddin runs India Chef on Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell’s original Indian restaurant.

By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

As soon as you walk into the nondescript building at 720 Holcomb Bridge Road, you are greeted with a restaurant that would not look out of place anywhere in the country – it used to be a Cheers after all. Then you hear the rhythmic sounds of Indian music playing over speakers, see the cloth tablecloths and notice the distinct artistry of the Subcontinent on the walls. This is India Chef, North Fulton’s first and finest Indian restaurant. 

Hafiz Uddin, the manager of India Chef, knows Indian food better than anyone, and his restaurant is one the best and oldest places in the area to experience the flavors of authentic Indian cuisine.

Uddin has been in the business for almost 20 years. He started out in New York City, running an Indian restaurant in the early 1990’s, but he soon left for warmer climes after a trip to Atlanta.

“I visited a friend in Atlanta and decided that this place was so relaxed and wide and green. I decided to move here in February of 1992,” said Uddin.

In May of that year he took over an Indian restaurant in Chamblee called the Himalayas, which he ran until 1998, when he left it to his brother to manage. He moved to Roswell and opened the first India Chef on Highway 9, near Andretti’s. This, according to Uddin, was the first Indian restaurant in North Fulton. Now, almost 10 years later, he has opened his second India Chef, located on Holcomb Bridge in the old Cheers restaurant.

“In 1990, I’m the one who opened the first Indian restaurant in North Fulton, he said. “There were no Indian restaurants in that area. Now it’s growing.” North Fulton’s love of Indian is growing so much that now Uddin has plenty of competition. He’s not worried though; his restaurant is firmly established in the area and has the finest examples of his country’s food anywhere in Atlanta. India Chef’s dishes are so popular that Around Town Roswell named it the Readers’ Choice Award for best ethnic cuisine.

“Chicken Tikka Masala is our specialty here,” said Uddin, proudly. “Even if you go over to England, where the curry market is number one, forget fish and chips, the national dish is now chicken tikka masala. We have a lot of English people who come here for that.” Add to that the fact that India Chef has what can best be described as an authentic tandoori. That is, it was made in India and shipped over.

But what is a tandoori? Tandoori is a clay, open-hearth oven where both meat and Indian bread (nan bread) is cooked. While the bread is flattened out and slapped onto the side of the clay oven, cooking in just a minute, the meat is skewered and placed into the oven over the flame. According to Uddin, this is how Indian food is so healthy.

“When you put the meat in the skewer and into the oven, it sucks all the fat out [of the meat]. So it’s very healthy.” With most meals served with heaps of rice and vegetables, with only a little meat (or, if you are a vegetarian, special veggie dishes are available), the health cost is small compared to other cuisines.

For those not interested in health, and more interested in flavor, you will be happy to know that while the curries are always spiced, the spices rarely outpace the flavors, and can be tailored to the customers’ wishes. Want an extra spicy vindaloo? No problem. Don’t like spicy? Easy – just ask.

After your meal, enjoy some of the most delectable and delicate flavors around with the desserts: of particular note are the Ras Malai, a homemade cottage cheese served in a milk syrup; and a selection of mango and pistachio flavored ice cream.

As well as the food, India Chef also boasts a full bar, including two imported Indian beers: the Kingfisher or the mammoth 22-ounce Taj Mahal. 

Come for the food, stay for the friendly atmosphere. India Chef offers a lunch special of bread, soup/salad, rice, curry, vegetables and dessert all for $6.99.

So be sure to stop by India Chef when you’re in the mood for something outside of the usual. You’ll be glad you did.

India Chef is located at 720 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, in the old Cheers restaurant. Call them at 770-817-0661 or visit them online at www.indiachefatlanta.com.