By Karen Talbot

June 18, 2024: The Indian food at the new Marigold restaurant in Eastchester is bursting with flavor. Marigold is located at 434 White Plains Road in Eastchester (914-202-9455).

Michelin Star Chef Hemant Mathur has put his modern twist on traditional and authentic Indian cuisine. You won't find this kind of culinary creativity anywhere else in Westchester, and you will want to go back and try more of the delicious dishes.
 
The long rectangular dining area is filled with distressed wooden chairs and tables, interspersed with deep red leather banquettes. The light walls are adorned with Indian artifacts, and a bright blue cabinet at the end of the room holds pottery and tins containing dried condiments.
 
Once seated, yummy, colorful white flour rice crackers are brought to your table.  We started our meal with appetizers that included Beet Arancini, which were small balls of beetroot and parmesan, that were a taste sensation.

We then had Garlic Pepper Crab, which consisted of spicy crabmeat with garlic and black pepper.

From "Corner Chaats," the Bhel Puri was a winning combination of puffed rice, chopped tomato and onions, cilantro, and Chaat Masala (Indian street snack spice blend) mixed with tamarind and mint chutney.
 
For our main courses we had Lamb Vindaloo with Goan-style curry, tomato, whole red chili and vinegar.  This dish was very spicy indeed, but you can request it to be made with less of a kick. Our second main course was Chawla Chicken, tender white meat chicken in a creamy cashew-saffron sauce. 
 
Of course, we ordered Garlic Naan and cooling cucumber and yogurt Raita as accompaniments to our meal.  Mango Panna Cotta was the perfect dessert to end an excellent dinner.
 
The Manager, Ashu, was most informative in helping us decide what to order, and the service was exceptional. 

Chef Mathur is the personal chef for the Prime Minister of India, who always requests his special lamb chops with masala potato and pineapple chutney.

Vegetarians are welcomed here with Vegetarian Appetizers and six specific Vegetarian choices on the menu. 

Marigold also offers four Lunch Specials that include an Entree, Rice, Naan, and Dal for $13 (vegetarian), $14 (chicken), $15 (lamb), and $16 (seafood).
 
Marigold is open seven days a week for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, it is open from 4 to 10 p.m.