New Indian restaurant: Awwal Curry House spices up Eustis Market with a taste of India

Cindy Peterson
·2 min read

EUSTIS — If you’re looking for authentic Indian food, check out Eustis’ newest Indian restaurant, Awwal Curry House, which is located inside the new Eustis Market.

Chef Shabber Chowdhury has more than 35 years of experience in the industry and is brining his most popular and flavorful Indian dishes to Lake County.

Chef Shabber Chowdhury has opened another restaurant inside the Eustis Market.
Chef Shabber Chowdhury has opened another restaurant inside the Eustis Market.

His wife, Sitara Shukla Chowdhury, works for the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce and heard about the new Eustis Market. She jumped at the chance to not only have her husband open his restaurant, but also to open her own jewelry shop right across the hall.

“We felt it was a good opportunity,” Sitara said. “I was selling online and at Renningers Flea Market but thought it was a good time to open a shop.”

Chef Shabber, who is originally from India, came to the United States as a student, pursuing a degree in chemical engineering at the renowned Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT.) However, his passion for cooking soon led him down a slightly different path.

Chef Shabber moved to England, where he attended culinary school, honing his craft even further. In the year 2000, he opened his first Indian restaurant in Scotland.

He eventually made his way back to the United States, setting up another Indian restaurant in Rochester, New York. However, Central Florida's warm climate and the desire to escape the cold and snow led Chef Shabber and his wife to relocate to the Sunshine State in 2018.

What's on the menu at Awwal Curry House?

One of the favorite dishes on the menu is the Chicken Tikka Masala, a dish that is popular in England. Its rich, creamy tomato-based sauce pairs with juicy pieces of chicken. It has become a staple on the menu.

The chicken-and-vegetable samosas are a popular option at Awwal Curry House in Eustis.
The chicken-and-vegetable samosas are a popular option at Awwal Curry House in Eustis.

Chef Shabber says the restaurant's Butter Chicken dish also has been popular since Day 1. Other options include chicken curry, paneer makhani, chicken and lamb kabobs, spinach with chicken, Briyani with chicken, beef or vegetable, beef curry, beef with vegetables, or grab a bunch of your favorites on a special platter.

Don’t forget the homemade garlic naan bread. They also have chicken and vegetable samosas on hand, along with authentic mango lassi drink.

An offering from Awwal Curry House in Eustis.
An offering from Awwal Curry House in Eustis.

Awwal Curry House, 24 E. Magnolia Ave. in Eustis, is open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/awwalcurryhouse.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Lake County restaurant news: Awwal Curry House in Eustis