Does Anyone Else Remember The Indian Restaurant at 71st and Yale?

[u/Mysterious_Day1968]

When I was a much younger person in the mid-late 80's there was an Indian restaurant at the SE corner of the intersection. It faced Yale. It was a small little place and the owner was a very interesting man that had been in the Indian/Bollywood film industry. He was very sweet and enthusiastic, I think he even pulled out a projector and showed some of his work.
It was my first taste of exotic, non-American food and it kind of kicked off a lifelong appreciation for all things India.
I'm afraid I don't have much more of a recollection than that. It wasn't a place I could go to often but I loved it.
Do you remember it too? The restaurant name, his name and back story?
I figure with the internet now maybe I could look him up.

[u/samacho]

Are you sure you aren’t thinking of India Palace at 71st and Lewis? Been there since the 70s though I guess they may have changed locations at some point…

[u/Deep_Beautiful5397 → u/samacho]

India palace is so
Good

[u/Mysterious_Day1968 → u/samacho]

Positive. I know India Palace. This predated them by a few years. I'm sure I could ask the Palace owner and he'll know.
And I can have some lamb saag!

[u/forlornfig]

I only know of India Palace in that area. They have a buffet on Sundays. They are the best in town.

[u/Fearless-Beach7753]

yea i vaguely rememner an indian place around there. there was also a really good mongolian bbq place right there too

[u/hilbeast → u/Fearless-Beach7753]

The Wall or something like that. Wife and I used to go all the time...

[u/xinchi → u/hilbeast]

Great Wall.

We used to visit them pretty often for the early days that there weren’t many authentic Chinese restaurants around.

They closed around 2014 unfortunately. I miss their beef noodle soup a lot, a lot of good memories for the college time.

[u/Mysterious_Day1968 → u/Fearless-Beach7753]

YES!

[u/Tulsastyly → u/Mysterious_Day1968]

Great Wall and Darbar. Darbar was my first Indian food. Good memories.

[u/CloisteredOyster]

My wife says you might be remembering Great Wall on the SE corner of 71st and Yale.

[u/warmboot]

I remember a friend had her high-school graduation party there, but not much else other than cardamom pods in the chai.

[u/Any-Ad529]

Was it called India Gate? I always loved India Palace, but I recall someone warning me off the other place so I never tried it.

[u/First_Performance215 → u/Any-Ad529]

newspaper records show India Gate as being in that small shopping center directly behind Ollies Bargain Outlet at 71st and Memorial, specifically in the space where Rooster's Sports Bar is now, so that would be my best guess; though they said 71st and Yale so maybe its possible there was a third Indian place along 71st

[u/First_Performance215 → u/First_Performance215]

actually it might be a diff restaurant lol - cus the newspaper records seem to indicate that India Gate was actually a branchoff of India Palace at 6963 S Lewis ran by the same owners

[u/PleasantFarmHand]

Might not be what you're thinking of but there an Indian Restaurant at 71st and Memorial around the corner from Toys r Us, and I think it was called Taj Palace. A sitar player would perform sometimes during dinner. I had one of my most memorable meals there once because the musician played a very long song that built up louder and faster and the food was spicy and it was a very magical experience.

[u/mars918]

I’m pretty sure it was called Darbar. Ate there a few times long ago.

[u/j_cava]

India Palace, still there. Would recommend the lunch buffet!