Little more than life, this NRI family is redefining South Indian cuisine in the heart of NYC

Success story: A culinary sensation has taken root in the bustling Brooklyn neighborhood, tantalizing taste buds and creating connections among locals. Swetha and Venkat Raju, who moved to Brook

Success Story: A culinary sensation has taken hold in the vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood, captivating taste buds and forging connections between locals. Swetha and Venkat Raju, who moved to Brooklyn from Bangalore in 2016, had no plans to open one of the city’s hottest restaurants.

The couple has two children (now 13 and 7 years old) who also have full-time jobs (she is a software engineer, he is a lawyer) and plenty of other day-to-day things to devote their time and energy to. But as Swetha tells Brooklyn Magazine, “We really, really missed home when we first came here, so we just started cooking and inviting neighbors over to the lounge where we lived in City Point. Just to meet people.”

They started in 2021 The Brooklyn Curry Project by selling dosas from a stall during Fort Greene farmers market hours, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And in no time, the humble yet mighty South Indian food stall became a cherished eatery. It is located across the street on Washington Park Avenue where it joins Willoughby Avenue’s Open Street.

Now the stand specializes in dosas – masala, ghee or vegan cheese – but also serves idli, steamed rice cakes, combo lunch plates with khichdi, sprout salad and pickles, as well as uttapam, a rice and lentil crepe. Daily specials are announced on Instagram. And everything on the menu is $10 or less.

The Bengaluru-born software engineer tells The Better India: “I wanted to share the excellent food and cuisine South India has to offer with people in my neighbourhood. Since we started we have been showered with so much love.”

They say it all started with a lemonade stand

Everyone loved Swetha and Venkat’s food, but it was their daughter’s lemonade stand that pushed Swetha and Venkat to take their culinary skills to the next level. They said it brought joy and conversation to the community. In 2021, the idea came to life when the couple helped their daughters set up a lemonade stand in Fort Greene.

It was a natural progression, a chance to share the wholesome and nourishing delights of South Indian cuisine with the good people of New York City. Thus was born The Brooklyn Curry Project, a weekly gathering that would soon become a pilgrimage for food lovers seeking authentic flavors and a warm sense of belonging.

Today, what the Rajus call the Brooklyn Curry Project attracts a long line of regulars that winds down Willoughby Avenue every Saturday, usually starting around 10:30 a.m. and continuing until everything is sold out.

Swetha completed two years in June and, speaking to The Better India, said: “The journey has been incredible. We started very small with limited possibilities, but it has grown considerably. The initial reaction of the people was so overwhelming; they liked the taste of the food. Many were curious and we explained everything we cooked to them.”

The Brooklyn Curry Project has become more than just a food stand: it’s a meeting place where people from all walks of life come together to share stories, enjoy delicious bites, and create lasting memories.