Bombay Talkie

HOURS
Sun - Thurs 5pm - 10:30pm
Fri - Sat 5pm - 11:30

Bombay Talkie, created and owned by Sunitha Ramaiah is a Indian "street food" bistro that the melds the worlds of Ramaiah's childhood in Southern India with her adulthood in Manhattan.  Skillfully bringing together a sleek interior aesthetic with the playful drama of Bollywood-inspired canvases, Bombay Talkie contemporizes the regional cuisines of the tiny roadside cafes that dot the Indian subcontinent.

Resembling a kind of Indian tapas, Bombay Talkie's menu is neither fusion nor "Muhhlai" - the highly-spiced, often cream-based, heavier dishes known to Americans.  Says Ramaiah, "Our recipes come from home cooking and the roadside cafes. We incorporate regional recipes from all over the country. It is the food of my childhood, the food of everyday people."

Nestled in an eighteenth century, landmark building, designer Thomas Juul-Hansen created Bombay Talkie into an airy modern space with clean lines and natural materials. A long wooden communal table made from a single piece of teak runs along the left side of the first floor with custom created leather booths adding additional warmth to the comfortable, contemporary design.

Probably the most striking feature of Bombay Talkie comes from acclaimed painter and family friend, J.P. Krishna, famous for his work in Chennai, who created the canvases featured throughout the restaurant. Because of the popularity of Bollywood culture in recent years, some initially misinterpreted Bombay Talkie as a Bollywood theme spot. Ramaih is quick to point out that is not the case.

"The canvases are important to the resaurant because they reflect the spirit of the Indian cafes, which use the cinema posters to brighten and add energy. Bollywood billboards are on every street corner in India. They are inextricably linked to Indian life. To Omit them would be unthinkable. But they are only an aspect of what Bombay Talkie is. A very beautiful aspect."

Sourced from Bombay Talkie