Brick Lane Curry House Opens Speakeasy-Style Whiskey Room as Jersey City Marks Hindu Heritage Month
October was a landmark month for Jersey City's South Asian community: the city officially recognized Hindu Heritage Month by unanimous council vote, while two restaurants on the Indian dining corridor running through downtown marked major milestones of their own. From a semi-secret Amrut whiskey room tucked inside a five-year-old stalwart to an ambitious new opening from the team behind some of Manhattan's most sought-after South Asian tables, the city's Desi dining scene offered plenty of reasons to celebrate.
🍛 Brick Lane Curry House Celebrates Five Years With Secret Whiskey Speakeasy
Brick Lane Curry House on Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City is celebrating its fifth anniversary by unveiling what may be one of the more unusual additions to the neighborhood's dining scene: a speakeasy-style tasting room dedicated entirely to Amrut whiskey. The space was conceived by the restaurant's owner, described by Patch as a "superfan" of the Indian single malt spirit, who has assembled what is characterized as one of the world's largest collections of Amrut expressions. The tasting room operates as a separate, semi-secret experience layered within the existing restaurant on Newark Avenue, adding an entirely new dimension to a space that has been a fixture of the Desi dining corridor since opening. The choice of Amrut — a Bangalore-based distillery that has earned significant recognition among international whiskey collectors — reflects the owner's personal passion rather than a trend play. The five-year mark is a milestone for any restaurant, and Brick Lane's decision to mark it by investing in a new concept speaks to the ambition taking hold in Jersey City's South Asian food scene. The speakeasy model, which requires guests to know about the space to access it, has long been a vehicle for elevated, focused experiences, and this iteration brings that idea into an Indian dining context where whiskey pairings have rarely been foregrounded so deliberately. For a neighborhood whose Indian restaurant scene has historically been defined by family-run operations and takeout counters, the move represents something genuinely new. [1]
🗳️ Jersey City Council Unanimously Declares October Hindu Heritage Month
The Jersey City Municipal Council voted unanimously on October 7 to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month, honoring the cultural, social, and economic contributions of Hindu Americans and reflecting the city's growing Indian American and Hindu American communities. The resolution was championed by Councilwoman Mamta Singh, who made history as the first Hindu woman to serve on the council. Singh framed the designation as an affirmation of the city's diversity and an opportunity to deepen cross-cultural understanding. "I have always believed that belonging grows when we take the time to understand one another," Singh said at the meeting. She described Hinduism as a philosophy rooted in compassion, service, respect, and inclusiveness, and characterized Hindu Heritage Month as an invitation to residents of all backgrounds to engage with those values. Councilman Michael Griffin offered personal testimony, recalling growing up in Jersey City near Journal Square and McGinley Square and watching the Hindu community grow through his years in the city, gaining exposure to Hindu culture, traditions, and food. Community advocate Praveen Sharma, who spoke in support of the resolution, emphasized its inclusive intent. "The HHM movement does not seek to target or exclude any religion or community," Sharma said. "Everyone is welcomed to participate and observe our movement together." October was specifically chosen because it coincides with several major Hindu festivals and observances, allowing temples, organizations, and individuals to celebrate under a shared banner. Sharma also noted that Hindu Heritage Month is recognized by communities internationally. [2]
🍛 Punjab Meet House Brings Manhattan-Level Indian Dining to Jersey City
Punjab Meet House, which opened in early July, represents restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi's bid to bring the kind of tailored, ambitious South Asian dining he has built in Manhattan to the city where he has lived for more than twenty years. Rizvi is the force behind GupShup in Gramercy and Bungalow — the Vikas Khanna restaurant in the East Village that became one of the harder reservations to land in the city. The new restaurant lands in a dining corridor that has long been shaped by family-run restaurants and takeout counters on and around Newark Avenue, which serves one of the country's largest South Asian communities. Punjab Meet House occupies a cavernous space fitted with a full bar and a menu that sprawls across chaat, tandoor preparations, curries, dal, and Indian breads. Executive Chef Zahir Khan, who spent roughly fifteen years traveling across the Indian subcontinent, brings that breadth of experience to the kitchen. Eater New York's review noted the range of the offering — from cardamom-laced cocktails to an Indian spin on tiramisu — as evidence of a restaurant built to serve a wide range of dining intentions. For a community with roots as deep as those on Newark Avenue, the opening of a restaurant positioned at that level is both a recognition of how far the community has grown and a signal of confidence about where it is headed. The Downtown Jersey City location, chosen deliberately by Rizvi after more than two decades of living in and commuting from the city, keeps the concept rooted in the community it aims to serve. [4]
Sources: [1] Patch · [2] TAPinto · [4] Eater New York