This restaurant is owned by the family of Kritha Bharath, a Stinger staff member.
Serving both spicy and savory foods, Cumin N Eat in Allentown, Pennsylvania serves a variety of Indian cuisine dishes popularized in both northern
and southern regions of India. Upon entering the restaurant, the aroma of a home-cooked meal of spices and fresh ingredients spreads through the air. Bharath Sundararaman, the owner of Cumin N Eat, opened his doors to families, locals, and Indian cuisine-lovers in the Lehigh Valley on March 23, 2020.
Sundararaman began his venture into the world of restaurant ownership in the Lehigh Valley with Biryani City, allowing Lehigh Valley locals to taste Sundararaman’s Indian cuisine before they could “Cumin N Eat” at his second location in Allentown. Biryani City’s doors opened with the help of
Sundararaman’s wife, Aparna Bharath, in January of 2016.
“I would have to give [credit] to my wife [in regards to the idea of opening a restaurant],” Sundararaman said. “Her family has been owning and running restaurants back in India.”
Cumin N Eat’s cuisine was heavily influenced by Sundararaman’s hometown Tamil Nadu, India, featuring many dishes commonly served in South India, such as their variety of dosa dishes and biryani dishes.
Sundararaman highlights their chicken tikka masala dish as Cumin N Eat’s most popular menu item, serving as a savory dish that has mixed roots South Asian and British cuisine.
The dish is rich, flavorful, and impactful, with the use of abundant seasonings, and a choice of spice. The food immerses you, with a flavor package not usually found at home. It is a portal to a world of seasonings, perfectly crafted to just the right amount. The restaurant’s decor features paintings across
its walls that accentuate traditional Indian culture, helping customers to appreciate Indian culture beyond the cuisine.
“I wouldn’t say [the restaurant’s decor is] more Indian, it’s probably more American than anything. The wall art and things like that [have] a more Indianized touch to it,” Sundararaman said.
Cumin N Eat provides an urban twist on many traditional Indian dishes, creating a savory experience for food lovers in the Lehigh Valley.
