by Helen Martin
Max Bisht, Curry Leaf director, owner and chef.
Helensville’s popular Curry Leaf Indian Restaurant, Takeaway and Delivery first opened its doors in November 2005.
In the 13 years owner/director/chef Max Bisht has been in business there have been a few ups and downs – the restaurant has been burgled four times this year, most recently in July, and making the premises more secure has been very expensive. But with strong sliding grills over the windows and door and a new CCTV system installed Max is confident he can now carry on his business in peace.
Max, who was born in a beautiful rural part of Uttrakh and, Northern India, learned to cook 25 years ago in Mumbai. He worked as a chef for two years in Dubai before eventually coming to New Zealand in 1999 to join his brother Gulab, who was running Curry Leaf in Kumeu. He’s confident that his restaurant, which has a large dine-in and takeaway menu, has enough variety to suit all tastes, including vegetarian and gluten free dishes and the choice of mild, medium, or hot, although he says butter chicken is the favourite for 85% of his customers. Lamb shanks are another very popular choice. Curry Leaf is fully licensed, you can B.Y.O. wine and year-round there’s a 10% discount for parties of ten or more.
Listing the many positives about his business Max includes the great staff and the regular customers, many of whom have been patronising Curry Leaf since it opened. Max, his wife Manju, who also works at Curry Leaf, and their three children, all born in Helensville, live in Parakai. He says that as a country-born person he enjoys the community spirit and loves living in the area.
Opening hours: Lunch Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 2pm; Dinner Tuesday – Sunday 4.30pm – 10pm.
Phone: 0800123567; 4209989
www.curryleafhelensville.co.nz
