Indian restaurant in Dauphin County to shut: ‘It was a fun place’

Bollywood Indian Fusion in Derry Township is completely closing on Sept. 14.

Co-owner and chef Avelino Furtado stated his ongoing medical points led to the choice.

“I need to take care of my health,” he stated.

The BYOB restaurant opened 5 years in the past on the former Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli at at 597 E. Main St. within the Park Village Plaza.

Furtado, a chef for 11 years on the former Passage To India in Harrisburg’s Shipoke neighborhood, teamed up with Dinesh Purohit to open Bollywood.

Purohit additionally operated Bollywood Bar & Grille in Harrisburg till it closed in 2021.

Furtado stated regulars are stopping by the Derry Township restaurant for his or her last style of Indian specialties.

Bollywood’s menu consists of appetizers, curries, tandoor and rice dishes specializing in Northern Indian delicacies, with just a few southern specialities thrown within the combine.

Among the highlights are a small part of specialities, akin to Goan seafood curry with shrimp and salmon cooked in coconut curry with curry leaves and Indian spices.

Furtado famous he’ll miss the purchasers probably the most.

“It was a fun place. Everyone was really nice and they were happy because the food was similar to Passage. Everyone found out where I was working and they followed me,” he stated.

Furtado, who’s from Goa in southwestern India, stated he was employed at Passage to India in 2008 on a whim by the late proprietor Vishnu Shenoy, whereas visiting his brother who labored on the restaurant.

At the time, he was working for Logan Roadhouse touring to coach workers for the chain’s restaurant openings. Recalling that he wasn’t bought on the concept of a profession change, he gave Shenoy a two-week trial run.

He ended up working on the restaurant till 2019.

“We became best friends,” Furtado stated of his relationship with Shenoy. While he was there he stated he additionally helped to construct the restaurant’s catering enterprise together with bringing in tour teams.

He left Passage in 2019 when new homeowners took over and joined Purohit on the Harrisburg Bollywood. The two then teamed up on the Derry Township restaurant.

Furtado stated he’s not ruling out one other shot at restaurant possession sooner or later, though he doesn’t have a timeline.

“I really appreciate all of the people who supported us. Maybe in the future I might have something on the outskirts of Harrisburg.”