The heavy metal door creeps open as the aroma of rich spices and diverse cooking wafts through. The server strides towards a table after asking for the number of table attendants. The surrounding paintings are a reminder of religious Indian roots. You’ve entered an Indian restaurant, the question is, which one?

In August, a branch of Sankalp opened on Freedom Road in Cranberry Township. Sankalp is a chain of Indian Restaurants scattered across the globe. The company was founded in the 1980s, and since then has grown into over 150 franchises. The chain offers a strong variety of meals, ranging from Indo-Chinese noodles to pizza on the kids’ menu.

The chain appeals to both non-vegetarian and vegetarian consumers, as they maintain an excellent diversification of entrées. Many tend to appreciate the diverse meal selection in the restaurant compared to other local Indian restaurants.

“They have a good mix of American and Indian food. I love the paninis and the serving sizes are great, too,” NASH junior Arnav Patel said.

As a non-vegetarian consumer, I can attest that the non-vegetarian options offered by Sankalp are excellent. The chicken is well marinated, soft, and well seasoned. I’ve been to the restaurant with my family on several occasions, and have enjoyed each of their options including the tandoori chicken and chicken fried rice. While many admire the non-vegetarian options like myself, others appreciate the efforts to also offer an inclusive palette for vegetarians.

“There’s a lot of good vegetarian options. There’s so many different types of daal, dosas, and you can even have American food. I think it’s very inclusive to all diets,” junior Siya Jain said.

What’s great about Sankalp’s meal selection is that it is fresh. The care and effort put into the preparation and presentation of each dish are clearly evident, and that plays a big factor in customer satisfaction.

Older members of the Wexford Indian community are happy about the opening of a new Indian restaurant. They predict that Sankalp might offer the esteemed Tamarind a run for its money; as a result, they hope to see an increase in quality from both of the restaurants. It’s a win for both parties involved.

In fact, each restaurant has strategically placed itself as to adapt to the locations of the Wexford Indian Community. The restaurants are at least 10 minutes away from each other.

Whether it be Sankalp, Tamarind, Mint, or Chutney, the area’s Indian restaurants are upping their game, providing an authentic Indian restaurant experience just minutes away from home.