Citrus Brings Indian, Thai Cuisine Nearby

Love Indian and/or Thai food? A new restaurant in West Caldwell is cooking up both, adding a little spice to the local dining scene. 

Citrus Restaurant opened at 555 Passaic Avenue at the end of January in the former location of a sushi restaurant (and for now at least the sushi bar and some Japanese decor has been untouched).

This is the second Citrus restaurant, the first opened two years ago in upstate New York, according to manager, Sanju George.

George said the concept is simple. If you like Indian, but your friend or family member prefers Thai, you can both be satisfied here. If you enjoy both, you can have a feast picking from either side of the menu.

Citrus offers a daily lunch buffet ($9.95 during the week, $12.95 on weekends), that let’s you sample the most popular dishes on the main menu.

At lunch this week, we tried the beef vindaloo (meat and potatoes prepared in a hot and tangy sauce), the tandoori chicken (chicken on the bone marinated with yogurt and spices and grilled in a clay oven), and the classic chicken tikka masala (boneless meat cooked in a south Indian style) off the Indian menu. Thai selections included a salad, vegetable rice and mixed vegetables in a sweet and spicy coconut sauce.

All dishes were fresh and flavorful and we both went up for multiple servings. Naan (Indian flat bread) and dessert were included in the buffet price. Drinks were extra.

There are many options for vegetarians on the menu, including dishes that feature cauliflower, lentils and peas, spinach, okra, eggplant and more. Vegetarian entrees range in price from $10.99 to $12.99. Meat entrees begin at $14.50.

Quick lunch specials are available to go during the week. Citrus

555 Passaic Avenue

West Caldwell, NJ

973-808-2288

www.citrusnj.com 

Hours are Monday through Thursday, lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, lunch from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m., dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, lunch from noon to 3 p.m., dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.; Sunday, lunch from noon to 3 p.m., dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m.