Cedar Park eatery modernizes cuisine

The creators behind the Naanfull Indian Grill concept wanted to fill what they considered a gap in the local restaurant industry. They decided to begin serving customizable wraps, rice bowls and salads as well as traditional Indian platters to a new demographic in Cedar Park.

Owner Sonia Arora said the restaurant's success is driven by education because customers can sometimes be intimidated by Indian food. They think it is too spicy, too greasy or they do not understand what they are eating, she said.

"If some person is here for the first time and they don't know about Indian food, the first thing we do is educate them about the five sauces," Arora said. "We love to educate them about Indian food."

Naanfull opened in July with a goal to modernize Indian cuisine and make it accessible to Americans, manager Binu Thomas said. Customers choose between a variety of proteins and vegetables for their wrap, rice bowl or salad and can also sample sauces before deciding which to incorporate.

"The best thing about this restaurant compared to any other restaurant is you know what the sauce is before you have it," Thomas said. "You can always taste before you order something, and then you choose a spice level."

In addition to quick food options, the restaurant has a variety of full platters, appetizers and meals for children. Patrons can dine in, pick up, or have their meal delivered within a 5-mile radius of the restaurant.

Paramjeet Singh, who helped develop the concept for Naanfull, said the restaurant wanted to introduce Indian food to new customers but also offer more traditional dishes.

"We were not sure at first if this concept was the only concept we could live with," he said. "It would bring new customers, American customers, but not traditional Indian customers, and they know Indian food. They want you to make it in the back and spice it up the way they like it."

Naanfull Indian Grill, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. T-130, Cedar Park, 512-528-5903, www.naanfull.com, Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.