Get the dish on crunchy chaat, tender tikka masala, tandoori lamb kabobs, and more Indian delights
Spice Palette
In a city awash with pulled pork, tuna tartare, and nearly everything in between, Charlestonians hardly want for dining options. But food-obsessed locals have long lamented the dearth of more global offerings. Where’s the gado gado? the doro wat? the chaat? Good news, people: the latter, at least, has hit our shores. Find chaat—crunchy, savory, and habit-forming snacks—along with a multitude of other pan-Indian delights at Spice Palette, a bright and welcoming spot that popped up in a shopping strip on Mount Pleasant’s Ben Sawyer Boulevard last summer. Owner Sujith Varghese was inspired to open the place after visiting from New York, where he runs two other Indian restaurants. As word spread, locals have endured wait times of up to an hour for a taste of the kurkuri bhindi (a crispy fried okra chaat), fork-tender chicken tikka masala, flavorful tandoori lamb kabobs, and more. Banish any thoughts of dour lunch buffets, the vibe here is cheeky Bollywood, and service is on point. Go early for dinner and sip a Bombay Gin Gin—made with Bombay Sapphire, tonic, and house-made ginger-lime juice—and take time to peruse the menu, a tome of classics, specialty dishes such as the prawn moilee (a Kerala-style shrimp curry), and no less than a dozen naans. But no pressure, you’ll be back. spicepaletteindiancuisine.com
