Bhatti Indian Grill

Bhatti Indian Grill, Gaurav’s first restaurant, opened in bustling Murray Hill in July 2009 to rave reviews.

Diners who experienced Anand’s cooking got a taste of what was missing in the city’s culinary expanse – northern Indian food with a focus on the tandoor oven (Bhatti).  Kebabs soon became the specialty of the restaurant, as Anand explored the act of balancing flavors with meats and vegetables. Bhatti Indian Grill became a destination for anyone craving a taste of authentic north Indian cuisine, and earned a spot on the city’s culinary map.

Masala House

Masala House in New Delhi (and newly in Goa), India, brings authentic Indian tastes with a twist along with modern plating and flavors uniquely its own. In this venture, Gaurav partnered with his brother Saurabh Anand to showcase some of the signature dishes such as Mawey ki Seekh, Silbatta ki Shami and Nalli ka Rampuri Korma. One of the house favorites is the Beet tikkis with an audacious mixing of east and west ingredients (mayonaise and peanut butter). These kind of surprise mergers make eating at Masala House an adventure.

Moti Mahal Delux

Following the success of Bhatti Indian Grill, Anand was approached by one of the owners of Moti Mahal Delux, an acclaimed restaurant chain from India.  Anand, along with his brother, sought to bring the authentic taste of Mughlai cuisine to New York via the franchise and opened Moti Mahal Delux in the summer of 2012.  

In Anand’s hands, the signature dishes of Moti Mahal Delux came alive.  He and his skilled team received extensive training from master chefs from Moti Mahal Delux in New Delhi and New York.  In the course of their education, they learned the techniques that make this food so compelling: rich, tender, well balanced with nuanced spice and layered flavors. There were no short-cuts to the food – cans were banned from the kitchen, the purees made from fresh tomatoes, and whole spices ground to make powdered spice mixes.

The hard work didn’t go unnoticed - a few months after it opened, Moti Mahal Delux earned a prestigious 2 star review from The New York Times, one of only a handful of Indian restaurants to ever receive such a rating.  This review would change the course of the restaurant and Anand’s career forever.

Awadh

When Gaurav Anand first visited the city of Lucknow in the Awadh region, the historical legacy and the vibrancy of Awadhi cuisine changed the course of his life forever. He mastered “Dum Pukht,” the art of cooking over a slow fire, from the culinary masters of the region. The technique, some 200 years old, involves cooking in a sealed heavy bottomed pot or “handi” over a very low flame, which allows meats to cook in their own juices. Returning to New York, he found that no restaurant focused on traditional Awadhi cuisine.  Once again, he immersed himself in a cuisine, learning its techniques and working with a chef from the region to provide an authentic culinary experience.

With Awadh, Gaurav presents a culmination of culinary finesse of the finest food from India’s sacred and historic land, creating experiences and memories through flavors as you explore meats, vegetables, seafood, kebabs, curries and breads that will leave a lasting impression on your palate.

Awadh was fully revamped and rebranded to Baazi in January 2021.

Baazi

After 2 years of Covid shutdowns, and in a New York minute, Baazi, an eclectic concept made from passion and love was born. This refreshing menu challenged our team to think outside the box of how Indian food should be represented in today’s world. Modern flair paired with traditional spices paved the way for groundbreaking recipes that made us proud. We feel alive, reignited and ready to bring you a redesigned restaurant, filled with atmospheric tunes that will leave your hearts and bellies feeling mesmerized. 

New York is known for its richness in the variety of cultures. Our chefs and staff are comprised of many ethnicities ranging from the deserts of Morocco, to the seas of Goa, to the streets of Delhi and the hills of Tamilnadu. No matter the region, language or religion, we are a family and one thing is for sure; we will ALWAYS bet on each other time and time again. We don’t give up. 

The meaning of Baazi is to “bet”, and it gives us no greater joy to know that you’ve consistently done that for us. Thank you for standing with us, and more importantly betting on us.