My love for Rekha’s Indian Kitchen in Whitby started roughly six months back.
I work at the Dollar Tree next to it. One day, I casually decided to pop in and have a bite during my lunch break. It was a wise decision.
I’ve returned so many times that the owner, Rekha Umesh, now knows my standard order, the “light lunch” special.
On a recent visit, the smell of fresh samosas wafted in the air as I opened the door to see Umesh’s ever-present smile. My order was already ready and she handed me the lunch special.
It consists of two portions of cooked cottage cheese with bell peppers, some rice, a naan (thick Indian bread) and samosa (fried savoury pastry with filling). Every time I gorge on it, it’s as good as the first time.
The crispiness of the samosas, the thickness of the naan, the spicy flavour of the soft cottage cheese cooked in rich tomato gravy all add to an unparalleled experience.
Located at 1800 Dundas St. E., the restaurant is owned by Rekha Umesh and her husband, Umesh Kumar Shivanas. The menu includes dosas (a thin crispy crepe, originally from south India, usually made from fermented batter of rice and Vigna mungo, also known as black gram), a variety of lentils, curries and much more.
Given my budget and insatiable appetite, the light lunch, priced at $9.99, has been a welcomed discovery. Despite the name, the quantity is more than enough. I’m always full after finishing it.
Umesh started the business on Facebook in 2014, when she would sell samosas and other takeaways from her home.
“Samosas, butter chicken, naan and rice. I would teach during the week and cook on the weekends. Sometimes we’d go through 2,000 samosas,” she told CBC in 2019.
The response they received was overwhelming and led to the opening of their takeaway place.
In addition to the great food, the prices are more than fair. The vegetable samosas are 70 cents a piece, and beef and chicken are $1.50. I have been to enough Indian restaurants to know this is reasonable pricing.
There’s no shortage of restaurants near my work, including Tim Hortons, Subway and BarBurrito, but my muscle memory always takes me to Rekha’s. I know I won’t get that quantity for that price anywhere else.