The break-in at Khiladi on Avenue B

Khiladi, which serves South Indian cuisine on Avenue B at 11th Street, was another victim of the late-night break-ins throughout the neighborhood along with C&B Cafe and Alphabet City Beer Co., among many others.

Owner Sruthi Chowdary, who has been helping feed area families as part of the Neighborhood Food Swap during the COVID-19 crisis, said that she cried this morning as she surveyed the damage to her restaurant. The thieves made off an undisclosed amount of cash.



As she wrote in an Instagram post:

"Tears rolled down my eyes thinking how much more should I endure. The harder part for me was I didn’t know how to feel. I definitely wasn’t angry — I still feel there is justice to be served ... This happened to so many businesses in the neighborhood and we all don’t know how to feel about it. I'm scared and uncertain like many but I will not lose hope!"

She showed EVG contributor Stacie Joy, who took the photos for this post, the security footage from the break-in...





... those involved are the same as the seven-person team who broke into Alphabet City Beer Co. and many of the other neighborhood businesses, per security footage that Stacie has seen.

Khiladi debuts on Avenue B

Khiladi opened last night at 175 Avenue B and 11th Street.

The Times had a mini preview in Off the Menu:

Southern Indian fare like idli lentil nuggets, fried kingfish, chickpea puffs, and dosas with various fillings share the menu in this 60-seat spot with a few cross-cultural creations like an Indian chile dog and idli poutine. The chef and an owner, Sruthi Chowdary, has entered into a partnership with Godavari, a national chain of more than two dozen Southern Indian restaurants.

Eater noted that "the menu is inspired by Chowdary’s childhood meals as well as the street markets of Andhra Pradesh on India’s southeastern coast."


[Image via Instagram]

The space was previously home to Old Monk, which closed here at the beginning of the year after 18 months in service.

A new Indian restaurant for 11th and B

[Photo from Friday]

A new Indian restaurant is prepping to open on the northeast corner of Avenue B and 11th Street.

Khiladi will serve "South Indian tapas," according to their application on the CB3 website. (CB3 recently OK'd a beer-wine license for Khiladi.) Their hours of operation are listed as 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

Meanwhile, work continues inside and outside the space (175 Avenue B). Over the weekend, workers painted a red strip around the restaurant ...



... and EVG regular Gojira shared this photo of the in-progress mural inside the dining room...



Old Monk, from prolific restaurateur Sushil Malhotra, closed here at the beginning of the year after 18 months in service. Previous restaurants at this address have included Babu Ji, Spina, Uovo and Panificio.