Desi Tadka reopens under new ownership with fresh renovations

DELAWARE — Desi Tadka 2.0 is here to fill your Indian food cravings once again.

The restaurant, located at 44 S Sandusky St., officially reopened on June 6 after the Delaware Public Health District found it passed its pre-licensing inspection on June 4.

The health department previously ordered the restaurant to close on April 28 after finding multiple critical violations during several inspections, including a heavy cockroach presence.

Now, after over a month of work to remediate the issues, renovate the restaurant and deploy a few rounds of pest management, Desi Tadka passed the June 4 inspection with flying colors: zero critical and non-critical violations.

Desi Tadka also has new owners, wife and husband duo Preet and Jass Chahal, who took over ownership from Jass’s brother-in-law, Kamal Sandhar.

“I started this place. I was the first owner and I ran this place for nine or 10 months,” Jass Chahal said.

Now as co-owner with his wife, Chahal installed new hardwood floors, repainted and cleaned the restaurant from floor to ceiling.

He said he’s already had several loyal customers happily return to dine at the restaurant, or pick up carryout.

The restaurant also has some new menu items to try, including lunch box combos and wraps — but of course, familiar favorites are still available.

Owner says upstairs apartment tenant caused roach problems

Chahal said the cockroach issue stemmed from the apartment renter above the restaurant, who will be leaving the unit at the end of the month.

He said during the pest treatment, EcoShield Pest Solutions also treated the apartment to help with the issue.

“I treated the apartment too because it was very bad, very messy,” he said.

Chahal will take over the unit, further deep clean it, and eventually put it up for rent, but did not have a specific date yet.

He also said he let go several staff members who were not performing cleaning duties adequately, and hired new staff members.

His words to anyone still wary about coming back or trying Desi Tadka for the first time?

“Everything is new, I try my best to provide the best service, I cleaned everything in the kitchen and dining area. And I treated this place for roaches three or four times in that month,” Chahal said.

He also plans to do another treatment round after the upstairs tenant leaves in addition to the monthly treatments already in place.

“Just trust us one more time because everything is clean and my staff has changed,” he said.