Today we’d like to introduce you to Manali Shah
Hi Manali, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In August 2023, while relaxing and watching a Netflix show one evening, my chef husband, Ashish Suji, suddenly said, “I want Orlando to experience my authentic Indian food.” That simple statement sparked a deep conversation about how exciting it would be to make that dream a reality. With over 12 years of culinary experience, despite working in IT at the time, Ashish’s passion for cooking was undeniable. Inspired by his dedication, I didn’t want this to remain just talk, so the very next day, I began searching for potential spaces. After a couple of days, we found a kitchen space perfect for takeout and delivery. Although we had to adapt to the idea of putting our food in containers, it felt like the right place to start.
As first-time business owners, the learning curve was steep, but we were committed. In the early months, it was just the two of us running the kitchen—Ashish as the head chef, and me as his dedicated helper. As our business grew and sales increased, we were able to expand our team, and today we are a team of four. It hasn’t been easy. Without a dine-in space, we faced the challenge of getting Orlando, a city already full of established eateries, to try our food. We always knew the quality of our dishes was exceptional, but the true test came when our customers started to speak for us.
At Prem Indian Cuisine, everything we make is crafted with love and passion. Our early reviews praised the freshness and quality of our food, and soon we had loyal customers—tourists, returning locals, and even people commuting from other cities like Tampa and Jacksonville. Some even asked us to open a location in their areas! We’ve had wedding inquiries, and earlier this year, we catered our first wedding. To our delight, we were nominated for the “Best Wedding at the Waterfront” category and became finalists for the Mappy Awards 2024. Influencer Daily also featured us in an article, highlighting the quality of our food and even noting how Bollywood celebrities have praised Ashish’s cooking in the past.
We’ve come a long way, but we know there’s much more to achieve. We’re excited to announce plans to open our first dine-in space in Orlando soon, and we remain dedicated to serving the freshest, most authentic Indian cuisine in the city.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were certainly obstacles along the way. One of the biggest challenges was starting small and finding a kitchen space that suited our needs. Once we secured one, it took time to establish ourselves in the competitive world of indian restaurants and other kitchens just doing takeout & delivery. It was about 2-3 months before we really saw a turnaround and started getting Orlando to try our food. As newcomers to the business, we had a lot to learn about how a virtual brand operates, including the importance of marketing and promotion. It took time to understand the rhythms of the business—slower days and seasons versus busier, high-demand times. We also faced operational setbacks, like inconsistencies with the point-of-sale systems at our facility, which added to the challenges.
Setting up our brand on UberEats took an additional 2-3 weeks after we opened, so in the beginning, we had very little to work with. It was just my husband and I handling everything, from dishwashing to cooking. I remember sitting in the kitchen for hours, waiting for orders to come in, with nothing happening. But slowly, things began to pick up. We were able to create jobs, and now we have an incredible team of four. Knock on wood, but one thing we’ve never compromised on, no matter what was happening behind the scenes, is the quality of our food. Some people at the facility even call us “Prem-ium” because of the standard we maintain. As they say, strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Prem Indian Cuisine?
Prem Indian Cuisine is a cloud-based restaurant that specializes in bringing the rich, authentic flavors of Indian food right to your home. We take pride in offering a carefully curated menu that reflects the diversity and depth of Indian cuisine, using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. Our dedication to food quality and consistency ensures that every dish, from our fragrant biryanis to our savory curries, delivers a truly authentic experience. For us, Indian food is more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of culture and tradition, and we aim to share that with every order we prepare.
In addition to our everyday offerings, we also specialize in catering for weddings and special events, adding a touch of Indian tradition to your big day. What sets us apart is our focus on quality and authenticity, combined with the convenience of cloud dining. You can easily order from our website or download our app, available on the Play Store, to experience our premium service at your convenience. Whether it’s a casual dinner at home or a lavish wedding celebration, Prem Indian Cuisine ensures that every meal transports you to the heart of India. We have come far in terms of just starting up with our brand just on third party platforms to having our own website and our app to cater conveniently to everyone
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Customers can engage with us in various ways through our website and app- Yes we have our own app, Where we encourage placing orders directly. We also value the power of sharing, whether it’s through personal experiences or on social media. Reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations play a crucial role in spreading the word about our food and are greatly appreciated.
Pricing:
- Doing a special currently for $14.99 on our website and app on all our country bone in chicken entrees
- Doing a BOGO menu for Meat, vegetarian & vegan entrees well under $20.99
- Our MOMO both Paneer & Chicken are also on the BOGO menu under $15.00
- Indo- chinese delicacies under $15.00
- We will also be doing a complimentary desert for all orders for celebrating one year of Prem Indian Cuisine along with many promotional offers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://premindiancuisine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premindiancuisine/profilecard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/yZD6EFFKSnGcqNxX/
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/wY32pqMK8rVkiwR18
Image Credits
Jon & Brendan from Bungalower
