What’s the Deal with This Empty Yakima Restaurant on N 1st St?
Many people are wondering what's the deal with the empty yellow restaurant on N 1st St in Yakima? It has a sign that says, "Geet Indian Cuisine Coming Soon." We want to know how soon is soon, who owns this restaurant, and when can we expect Geet Indian Cuisine to open. We are very hungry and excited to eat there.
HOW MANY INDIAN FOOD RESTAURANTS ARE THERE CURRENTLY IN YAKIMA?
Currently, there are only two (2) existing Indian cuisine restaurants in Yakima, namely, Taj Palace (2710 W Nob Hill Blvd) and Rocky Mart (1003 W Nob Hill Boulevard). They both have tasty menu items and one even has a popular buffet. The moment Geet restaurant opens its doors, there will likely be a lot of foot traffic from hungry and excited foodies from Yakima and surrounding areas in the Valley.
WHO OWNS GEET INDIAN CUISINE RESTAURANT IN YAKIMA?
Geet Indian Cuisine is owned by the Baaz Corporation which includes owners Varinder Kaut and Rajiv Sauson, according to the WA State Dept. of Revenue. Kaut and Sauson both moved to the Yakima area from Seattle. I spoke with Varinder and she is so sweet! She says they have found a very welcoming and friendly town in Yakima and saw an excellent opportunity to provide our community with delicious, authentic Indian food.
WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND THE RESTAUNT NAME 'GEET'?
Geet is a Punjabi word for "folk song". Varinder says that her inspiration for naming the restaurant Geet is the memories of growing up listening to her grandmother sing beautiful traditional folk songs as she did chores around the house. Varinder says her mother-in-law would also sing beautiful Punjabi melodies. These two women were a loving and inspirational influence on Varinder and she chose the name Geet to honor their memories with love. (BRB, that is so sweet, I am going to cry!)
FUN FACT: Did you know that Punjabi is the 9th most spoken language on the planet?
WHEN IS GEET INDIAN CUISINE RESTAURANT EXPECTED TO OPEN IN YAKIMA?
When a restaurant opens in Yakima and the owner(s) want to serve alcohol (spirits, beer, wine, and other liquor), they must first register with the Washington State Department of Revenue and apply for a restaurant and liquor license. Geet Restaurant has been registered with the Dept. of Revenue since April 2022. Owner, Varinder says that Geet Indian Cuisine plans to open in Yakima as a sit-down, take out, and delivery restaurant pending approval of all required business licenses.
WILL GEET BE AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY?
Varinder says that once her restaurant opens it will be registered to offer delivery service to Yakima via UberEats and DoorDash.
WHAT KINDS OF DELICIOUS FOOD DO WE EXPECT GEET INDIAN CUISINE TO OFFER?
We expect a lot of tasty vegetarian Indian food options like Aloo Gobi (one of my faves), as well as curries, lentils, and appetizers. Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala, and Samosas are other popular Indian food dishes loved by folks living here in the Yakima Valley.
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