The look: An open kitchen and counter dominates this small, sunny, brightly colored room, where posters of Bollywood stars share wall space with flat-screens showing videos from Bollywood films. Indian pop music filters through the air, bouncing off aromas of meat, naan, spice and fruit.
On the menu: Inspired by the rich array of street food in India, Mirch’s menu reads like a travelogue, with a small anecdote introducing each item: “Bhel Puri, $5.50: At 3 p.m. sharp the Bhel Puri Wala would pass our neighborhood ringing the bell on his pushcart. He would serve this zesty mixture of rice puffs, potatoes, onions and chutneys covered with sev (crispy noodles) in a recycled newspaper.” Similar stories accompany lunchtime favorites like Frankies (roti bread wrapped around veggies, lamb, or chicken), Aloo Tikki (crispy potato patties), wings and more. Zero in on the “Mom’s Kitchen” section of the menu for the best deals: Two entrees (these vary daily but include curries, masalas and more) with basmati rice and naan. Bonus: fresh lime soda and mango ice-cream sandwiches.
The vibe: Only open a few short weeks, Mirch is already enjoying buzz among local office workers; the place has several lunchtime rushes — the first one kicks in about 11:30 a.m.
The service: Fast, friendly, and if it’s not the speediest lunch in the Tech Center area, that’s because this stuff is beautifully prepared and fresh, and that takes a minute or two. No shortage of smiles.
When to visit: At lunch, when you just can’t face another submarine sandwich, or on the way home from work, when you can load up on munchies for the car and fresh naan for supper. 8000 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village; 303-221-1123; . Tucker Shaw
