Green Leaf closes on University Drive?

It's hard being a fan of Indian cuisine in the Bull City sometimes -- at least north of the I-40 line -- as it seems like the fates are just not with you if you're looking to open such an establishment.

The popular Sitar India Palace saw its Regency Plaza home suffer with the closing of neighboring businesses, and finally became the last operator in a waiting-to-be-rehabbed shopping center, an eerie outpost amidst "coming soon" signs and banners, before it bolted to an old steakhouse it rehabbed across 15-501.

Kabab & Curry just south of the corner of Broad and Guess near Northgate Mall has gotten some favorable reviews -- as well as attention of the, er, parking challenges on the site, since its parking is shared with other tenants including a (we are not making this up) motor scooter and gun shop, and somebody in the strip center seemed to be enforcing its parking requirements quite strictly if you parked in the wrong spaces.

And Dale's Indian Cuisine on Ninth Street -- remains open, and is unmatched in the region for a musical concoction that is sitar-themed Top 40 pops and greatest hits, a combination that we're fairly sure had to be specially-approved by Dick Cheney and John Yoo in their post-9/11 efforts to redefine exactly what counts as "torture" under American interrogation rules.

(Perhaps it's some curse that pertains to the north side of the I-40 line, since Tandoor, Spice & Curry, Bombay Grille, and The Clay Pit all exist successfully south of it, as does Morrisville's terrific Saffron.)

Amidst the chaos, Green Leaf sought to establish a foothold for Indian food in the Bull City, in a space where others have failed. But reports to BCR and on local web sites suggest the end has arrived for the latest such venture in a space that's cycled between restaurants too often.

Even the recent history of the University Drive site that's housed Green Leaf is dizzying.

The retail site had been an El Rodeo in the AutoZone and Kmart-anchored plaza across from the old South Square.

When El Rodeo moved out, Taste of India moved in and briefly became a popular spot for curry in a hurry (or sit-down). It died an untimely death after a short life, to be replaced with an even-shorter-lived and similarly-concepted Madras.

It then became Green Leaf -- which, like its predecessors, apparently couldn't survive.

Despite early positive reviews on social food sites like Carpe Durham, reports on Chow and elsewhere suggest that it, too, has shuttered its doors, marking the, what, third such failure in a year or so?

Recent arrivals to the restaurant have found its doors shuttered and its phone number disconnected.

No word yet on what if anything will replace the restaurant. We might suggest a seance to help get the spirits of restaurants past and passed away all happy-like before trying to reopen, though.

Comments

[NOK]

That's a bummer. Green Leaf was really good and offered a bunch of stuff not otherwise found in Durham. Maybe the owners will give it a shot somewhere else?

[Sean Haugh]

That Indian location had serial ownership, which explains the variations in quality. Greenleaf was the most amazing restaurant when Anand was the owner and on site. He went to India in August to get married, was supposed to come back in January but apparently sold it instead. It was never the same after he left.

[Jennifer S.]

We were really sad to find out they had closed up. Our most recent visit there (earlier in January) had the food nicely back up to the quality it had been in the fall. We went ahead and tried Sitar across the highway on a friends recommendation, but the buffet wasn't open, and the food we ordered as medium spicy was far more than what we expect from medium.

I would love to know any more about what has happened with Green Leaf, or at least the cooks!

[Peter]

My wife said she saw some of the people from Green Leaf working at the Indian restaurant behind the gas station on Airport Boulevard (962 Airport Boulevard "B") in Morrsiville.

It used to be India Palace II but the name has changed.

[Jeremy T]

It was good, but never seemed to have enough of a crowd. It's got to be tough to stand out in an old strip mall.

As a side note, Kabab & Curry seems to no longer deliver, which is a real shame since it was a real step up from our "greasy Chinese" delivery standby. I hope it's not a sign that they're doing poorly.

[Jacqueline W]

Supposedly Kabab & Curry is not delivering because their delivery person is out of the country for awhile. You'd think that would encourage the owner to hire a new person, but evidently that hasn't been the case.

[Sant]

Peter, could you ask your wife to find out if Stalin is working at this new location? I know Anand went back to India but I beleive Stalin is still in the area as he is trying to breing his wife into the US.

[TSQ75]

Sant,
I believe my husband mentioned Speaking to someone working at Kebab & Curry named Stalin...i guess it could be someone else, but...

[PT]

A coffee/tea shop with free-wifi would work wonders in that spot.

[Steve Graff]

It seems to me that an Indian restaurant would do well in downtown as that is currently one of the un-represented cuisines. Thai as well.

[barry]

There's a lot of un- and under-represented cuisines downtown. The most common, i think, is affordable.

[Sant]

Barry, what price point are you looking at because other than Revolution I'd say every other establishment is quite reasonable for the quality of food they offer.

Steve, I am so with you on having an Indian place downtown. Being an Indian and working downtown I would love it. I will point out that Mt. Fuji in Brightleaf offers Thai dishes. Not as good as Thai Cafe or Twisted Noodle but satisfies a Thai hankering.

TSQ75, I called K&C and asked if a Stalin worked there and they said no.