Bringing focus back to Bentonville, a small town in believe it or not a DRY Benton county. So if you want to get tipsy, you have to drive 10 miles atleast. I guess because of this very reason or may be because of my habit of flocking to New York and New Haven frequently, I along with my new friend started going out every weekend. First two weekends were Fayetteville, the nearest big town, in search of good pubs and bars. Well I have been a New Yorker, so can't help it and highly respect the relationship of a Pub and Friday evening.
This weekend when I woke up at my saturday timings of 1 PM, I wanted to go out. Out means real out and not inside any Pub or bar or movie theater. So I decided to take the Route 12 E which is supposed to be scenic highway once you cross Rogers city limits. We decided to go to Eureka Springs via 12 E. The town of Eureka Spring is famous for being Art district of northwest Arkansas. So we started at around 4 PM on Route 12 E with moderate expectation from the route and the town, well and the route indeed changed rapidly into scenic highway as soon as we travelled few meters out of the city. And the next were the crooked miles along the Beaver lake which looks like multi tail - multi headed dragon if you view in google maps or from your plane flying high. We crossed Hobbs State Forest conservation park and merged to State Route 62 E to reach Eureka Springs well before day lights fades away. Till that time we were quite satisfied with our scenic journey. Had the spring on full bloom, we would not have cared to go into Eureka Springs. But still our expectation were not much and we didnt expected much from the city apart from few art galleries. But as soon as we entered into the historic downtown of Eureka Springs, the tranquility level in my bloods rose to new highs. The town has total poplation of not more than 2500 and the downtown was a small, cute hilly area like a typical hills station in India. It was certainly like a mix of Shimla, Mussourie and Darjeeling. One road going up and one road going down with small beautifull shops on the sides. Shops full of atistic souvenirs and gift items, Coffee shops, Restaurants with live bands. The town was celebrating Jazz festival that weekend and that was certainly in the air. Horse chariots moving on the roads with a beautiful couple sitting cherishing their lovely moments with glasses of white wine. Happy people smilling and laughing, displaying the happiness and life of their small world.
I was just loving the small town I was walking in, then suddenly my eyes got stuck at the board outside a restaurant. The board was hanging high above the front door with Taj Mahal painted in one color. Some local artist must had drawn that for the owner. And beside Taj Mahal was the name of the restaurant written proudly as New Delhi on the Deck. I was quite delighted to see that because that was the first Indian restaurant I saw or heard about in Arkansas. I wont say the restarant was a hardcore Indian restaurant of the types we have in New Jersey or on Lex Avenue. This one was a normal cafe in a beautiful model downtown which reminds you of old victorian era. But this restaurant clearly seems like being owned and run by some one who is highly inspired by the country India. We decided to step in for some food and with a sense of curiosity. With one step inside nothing seemed india, nor the ambience nor the people. The first thing which looked Indian was a bronze statue of a lady sitting with hands joined welcoming everyone who walks in to those doors. We decided to sit outside, a nice band of three beautiful local girls was performing and the ambience was soothing and electrifying at the same time. Not many people, but it looked like a happy family. I guessed everybody knew everybody or they were just very friendly. The arrived the menu card which looked quite familiar with items like Samosa, chai and Indian Buffet. The best part of the menu card was the sandwich section with sandwiches like Bombay Sandwich, Dil Ruba, Goa Sandwich, New Delhi Sandwich etc. But we settled on Samosa, which were very brilliantly explained alongside on the menu card as veg tea time snack from India.
The Samosas did took time to arrive but they were real 3x3 inches and good with green north indian chutney as mentioned in the menu card. The time went by, real good listening to beautiful songs written and sung by Maia Archot. She play and sing amazing and was very briliantly supported by her partner Danielle on violon. In the meantime we started for Indian Buffet which was equally good being tasty and no spicy.
The night was falling and it was 9, time for the restaurant to close. We decided to move and when I asked for the bill the attending lady us just refused to add Samosas on the check. She said huh! They are on the house for you. I just smiled and said thanks and wished her a great night. We started our walk towards parking lot and headed back to Bentonville. A nice day, a nice evening with bunch of nice people around laughing, smilling, dancing and LIVING.
