Unpacked by AFAR · Friday, July 24, 2026
Raj, the owner of Mehfil Indian restaurant, a vibrant lime-green establishment, transitioned from an IT career to the restaurant industry after a friend's departure. His goal is to showcase the diversity of Indian cuisine, featuring dishes from all 24 Indian states, not just the typical 20 found in America.
“You're having the lamb chops. That is one of the most popular dishes in in whole of North Carolina, I kid you not.”
“I was never a restaurant person before I decided to open a restaurant. You know, he's like, I'm an IT guy.”
“Because Raj's main goal is to highlight food from all 24 Indian states, taking diners far past the usual 20 dishes you'll see on an Indian food menu in America.”