35 Years of Flavor, Family and Warm Welcomes at Taste of India
For 35 years, Taste of India has been serving Dover much more than curries, naan and sizzling plates of flavorful food. The Singh family has also created the kind of restaurant where customers are greeted like friends and often become part of the family.
Founded by Jarnail Singh in 1991, Taste of India introduced generations of Dover diners to Indian cuisine. Jarnail originally developed the recipes and spent years behind the stove before officially retiring. Although “retired” might be a loose term, for he still stops in regularly to visit, check on the restaurant and help wherever he is needed.
That all-hands-on-deck spirit runs through the entire Singh family.
For 35 years, the Singh family has brought the community together while serving delicious foods.
Owner Joga Singh explains that when the restaurant gets busy, everyone steps up. Brothers, sisters, spouses, children, nieces and nephews have all played a role over the years. Whether that means working in the kitchen, greeting guests or washing dishes, no job is outside the family job description.
The restaurant’s connection to Dover reaches well beyond its dining room. Taste of India has sponsored local sports teams, supported community organizations and watched generations of customers grow up. Some guests who once arrived carrying babies now return with grandchildren.
Walk into Taste of India in downtown Dover and you'll find pictures on the walls of teams the family has sponsored over the years.
Photos displayed inside the restaurant tell part of that story, including pictures of family members playing on Dover sports teams decades ago. Today, younger generations stand beneath those same photographs, a fitting snapshot of how closely the Singh family’s story has become connected with Dover’s own.
Joga credits the restaurant’s longevity to hard work, strong family support, paying the bills on time and staying positive, even during difficult years. That optimism helped Taste of India navigate the pandemic by quickly shifting its focus to takeout while continuing to serve the customers who had supported the restaurant for decades.
But the secret to 35 years may be even simpler: people return because they feel welcome.
