Popular Indian Restaurant Neehee's Reopens in Canton

reopened for business Aug. 18 after being closed since June when a vehicle went through the front of the building.

"We were going through withdrawals when it was closed," said Erin Anderson, who lives near Canton.

She and her mother, Donna Anderson, were regulars at the restaurant before it closed. The mother-daughter duo had tried Indian food before but never Indian street food, which is more snack-like. "The freshness of it," she said. "My mom and I, we're addicted to it."

On June 21, a woman backed out of a parking space, sped backwards into a half-circle and accidentally drove through the front of the building, which surveillance cameras captured on video. No one was injured in the accident, but the restaurant sustained heavy damage.

"A lot of people were waiting for it to reopen," said Rikesh Patel, co-owner of Neehee's. "The crowd starting flowing in."

He said they didn't redesign during the construction because the main goal was to get it open.

Anderson said the variety of food is wonderful and she was having dreams about it.

"We did try other restaurants," said Donna Anderson. "But this place blows them away."

Neehee's offers cuisine from many regions of India. 

"We have dosas from the southern part of India," Patel said. "We have chaats from the northern part of India."

Dosas are like pancakes that are crispy on the outside and spongy on the inside. They are often filled or used to dip or scoop with other food. Chaats (pronounced chahhts) vary as sweet or savory snacks often accompanied with chutneys, or dipping sauces. Patel said chaat literally means "mouth-licking."

Other popular items on their menu, Patel said, are their 18 homemade ice cream flavors. 

"There are not that many restaurants like this," said Harpal Kaur, of Wayne, who ordered one of the Indian-Chinese fusion items.

Jagjit Singh, also of Wayne, said he often orders the dosa. "We come here whenever we get the chance," he said.

Patel said they are happy to be open and are already back to their busy lunch and dinner schedule at Neehee's at 45656 Ford Road.