Gaurang Bhavsar's Food Trailer Offers a Taste of India

Vanessa Cooper couldn’t believe it when she saw the sign while driving along West Clay Street toward Fifth Street. 

“Indian food!” Cooper said. “I love Indian food.”

She promptly made a left turn into a nearby Lindenwood University parking lot, turned around, and headed for the West Clay Liquor store parking lot and parked next to “Shanta & Baba’s Home Kitchen.”

The kitchen is actually Gaurang Bhavsar’s newest venture – a food trailer featuring Indian food.

“I was looking for something for lunch, and I couldn’t think of anything,” said Cooper, who is from Georgia in town visiting grandchildren.

Bhavsar is hoping more people like Cooper stop and sample food that may not be all that common in the St. Charles area.

His food trailer, parked next to the liquor store at 2319 West Clay St., has been operating for about 20 days, he said on Wednesday.

Business is picking up, particularly for people stopping to pick up something for dinner.  Students from nearby Lindenwood are also starting to become customers.

His hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  His hours on Sunday are noon to 6 p.m.

“Some of the people know about Indian food and have gotten some somewhere else,” he said.  “And they are happy to have it here.”

Other customers are curious and Bhavsar says he’s there to guide them.  Much of his menu is food he commonly cooks at home.  “It’s fast food with a little spice,” he said. “And probably better for you.”

The menu is small and heavily weighted toward vegetable dishes, although there are three chicken dishes.  Bhavsar dishes do not use meat other than chicken.

The dishes range from $5.99 up to $7.99, with small side dishes also available.  His beverages are limited to Indian-style tea and a yogurt drink.

Bhavsar said he can also custom cook recipes and items that are off the basic menu.

But the menu remains fairly simple to coincide the idea behind the food trailer—simple, inexpensive food that can be prepared quickly.

Bhavsar said a trailer is less costly than opening a restaurant with all of its maintenance and overhead costs.  His kitchen is a simple arrangement with a few hot plates, a small deep fryer and refrigerator.

His staff now is largely relatives and one employee besides himself.  He said he can break even if he does $300 a day in business.

He said he has experience here and in Chicago and here running an Indian restaurant, a pizza parlor, and a Blimpie sandwich restaurant in a Walmart store.

Food trailers are a concept that’s relatively new to this area and have been a bit of a source of controversy. His initial request for a permit was turned down in June 2011 before finally being approved by the .

Other area municipalities such as St. Peters and O’Fallon have not issued permits for food vendors.  And some St. Charles council members have questioned if the city has proper standards to regulate them.

But Bhavsar said there is a desire for interest in the unique, often cheap, and good quality cuisine that food trailers are offering is growing.  He said he’s seeking to locate another trailer in downtown St. Louis.

Cooper seconded that comment.  Food carts are common in Atlanta, said Cooper as she waited at the small customer window for an order of Vegetable Biryani – rice with a mix of spicy vegetables.  “I love curry,” she said.