Spice Trade
Your New Downtown Den of Bollywood

The wine. The intimate nooks. The curry.

Yes, it’s time to talk about your next date...

Specifically, it’s time to talk about Mint Leaf Brickell, which is finally—finally—slated to open this Monday, adding some much-needed chana masala, Indian beer and Bollywood soundtracks to downtown.

Imagine the Gables location. And now imagine... actually, keep imagining it—they’re pretty similar. There’s an oversized-yet-classy Ganesh statue at the door, a sleek bar flanked by a wine tower and a soothing waterfall wall—all a fitting backdrop to some top-notch North Indian food. Only now you won’t have to venture too far from the office to hold a mid-day meeting over a Prawn Lunch Thali—a heaping platter of rice, chutneys, lentil stew, flatbreads and sides.

At night you’ll bring a naan-loving date here and settle into one of the black leather booths in the front. Order a crisp white from the glass-enclosed wine tower (gewürztraminers and rieslings work best here). Then lose yourself in a parade of Punjabi favorites—Murg Makahani (butter chicken) and Tandoori Lamb Chops before embarking on a freewheeling evening of masala, dosa and fiery vindaloo.

It’s the only respectable kind of vindaloo.