thrillist

India's given us many new avenues to health, from yoga, to the exquisitely choreographed dancing in their cinematic dramas, as laughter really is the best medicine. Now, their food's apparently healthy too, with Merzi.

Translated as "choice", Merzi's a counter-ordering, 49-seater (rocking walls with checker-boarded LED light boxes made to look like fire) on a mission to bring healthy Indian grub (nothing over-processed, all natural ingredients) to the American masses -- the dream of a former optical network techie, who at the very least knows the importance of adequate fiber. The flavor fest comes via made-to-order munchies, with your choice of:

* Bases - Start with fluffy oven-baked naan, a rice bowl with fragrant basmati, romaine/veggie salad, or chaat: a blend of sweet onions/ peppers/ cucumbers/ garbanzo beans topped with probiotic yogurt...which sounds like it's been sent from the future...to be delicious!

* Proteins - Cop veggies, spiced beef, lamb marinated overnight, shrimp, or rotisserie-cooked/tandoori-seasoned chicken called "Tandisserie", a name they've trademarked, totally screwing things up for soon-to-open Kashmir-y Fried Chicken.

* Chutneys & Sauces - Top things off with chutneys (from the pulped tamarind/dates Mild to the red chili'd Hot), and/or sauciness from a smooth buttery Makani, to a fiery Onion Tomato Masala which promises a "volcanic experience", something you might Pom-pay for later.

For healthy topping-off, they're also slinging a smoothie dubbed the "Mango-fantango", with fresh fruit and low-fat milk that's devoid of hormones, something that apparently works differently in India -- have you seen the way those dudes sashay!?

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Check out all the freshness and start getting Indian in you quick-like, at Merzi.com