"What’s this “SPICE AFFAIR” – Indian restaurant doing in the Aspinwall neighborhood of PITTSBURGH? An Indian restaurant is not a quintessential PITTSBURGH thing at least not at first glance. There are no pierogies, haluski, or stuffed cabbage rolls. There’s certainly no STEEL MILLS in Aspinwall. But the goings on at SPICE AFFAIR are every bit as HARD WORKING as the previous generations of steel and ironworkers that labored up and down the Pittsburgh riverbanks. It's refreshing to see MULTIPLE GENERATIONS at work in the halls of this eatery. A duo of brothers bring strong ownership and energy to the establishment along with the immense experience of their father, a grandfather, who no doubt has passed along a thing or two. With a foundation of old world recipes, carefully perfected and passed along for generations, as well as many newer unique dishes that are harder to find, it is quite clear that the food here is as much a business as a PASSION for these owner operators. If you find yourself fortunate enough to walk through the doors of this intriguing establishment, you’ll immediately notice an appealing atmosphere with an abundance of seating options: indoor table or booth seats, tasteful bar style seating usually airing the latest sporting events or music videos, or an airy and open outdoor space with a kingly view of the bustling Brilliant Ave. Greeted by a friendly and professional staff, in recent years that’s usually in the form of a highly esteemed gentleman by the name of Sandeep, you and your party will be in very good hands indeed. A plethora of options: Lunch, Dinner and Takeout are all offered Tuesday through Sunday. The LUNCH BUFFET is difficult to turn down. Served DAILY, six days a week, between 11:30AM 2:30PM, this modestly priced lunch buffet offers the immense convenience of being able to walk in and dig in, so not a moment is wasted on a precious LUNCH HOUR. Limited word count does not do their meat, veg, and rice dishes any justice. An array of flavor enhancements like spicy onion, pickled peppers, and even yogurts are all readily available for you to add finishing touches to your plate. NAAN – the bread is a standout – especially when it is topped with garlic or onion. PAKORA’s and SAMOSA’s – fried offerings, many filled with peas and potatoes will satisfy even the most staunchly starved bellies. COLD DRINK – a cold beverage is always available and refreshing, usually a creative brew of homemade concoctions like a spicy jalapeno mango juice or a cold rose tea adds a new dimension to the flavor experience. After you’ve tasted and fueled up on the many heartier offerings of the lunch buffet, it’s advisable to try a sweeter option for DESSERT. Rice pudding and other delectable dishes pair nicely with their HOT CHAI TEA which is offered daily. HERBAL and DELICIOUS, this from scratch CHAI TEA would put any rival coffee shop out of business. Interestingly enough, the best part of the SPICE AFFAIR experience might not be the food, or the good conversation that you have within the walls of this restaurant but WHAT COMES NEXT… It is recommended that you finalize your experience with a spoonful of MUKHWAS as you walk towards the door. These colorful, candy like snacks function as both a digestive aid as well as a breath freshener. As you chew on the MUKHWAS, you’ll notice the best part of the experience...the interesting dichotomy of being both quite FULL from your lunch or dinner, yet also ENERGIZED. Not weighed down with empty calories of bloat. Instead, you’ll likely feel UPLIFTED, as it becomes apparent that you’ve just enjoyed an array of functional options that have refreshed and recharged your mind and body, perhaps even your SPIRIT, calories already hard at work fueling you for the rest of the afternoon or evening. Most of the STEEL MILLS have long since left Pittsburgh behind, BUT, if you know where to find it, you can still find"
