Cumin, a Nepalese Indian Restaurant, Opens in Lakeview
A Labor of Love for Brothers and Co-Owners
Cumin, a Nepalese Indian restaurant and a Wicker Park staple for over a decade, has finally opened a two-story location in Lakeview, five years after its initial plans were delayed by the pandemic. The new restaurant has been a labor of love for brothers and co-owners Sanjeev and Rajesh Karmacharya, who began their journey to open a second location in 2019 when they took over the former Mi Tierra space at 1039 W. Belmont Ave.
Adapting to the Pandemic
Then the pandemic hit. Construction and material costs skyrocketed. The building needed a lot more work than initially anticipated, Sanjeev Karmacharya said. At the same time, Cumin’s Wicker Park location adapted quickly during the pandemic and relied heavily on online, delivery, and pickup orders. “The whole process has been a long one, but we had a plan and a vision, and we’re very excited with how it turned out,” Sanjeev Karmacharya said.
A New Location with New Possibilities
The Lakeview location is much larger than the Wicker Park spot, with twice as many seats. The ground-floor dining room includes a bar, a fireplace, a pick-up counter, and seating for more than 100. The second floor will be used for additional dining and, more importantly, private event space. “For the last 15 years, we’ve had people want to rent out space at our place on Milwaukee, but we never did it because we wanted to make sure our guests could come in when they wanted to,” Sanjeev Karmacharya said. “Now we’ll be able to be more flexible and host corporate events, birthday parties, pre-wedding parties, those kinds of things.”
New Opportunities and Expansion
The Lakeview location will also allow Cumin to deliver further north in the city and into the suburbs. The menu will feature all of the same food at the Wicker Park spot, including Nepalese dumplings, momos, and chicken tikka masala, to name a few. The Karmacharyas plan to add new menu items as well, thanks to the larger kitchen, Sanjeev Karmacharya said.
A Soft Opening and Grand Opening
The Lakeview location opened December 12, but is still in the soft-opening phase. An official grand opening date has not been set. Sanjeev Karmacharya said he is working with the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce to schedule a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and hopes it will be on the calendar within the next few weeks. Cumin’s new Lakeview location is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. More information is available on the Cumin website.
Conclusion
After years of planning and delays, Cumin’s new Lakeview location is finally open and ready to serve the community. With its new private event space and expanded kitchen, the restaurant is poised to become a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
FAQs
* When did Cumin’s new Lakeview location open?
+ December 12
* Is the restaurant in the soft-opening phase?
+ Yes, but an official grand opening date has not been set
* What is the restaurant’s current hours of operation?
+ 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays
* Will Cumin’s new location offer delivery and pickup orders?
+ Yes, with expanded delivery areas to include further north in the city and into the suburbs
