BROCKPORT, N.Y. — For years, Village of Brockport residents have been looking for a unique restaurant that offers more than burgers, wings and pizza. They have it in the new Spicy Trails restaurant which opened in late October on 53 Main Street.
Owned and operated by a Nepal native, Spicy Trails serves a mix of Indian and Nepali cuisine. Before Spicy Trails opened, the closest place to get Indian food was more than 15 miles away.
SUNY Brockport student and Nepal native Sharvani Regmi has been unable to return to Nepal for over two years. In Spicy Trails, she’s given a small taste of home.
“I was so happy [when I found out it was opening], but I was also mad because I’m a senior and I went all these years having to make Nepali food myself because there was no Nepali or Indian food available in the village,” Regmi said. “It was very hard to get access to Nepali food. But now I live a block away from Main Street so it’s right at my doorstep.”
Spicy Trails co-owner Sangeeta Gawhale saw Brockport as a clear-cut place for a cuisine change.
“We chose Brockport because we saw both a need and an opportunity,” Gawhale said. “There wasn’t an Indian or Nepalese restaurant here before, and we felt the community was ready for something new and exciting. The people in this city truly appreciate good food and varied experiences, so we wanted to bring something authentic and flavorful that wasn’t available locally.”
Spicy Trails moved into the former Jimmy Z’s Plates & Shakes.
“We feel overwhelmed by the incredible support and curiosity from the community,” Gawhale said. “People have been telling us things like how long they have been waiting to have an Indian and Nepalese restaurant in the city and it’s amazing to see people trying new dishes for the first time and coming back with friends and family.”
Now that the Main Street bridge is finally open, Spicy Trails wants to bring Brockport together through its food.
“We want to create a space that’s warm and inviting, where everyone feels connected, whether it’s families trying something new, friends celebrating, or newcomers finding a taste of home,” Gawhale said. “We believe the food has a power to bring people together in ways nothing else does, and we are proud to be part of adding diversity and richness to the local dining scene.”
Gawhale said that she’s had several families come into the restaurant and say they’re there because the bridge is open.
Spicy Trails is open every day except for Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Offering everything from Tandoori Chicken and Lamb Rogan Josh to Gulab Jamun and Momo, Spicy Trails is serving up some traditional South Asian favorites, with a side of culture.
