Guru's in Newtown is reopening as owners continue adoption efforts in India

Priya Guru quickly learned how motherhood can change a person.

Since temporarily closing Guru’s Indian Cuisine in Newtown Borough, the restauranteur has spent the past four months in India caring for the two girls she and her fiancé, Ashni Kumar, have been working to adopt.

The couple are now back in the U.S. and announced the restaurant will be open once again starting Friday, April 26 for takeout.

But despite making headway in India, the girls — two sisters named Riddhima and Aradhya — are not yet home with them. The adoption process has been an arduous one, spanning four years so far, and during their trip Guru’s determination grew even more.

“I was just me when I left, but I came out a strong woman who’s not afraid to say anything or do anything as long as it’s the right thing,” she said.

“They (the girls) taught me to be more confident in everything I do. In the last four months, I learned to be more patient, to be more kind and to be happy with less. I am so happy and blessed, I am so thankful to the community for giving me this opportunity to be a mom.”

A few steps closer to adoption

When they set out on their trip in January, Guru and Kumar had hoped to bring the girls back to the U.S. with them when they returned home in the spring.

The couple was able to make significant strides, but Guru said a few more steps remain, including the issuance of an Article 5/17 letter, which determines that prospective parents are suited to adopt and allows the children to enter and live permanently in the U.S.

Guru plans to return to India in a few weeks, once she gets the restaurant back up and running smoothly.

She hopes to bring the girls home by July or August, and at that time, Guru and Kumar plan to marry, a celebration of their family’s union in front of the community she said has so lovingly supported them on their journey.

“There are not enough words in this world I can put together to thank the community for giving me the opportunity to have a family,” Guru said.

“So, I’m thankful more than I can imagine. And I hope to be back home in the community with the girls to continue what we’ve been doing in serving good food.”

Guru’s menu goes vegetarian

With the reopening, Guru will roll out a revamped menu made of only vegan and vegetarian dishes.

For Guru and Kumar, who have been vegetarians their entire lives, the new menu seemed only right, and they hope the community will be open to the change.

“I have faith that if I’m meant to do something good, I won’t fail at this. We’ll make enough to sustain our business and to sustain our family. And if not, then probably God has a different plan,” she said.

“You don’t miss meat when you have a good, tasty food that satisfies your belly.”

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Bar at Guru’s will be open for appetizers

With the gradual launch of their reopening, while it is takeout focused, the bar will be open for guests to enjoy appetizers while they wait for their order to be prepared.

Guru hopes this will provide an opportunity for her customers to sample and provide feedback on some of the new dishes.

Free samples of the highlighted appetizer of the week will be offered during happy hour.

"India is so diverse that we have so much to offer in different regions so we will be highlighting new dishes from these different regions at the bar to see what people enjoy,” Guru said. “I feel like I’m given this opportunity to show what they haven’t seen before.”

When is Guru’s Indian Cuisine open?

Guru’s is open six days a week and closed on Tuesdays. Their new hours are Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon – 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon – 10 p.m.

Go: 203 N. Sycamore St., Newtown; 215-968-5700; gurusnewtown.com

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Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, economic development, community revitalization, art and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times at PhillyBurbs.com. Please considering supporting local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Guru's Indian Cuisine in Newtown is reopening with new menu and hours