‘I Like This Town’: ’Curry Mango’ Indian Restaurant Opens on South Avenue

After a year in construction, new Indian restaurant Curry Mango has officially opened on South Avenue, occupying the space where Mackenzie’s once stood. 

Goat curry and Garlic Naan to go from Curry Mango. Credit: Connor Markey.

With a wide range of authentic Indian cuisine to offer, from classic dishes such as curry to more exotic options, Curry Mango’s menu will likely have something for any hungry customer entering its doors. Like its titular spice, the restaurant’s interior boasts a unique orange color scheme, accented by a long photographic mural featuring motifs of Indian culture.

Curry Mango’s most popular dishes currently are their chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and masala dosas, the restaurant’s owner said. When asked if they had a signature menu item, owner Renjith Francis named the chicken chettinad, a roasted chicken dish served with black pepper sauce.

Renjith Francis (center) and the staff of Curry Mango pose for a photo in the lobby of the restaurant. Credit: Connor Markey.

For those looking to get a deal on their lunch break, Curry Mango has them covered with their lunch specials, which are available from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM seven days a week. While the bar in the back of the restaurant is currently empty, that is likely to change in the upcoming weeks, as the eatery is in the process of obtaining its liquor license.   

Curry Mango is Norwalk resident Francis’s fifth restaurant endeavor, owning several other similar establishments across Norwalk and Stamford.

Another angle of Curry Mango’s interior. Credit: Connor Markey

“I like this town, I like the people a lot,” Francis said when asked why he selected New Canaan as the location for his newest restaurant.

The commercial space at 7 South Ave. had been shuttered since Mackenzie’s closed weeks prior to the pandemic in 2020.

Originally from Southern Kerala, Francis has now been a U.S. resident for eight years. He began working in the restaurant industry as a chef prior to becoming a restaurant owner.

Curry Mango is at 7 South Ave., the former Mackenzie’s space. Credit: Michael Dinan

Francis says that current business at his establishment is “okay,” but is confident that things will pick up once New Canaanites away on vacation return home post summer.

Curry Mango (currymangoct@gmail.com and 203-594-1324) is open for lunch from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM on weekdays, with lunch hours going till 3:00 PM on weekends. They reopen from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner, going till 10:00 PM on Saturdays. Their full menu is also available on most delivery services.