Volume 96, Issue 22
Friday, October 4, 2002
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RESTAURANT REVIEW:
Taste of India
India's
quite tasty
By Dale Wyatt
Gazette Staff
Taste of India
182 York St.
667-1207
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Beth
Kerim/Gazette |
Perhaps the first pleasant surprise is that, although the restaurant is located at 182 York St. across from the Via Rail train station, once inside, it is easy to forget where you are.
The dimly lit atmosphere and the earthy decor transport you to a place of relaxation – perfect for forgetting your troubles and enjoying a great meal, free from distraction.
Upon entering the restaurant, simply pick a place to sit and a friendly server will approach you in no time.
To begin, why not try an authentic beer from India? Kingfisher has a Heineken-like taste without the bitterness. It is served ice cold and is very refreshing. It also works surprisingly well to complement the various spices found in the food. Other than that, always make sure to have some water nearby – dinner can get spicy.
If you are unsure of what to start with, or if you've never dined at an Indian restaurant before, the mixed appetizers platter ($3.99) is a perfect choice. It's enough for two and comes with chicken tikka, a vegetable samosa, onion bhaji and pakora. The samosa is a mildly spicy delight and, although the bhaji and pakora tastes are similar, they are both great when combined with the chutney dips provided.
For people who are new to the Indian dining experience, the menu can be a little frightening. There are tons of options, all separated into different sections for convenience.
One fantastic combination is the garlic nan ($2.50) and the mixed vegetable ($7.85) from the dansak dishes section. Don't be afraid to use your hands to scoop the mixed vegetable dish with the nan. The garlic nan is like a giant pita, while the vegetable dish is a hot, sweet-and-sour mix that is sure to get your nose running.
For an excellent rice dish, try the shrimp ($12.95) from the biryanis section of the menu. The shrimp are delicate and the rice is plentiful. It's cooked with almonds giving it a nutty after-taste. This dish is so large it could easily serve two people with enough left over to take home.
After glancing over the menu, if you still have no idea where to begin, Taste of India has a special section with suggested combinations for one or two people. As the menu boasts, these selections include combinations that have been designed as fully pre-planned meals. The prices vary from $15.99 to $30.95, depending on what you pick and how many people are being served. All combinations include an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert.
If you manage to leave room for dessert, everything is relatively inexpensive. The options range from mangoes with ice cream ($3.75) – a cool, sweet and delicious treat – to something more traditional, such as bofri ($1.80), a pastry-like dessert.
You can't beat Taste of India's low prices, considering the quality and quantity of almost every dish. What could be better than going for dinner and coming home with tomorrow's lunch?
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