To the inexperienced diner, Indian food may look like something you’d discover in the back of your refrigerator, long forgotten and unlike anything you remember cooking in the last two weeks.
But don’t be afraid. This mysterious paste-like blob is actually quite delicious. Really delicious. Using spices such as chili powder, cumin, garlic, garam masala, cinnamon and ginger, this particular cuisine is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted—in a very good way.
Taste of India in Sioux Falls understands this concept. As one of the only restaurants serving Indian food in the area, they have to get it right not only for their restaurant, but also their culture.
They do. The eatery, located on Russell Street in the old Chef Louie’s building near the Sioux Falls Arena, has been open since January 2005. According to their website, www.tasteofindiasiouxfalls.com, owner Saif Galaria purchased the what was the India Garden and switched to the current name and menu.
Taste of India specializes in North Indian cuisine as well as Tandoori cooking. North Indian food is known for a higher use of diary products and many types of bread, such as flat breads paratha and naans. Tandoori cooking often uses yogurts and chili spices and is cooked in an open fire.
The restaurant itself is a wonderfully quiet escape. The yellows and oranges decorating the dining room are accented nicely by the dimmed lighting. Guests are asked to turn off their cell phones and keep their children under control to allow for a relaxing atmosphere to the other guests. Instrumental Indian music plays lightly in the background and traditional art and cloth decorate the walls.
My friend Heather and I visited Taste of India on a chilly Wednesday evening, finding an occupied, but not busy, eatery. The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. You can make reservations, which are probably more helpful on the weekends.
Heather, the vegetarian, ordered vegetable biryani, which consisted of fried rice, peas, corn, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, lima beans, bell peppers, onions, green beans, and a few types of nuts. I ordered the lamb korma, with chunks of lamb meat cooked in a creamy yellow sauce, with almonds, cashews, and golden raisins. We also split an order of garlic naan and an order of cheese naan—two types of flatbread frequently eaten with the entrées.
I cannot express enough how much I love lamb korma. Despite the fact that I grew up in the Midwest with my casseroles and steak, this food tastes like home to me. The lamb korma, which was served with rice, relies heavily on its thick, rich and creamy sauce. While it’s challenging to exactly describe the taste of Indian food, this was laced with flavors of cinnamon, garlic, and ginger. The lamb meat was incredibly tender and heavenly covered in the yellow sauce. The garlic naan was warm and inviting, baked with minced garlic and other spices on top. The cheese naan was fairly similar, but stuffed with paneer, a white cheese.
Suggestion: when eating Indian food, use your naan as a utensil. You will not regret it.
Heather’s biryani came piled high on her plate (no joke, it could have easily fed both of us), loaded with the vegetables and looking all-around delicious. Indian food is a great asset to vegetarians, since vegetarianism is fairly common in Indian culture. Taste of India offers well over a dozen vegetarian choices on their menu.
I finished my meal with a mango lassi, a type of milkshake consisting of mango, milk, yogurt, sugar and cardamom. The lassi was light, sweet and fruity. The restaurant also offers mango ice cream and mango juice. I would suggest trying at least one of these, even if you don’t like mango; they are absolutely delightful.
The price is just slightly more expensive than the average sit-down restaurant, with entrees typically running $10-$15. You will probably need a to-go box though, and the food is completely worth every penny.
There are many different flavors offered by this type of cuisine, and Taste of India is the perfect place to find it—whether it be your first time eating Indian food or just making your weekly visit. The food is fresh, the atmosphere is relaxing and the overall experience is a pleasant one.
And the meals make such great leftovers, you won’t even get the opportunity to forget them in the back of your fridge.
Stars (of 5):
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Price: 4
Service: 5
Overall: 5
Top Photo: Taste of India offers a buffet on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Naan, in the second container, is a feature of Northern Indian cooking. (Heather Mangan/The Post)
Bottom Photo: Taste of India is one of a few Sioux Falls restaurants that offer this unique cuisine. The eatery is vegetarian friendly and offers a warm environment for dining. (Heather Mangan/The Post)
Banner Photo: Taste of India is located on Russell Avenue, near the Sioux Falls Arena. (Heather Mangan/The Post)
