Cuisine of India

I finally made it over to Cuisine of India last night. They offer great Indian food at fair prices with a nice interior and friendly service. Last night's experience was no different.

The owner is very friendly and always remembers us when we visit. He started me off with a gargantuan Flying Horse Beer. Cuisine of India also serves a limited selection of cocktails and wine, but I've always held that Indian food was meant to be enjoyed next to a frosty pilsner. Sorry...that's just the way it is.

The samosas are absolutely outstanding. They are fried crispy and they are not greasy. The samosas are filled with a perfect mixture of potatoes, peas, onions and subtle spices. The fresh vegetable garnish elevates the dumplings to another level.

The bread is also great. You start out with crispy papadums, a cracker-like bread served with mint chutney and a dark sweet sauce as garnishes. We also ordered a mixed bread basket, which came with aloo paratha as well as plain, onion and cheese naan. The bread was steaming hot and delicious.

My main course was chilly paneer. Paneer is an Indian cheese with a mild flavor. It is used in cooking much the way that some people use tofu. This preparation featured cubes of paneer in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce with tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. It is pictured above.

There is a vegetarian page to the menu. There are also additional vegetarian dishes throughout the menu. The staff is very helpful to vegetarian diners.

The best news I got all night, however, came when I walked through the door. They had a poster of Zakir Hussain up because he is playing at the Southern Theater in May. If you need proof of Zakir's talent, this video might help (as would this one). I had a long conversation with the staff about Hussain's pedigree in music.

But greatest percussionists in the world aside, Cuisine of India is an absolute delight. Check it out if you're in the area, or even take a trip to this restaurant. It's well worth the effort.

Cuisine of India