India Restaurant in Providence, RI has become a staple in a city that is oversaturated with restaurants. With fierce competition and a local population of food savants, this is extremely high praise! Be warned, the following blog post is going to make your mouth water and make you eager to run out and make a reservation.
This post is actually part two of an in-depth review of our time at India Restaurant. Our goal for the night was to watch the belly dancing show, you can read all about that here. This write up, however, will cover our amazing dining experience.
The Atmosphere and Decor
India has got to be one of the most visually interesting restaurants I’ve been to. Its design and decor is how you’d expect, fashioned after traditional Indian styles with a brown, sand-colored pallet. Middle Eastern and Indian art hangs on the walls and large, gossamer curtains hang from the ceiling.
The overhead lighting is subdued and is augmented by the rows and rows of candles lining the walls. I wanted to touch them to figure out if they were individual candles or blocks of battery-powered candles; but I did not get the chance. That’ll give me something to do after a few drinks on my next visit – look like a crazy person poking the candles.
Our tables was tucked away in a cozy little corner with big windows looking out to the street.
During warmer months, they also offer outdoor seating in the back where you can sit on swings!
The Service
Our waitress was fantastic. She was all smiles, friendly and relaxed. She was quick to take our order and bring us our drinks and food.
When I’m reviewing a restaurant for this site, I try to be objective and give a fair assessment of what’s good and bad. With such great service from the beginning, it was really easy to develop a positive bias for the rest of the night.
The Drinks
They had a decent assortment of drinks – nothing too outstanding, but a long enough menu that there’s something for everyone. I’m usually a Jack & Coke kind of guy, but there was this one drink caught my eye. Here’s the description:
East India Iced Tea – a tall refreshing beverage consisting of white rum, vodka, gin, tequila and triple sec, blended with house special organic mint and honey rooibus iced tea.
Doesn’t that look delicious? One word of caution, they are strong – which I like, but I know others do not.
Appetizers, Entrees and Cost
The menu at India is big with lots of options – soups, salads, wraps, curries, biryanis and other grilled deliciousness. They also had a large selection of vegetarian food, there is something for everyone.
Appetizers are cheap, ranging from $3 to $10 with a decent selection of food types.
We ordered the Aloo Tikki which is a seared patty made of potato topped with onions, cilantro, yogurt, chutney, chickpeas and scallions. It was delicious!
It had a lot of strong flavors where almost every bite had a different taste. In one bite we’d get the creaminess of the yogurt and the next we’d get the spice of the chutney. The onions are uncooked and there’s a lot of them; so if you’re going to order it on a date, make sure you have breath mints.
For the entree we both ordered the Lamb Biryani.
It consisted of simmered lamb with rice, vegetables, fruits and nuts in a metal pot served piping hot. The flavors worked really well together and it was deceptively large. I was completely stuffed after finishing it off and at $16, it was a pretty good deal.
Keep an eye out for a Groupon deal. We picked up the “$15 for $30 of food” deal which made it an affordable night out.
Address, Hours and Where to Park
India Restaurant is open from 11AM – 10PM Monday through Thursday and open until 11PM Friday – Sunday.
It is located at 1060 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906.
Parking can prove to be problematic. You can’t park in the lot directly across the street – it is parking for a towing company and if you park there, you bet your butt that you will be towed.
There is also a sign on India that asks you not to park on the residential street of Chase Avenue, which India is also situated on. This means you need to find parking along Hope Street, which is a main road, busy and often packed on weekends. Keep your eyes peeled for a spot as you drive down the street.
Recommendation
India Restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island is an absolute must for anyone looking for something a little different. The menu is big enough that there is something for everyone. The drinks are interesting (and strong) and appetizers are affordable and delicious. Get the Biryani for dinner, it will not disappoint.
How was your last experience at India Restaurant?
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mouthwatering esp the Aloo Tikki ! i love Indian foods. thanks for sharing this.
Inside Southeast Asia recently posted..5 Child-Friendly Destinations in Thailand
Aloo Tikki is so delicious!
Hello,
Thank for sharing this wonderful menu with us.
Indian food encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines native to India. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate and occupations, these cuisines vary significantly from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Indian food is also heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices. I love Indian Food.
Pushkar Fair 2013
Thanks Preeti for some great info about Indian cuisine!