Rhode Island’s Best Indian Food
Thursday, October 13, 2011
One of the things that we love about our little melting pot is the incredible selection of ethnic food we have available. Fall makes us think about spicier, richer foods, and Indian is one of our favorites at this time of year. Here are our top pics for curry and company.
1. Rasoi, Pawtucket
We were introduced to Rasoi by a friend from India after she raved about how “accurate” the food and atmosphere were. And boy are we glad that she did! Rasoi has become almost an obsession at this point, and there’s really nothing that will keep us away when the craving for their outstanding chicken korma hits. We start with samosas—think calzone or empanada filled with ground chicken and spice. But oh, the naan. The menu features 13 kinds of freshly cooked naan bread—try the chili-cilantro or the potato—that all come out piping hot. We are also currently obsessed with the Thalis. A round platter is filled with a selection of proteins, vegetables and accompaniments that are designed to go together and aid in nutrition and digestion. When we first got it, we thought “way too much food,” but it is a perfect meal! 727 East Ave. 728-5500, www.rasoi-restaurant.com
2. A Taste of India, Providence
Wickenden Street, in Providence, has long been an enclave of adventurous dinning. As collegians, we were ready to try anything and, oftentimes, we found it on Wickenden. Although we’re a little older we still venture here for A Taste of India. We love the lunch buffet and find ourselves there often to get our Indian fix. The menu, much like India itself, is huge and covers all regions and flavors. On the dinner menu, we often start by sharing a Mulligatawny soup. It is a perfect “palate-prep” for the flavors to come: lentils, dry and fresh herbs, and a little spice. We love the chef combination dinner for two with two appetizers, three entrée choices and dessert all for less than $40! 230 Wickenden St. 421-4355, www.tasteofindiari.com
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Since 1987 Providence residents have been enjoying the food of Kabob and Curry, and we loved it too! If you can remember what food was like in Rhode Island in 1987, then you can imagine the raised eyebrows along Thayer when Kabob and Curry brought its spicy concoctions to Providence. As one of the leaders of the gluten-free and dairy-free movements, Kabob and Curry has shown how Indian food is healthy food. We love to start with the Paneer Tikka, a dish of grilled paneer cheese with coriander, mint, fenugreek and yogurt, that always puts a smile on our faces. On the entrée side, try the Salli lamb. It is a sweet and sour take on lamb that is better than most we’ve had. Top round of lamb is served with a sauce of apricots, red chilis, tomato and vinegar. It’s sweet, spicy, and good. 261 Thayer St. 273-8844, www.kabobandcurry.com
4. The Green Grocer, Portsmouth
Have you ever made the mistake of trying to duplicate the delicate flavors of Indian food at home? Yeah….us too! So what do you do when you have that craving but don’t want to deal with the crowds? Well, if you’re in the East Bay, you could head over to the Green Grocer and take home some of the best Indian food you’ve ever had. This little hidden gem is a great market using locally-sourced meats and vegetables in all of their prepared foods. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they serve great traditional Indian dishes with those same local meats and veggies. A recent Monday saw us grab some some chicken Vindaloo, a dish with quite the kick but a lot of flavor, some lemon rice and vegetable korma and head home to enjoy with a movie. Sure there was no wait staff but our two Labradors gladly accepted the tip! 934 East Main Rd. 683-0007, www.thegreengrocerri.com
5. India, Providence
A great place to start your foray into Indian food is India on Hope Street. India is a good choice for a novice looking to try some classic dishes without the intimidation of a broader Indian experience.
The menu has been the same for a long time and, sometimes, that’s a good thing. You can count on those “fallback” dishes being there while you try something new also. Five different curries on the menu mean there is something for every taste. Swordfish curry? Yup… and it’s very good. The menu features familiar words like “crab cake” and “steamed mussels” to make the experience feel familiar while opening your taste buds to new flavor and spice combinations. We have really fallen in love with the peppered duck in tamarind curry. Spicy from the pepper, sweet from the tamarind and accented by figs and hazelnuts, this dish is duck at its best. We usually pair it with the basmati rice, but the sweet potatoes are excellent also. 1060 Hope St. 421-2600, www.indiarestaurant.com
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