Taste of India
761 E 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN, 46410
Taste of India Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Merrillville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Merrillville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Merrillville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
761 E 81st Ave
Merrillville, IN, 46410 - Phone (219) 755-4634
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Alyson M.
I'm always a fan of the food here. I don't think I've had anything 'bad' besides service. Worst food service and customer service I'd ever witnessed or been a part of. I wanted to order a bottle of wine to have ready for my 2 friends... but I never saw anyone after that. There was a girl that had facial piercings and was dressed in attire not suitable for this restaurant; you have cloth napkins, a glass cover over table cloths and stemmed glassware for water. She was wearing a hoody and leggings? I didn't realize she was an employee for a while. I don't care about the facial piercings, it was the black hoody that said "love" across the back and had a pink heart embossed on the front left chest, paired off with black leggings and brown ugg boots, unkempt hair and the most unwelcoming expression on her face. That's what bothered me. My girlfriends came in and they hadn't been greeted for almost 10 minutes- and when they were, Hoody Girl approached, pad of paper ready, and said "are we ready order now?" Order what? Drinks? Sure. Appetizers? Maybe. We ordered a bottle of wine and appetizers. While browsing the menu we had a question about an entrée, we had to stop her and ask, her response was "I don't know" - she walked away, and came back with an answer. She brought our wine- the first time I'd been t this restaurant, I was shown the bottle of wine to verify that that was the one we ordered. She came and loudly placed the glasses down, not speaking at all. We thanked her. The other woman brought our appetizers. We never saw either of them at our table after that. They didn't once come to check on our appetizers. Ok, maybe Hoody isn't our server? In fact we saw her leave at one point, so we assumed that yea...maybe the other woman was. She came back, both women brought us our three entrees. We received no rice. It was another 5-7 minutes before I saw Hoody again, and I had to stop her, again, to get our rice, which wasn't suffice for having ordered three entrees. Then guess what...neither of the women came to our table again. No one checked on our meals, and we were out of wine, and no one took our dishes from the appetizers, so I put them on the table next to us. No one asked about dessert, our check was just brought to us. We presented a coupon for a BOGO and gave it to the first women, not Hoody, because she brought our check. First Woman was gone for almost 10 minutes figuring out the BOGO, she came by, and went to a gentleman - presumably a manager or owner? To ask if she did it right, she re-presented it to us and I asked "is everything ok??" And she didn't respond. We receive the check again, and a meal was removed, but a GRATUITY was added to the tune of 15%. The total was reduced by just under $3. There was also a charge that says "Open Food $1." I brought it to the counter, where that same mystery man was, to dispute the gratuity since we'd had the worst service imaginable. He kindly removed the unnecessary gratuity. The woman HIGHLIGHTED on my coupon where it said "please tip 15%-20% prior to discounted bill" - Really? For what? To whom? Who was our server?! No one even introduced themselves. I never left such a bad tip in my life before this experience. Now this was the most we'd seen Hoody at all, when it came time for us to pay. Then she sat at the bar and watched us, waiting for us to leave. We stood up, and just barely started putting on our jackets and gathering our belongings when she hopped off the chair, swooped in between us and grabbed the book with the money off the table. Didn't thank us, say "goodnight" or smile of course, and went to the computer. She and the other woman gave us dirty looks on our way out. It's a shame that a nice restaurant has people like this servicing its patrons. Word-of-mouth advertising gets people far, why would I send anyone to this place if they're going to be treated like that?
(1)Ari A.
First of all food was great but we had a very bad experience at the end of our dinner. When you walk into restaurant, it says they have two buffet price, one for weekdays which is 9.99$ and weekends 11.99$ . They charged weekend price on a weekday. When i asked them, they told me " they charge weekend price for the dinner". This pricing doesn't appear on anywhere in this restaurant. So basically, they repriced the for us. My question is "what if i didnt have that extra 4$ bucks in my pocket ??" Someone has to warn us before we start eating. Am i right guys ?
(2)Bethany S.
Stopped here on the way to Chicago since all of us in the car liked Indian food, and it was a good choice. Excellent service, clean, nicely decorated, delicious food. One of the better Indian places I've been to. We were all happy.
(4)Dee O.
This was sadly the worst Indian food I have ever had. What makes it even sadder is that I pretty much nearly died in order to get this food. Totally not exaggerating. I was stuck in Indiana (again) because of a snow storm and decided to get some Indian food since it had good reviews and was next to my hotel. Taste of India did not clear their driveway of snow so I was stuck in the mushpile of snow with half of my car still on the street. Thankfully I didn't get hit by on-coming vehicles and was able to get myself out of the mush. I parked next door at the Hooters and risked my life walking on the busy highway to get back to Taste of India. Service here also mightily sucked. Another reviewer said it best. Good restaurants ask you how your food is. Don't expect that here. During my meal, I really wanted a glass of wine to wash the barely edible food down. Alas, there was not a server to be seen. Instead, I could hear them talking and laughing about who knows what. They were sure quick to find me and give me my check. It didn't matter that my food was largely uneaten. Now to the food. I knew I was pretty much toast when the first page of the menu had Chinese dishes on it. My usual meal at Indian restaurants is the roasted eggplant. It usually looks and tastes about the same in the many Indian restaurants I have eaten at. I was taken aback when my meal was delivered to my table as it looked nothing like what I was used to. And it tasted nothing like it too. It had the unmistakable taste of lentil, which was not stated as an ingredient in the menu as I wouldn't have ordered it. The meal was rather unenjoyable. I also missed cumin in the rice. For the first time ever in my life, I didn't finish the rice I was given at an Indian restaurant. The naan was the only saving grace. It was soft and delicious. I almost ordered another one to go since I was surely going to bed hungry. My experience here is obviously different from most other reviewers but it was memorable enough to ensure I stay far away from this place. I hope to God I stop getting stuck in random towns in Indiana but if I get stuck in Merrillville again, I will be eating at the Chipotle down the road.
(1)Adrienne B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years now. This is where I introduced him to Indian cuisine thanks to groupon. He was very hesitant to try but now it's one of our staple restaurants. His favorite is the lamb korma and mine is probably the paneer tikka masala. The owner is extremely nice and appreciates everyone. We haven't found another place in the area with the same service and food in the area.
(5)Dan P.
I was so surprised the buffet food is so fresh this place is very clean and the service was second to none! Have been to lunch buffet and dinner twice never disappointed!
(5)Heather O.
The food and service was really great. Without realizing it we were there past closing time for lunch, they didn't rush us whatsoever. Worth the drive from Michigan for great Indian food.
(4)Paul P.
Amazing food. Please help support. Lack of ethnic places in nwi. Worth the experience! This place rivals chicago Indian restaurants!
(5)Kimmie R.
I can't give this place five stars, because it is by no means a five star restaurant but the food was very good! They offer multiple choices for a reasonable price and the food is perfectly seasoned. If you are ever in Merriville, Indiana and you aren't sure where to stop and eat go ahead and drive over to 81st Ave and check Taste of India out! They are friendly yet, very nervous and hesitant with their customer service it's almost funny. They stand back and watch you like they are trying to figure out if something is wrong before you say it, but their English isn't that good so yeah it's cute. Overall, the staff was friendly, attentive and approachable. The food was spicy perfection and reasonably priced, so enjoy!
(4)Mari M.
This review is based solely on the lunch buffet. We came in to eat on a Sunday and ordered the lunch buffet. The food was okay, but I have definitely had better. Everything I ate tasted fine, but nothing was memorable. I was also somewhat disappointed at the lack of vegetarian options at the buffet. They kept running out of samosas and rice and we had to ask that the stock be replenished. The naan they served with the buffet was covered in garlic, which I did not really care for. The rice pudding was really good. I think the buffet was $11.95. I would like to go back for dinner and order off of the menu. Some of my favorite Indian dishes (aloo palak, dahl makhani, palak paneer) were not offered at the buffet, but were on the menu. I'm hoping ordering off the menu will make me a regular here since it is way more convenient than driving up to Devon.
(3)Nancy L.
Pleasantly surprised to find a decent Indian place when driving through Merrillville. Conveniently located just West of I65 exit 253 on South side of highway. Lunch buffet had plenty of selections for my vegetarian daughter. Beans and lentil dish was especially good. Quick and yummy. I will stop here again on my next drive through.
(4)Amanda A.
My go-to for quality Indian food. I'm vegan and they always accommodate me and my children! Excellent service, comfortable environment, and great food.
(5)Matthew B.
They only have a buffet apparently, which looked fine but I'm not really into buffet. There were no Indian people working it was three white females working. I guess I want my first experience with Indian food to be a little more authentic than this place.
(2)Honest A.
SIMPLY GREAT local Indian food. Chicago-quality. Decor is 1980s tacky but who cares, food is tasty!
(5)Alyson M.
I'm always a fan of the food here. I don't think I've had anything 'bad' besides service. Worst food service and customer service I'd ever witnessed or been a part of. I wanted to order a bottle of wine to have ready for my 2 friends... but I never saw anyone after that. There was a girl that had facial piercings and was dressed in attire not suitable for this restaurant; you have cloth napkins, a glass cover over table cloths and stemmed glassware for water. She was wearing a hoody and leggings? I didn't realize she was an employee for a while. I don't care about the facial piercings, it was the black hoody that said "love" across the back and had a pink heart embossed on the front left chest, paired off with black leggings and brown ugg boots, unkempt hair and the most unwelcoming expression on her face. That's what bothered me. My girlfriends came in and they hadn't been greeted for almost 10 minutes- and when they were, Hoody Girl approached, pad of paper ready, and said "are we ready order now?" Order what? Drinks? Sure. Appetizers? Maybe. We ordered a bottle of wine and appetizers. While browsing the menu we had a question about an entrée, we had to stop her and ask, her response was "I don't know" - she walked away, and came back with an answer. She brought our wine- the first time I'd been t this restaurant, I was shown the bottle of wine to verify that that was the one we ordered. She came and loudly placed the glasses down, not speaking at all. We thanked her. The other woman brought our appetizers. We never saw either of them at our table after that. They didn't once come to check on our appetizers. Ok, maybe Hoody isn't our server? In fact we saw her leave at one point, so we assumed that yea...maybe the other woman was. She came back, both women brought us our three entrees. We received no rice. It was another 5-7 minutes before I saw Hoody again, and I had to stop her, again, to get our rice, which wasn't suffice for having ordered three entrees. Then guess what...neither of the women came to our table again. No one checked on our meals, and we were out of wine, and no one took our dishes from the appetizers, so I put them on the table next to us. No one asked about dessert, our check was just brought to us. We presented a coupon for a BOGO and gave it to the first women, not Hoody, because she brought our check. First Woman was gone for almost 10 minutes figuring out the BOGO, she came by, and went to a gentleman - presumably a manager or owner? To ask if she did it right, she re-presented it to us and I asked "is everything ok??" And she didn't respond. We receive the check again, and a meal was removed, but a GRATUITY was added to the tune of 15%. The total was reduced by just under $3. There was also a charge that says "Open Food $1." I brought it to the counter, where that same mystery man was, to dispute the gratuity since we'd had the worst service imaginable. He kindly removed the unnecessary gratuity. The woman HIGHLIGHTED on my coupon where it said "please tip 15%-20% prior to discounted bill" - Really? For what? To whom? Who was our server?! No one even introduced themselves. I never left such a bad tip in my life before this experience. Now this was the most we'd seen Hoody at all, when it came time for us to pay. Then she sat at the bar and watched us, waiting for us to leave. We stood up, and just barely started putting on our jackets and gathering our belongings when she hopped off the chair, swooped in between us and grabbed the book with the money off the table. Didn't thank us, say "goodnight" or smile of course, and went to the computer. She and the other woman gave us dirty looks on our way out. It's a shame that a nice restaurant has people like this servicing its patrons. Word-of-mouth advertising gets people far, why would I send anyone to this place if they're going to be treated like that?
(1)Reed H.
Quality Indian food. Not much more to it. Great service, no complaints. Chicken 65 as an appetizer is a great choice. They do lamb like it should be done. We do have a lack of Indian places in the region, but this place is great
(4)L L.
This restaurant is improving again after a dry spell. Fresh and frangrant. Great atmosphere, good service. They have a lunch buffet that is good, but the dinner entrees are excellent.
(4)BK R.
The lentil soup is perfectly seasoned and light. The "Chicken 65" appetizer is terrific...medium spice level is plenty warm (the flavors are outstanding). Highly recommend the fish tikka with garlic nann. It is served sizzling on a platter with perfectly cooked rice. Even the homemade tamarind and mint sauces are outstanding... As I write this I am thinking to change the rating to "5" star... Try the homemade orange kulfi ice cream to finish your feast. You will conclude with a hot towel for the hands. Definitely worth a return visit. Don't hesitate to ask the managers for advice... They are extremely personable and helpful.
(4)Genevieve T.
I recently tried Taste of India for the first time. The kadai chicken was good and the garlic naan was delicious. The service was great. I would go back.
(4)C W.
Great food and service. Very nicely decorated, we went in the daytime, but looks like dining at night would be the time it really shines. It was my wife's first go at Indian food, and glad that it was a place that served excellent tasting Indian food.
(4)The grapevine W.
WONDERFUL AND REFRESHING ! I first visited this quaint "TASTE OF INDIA" a few months ago. It was a welcoming pleasant surprise. The staff is very helpful, and uniformed. I enjoyed the food so much that I now have a standing order.....Favoritefood chickencurry..................11.95 KeemaMattar (Lamb)........................12.95 ChickenBiryan..............11.95 Biryani.......Chix,veg,lamb, Shrimp, Breadbasket..................6.95 KeemaNaanw/lamb.......3.50 TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT !
(5)Kay J.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! This place kicks the S'ville Indian restaurant in the ass! It is pretty, nice table cloths, glasses, plates - ambiance. When I asked my waiter for a small beer he said "No, I bring you Taj." Oh-kay. It was huge and icy cold. Good thing since my 'medium hot' (again, the waiter) was FREAKIN' HOT!!! Do NOT order food until you have a cold beverage in front of you. My friend and I split the mixed grill ($19.95) and Biryani, a rice dish. Don't know what was in the rice but HOT, HOT, HOT! The meat platter had 7 or 8 different fish, shrimp, chicken, lamb and beef choices - all tender and delicious. We skipped desert and the food and wine and beer came to $72 plus tip. Service was attentive - maybe a bit too much. I am looking forward to going back with my brother and my Indian friends who will enjoy the food.
(4)Kathryn O.
Great Indian food! The garlic naan is amazing and comes fresh to your table with purchase of buffet. I've only ever eaten the buffet and am never disappointed!! They changed the glubjamon so that was disappointing but always great food, great price and great service!! When Devon is too far this place will satisfy your Indian food craving!
(4)Jaspreet S.
Simply atrocious! If your looking for a good Indian meal at Taste of India then simply come for appetizers only. Curries that are watered down and blended with heavy cream do not justify paying $15 for an entrée. The person with me took two bites from his paneer tikka masala and left it because it was equivalent to drinking from a carton of heavy cream with a straw. My bland and watered down chicken tikka masala curry was most likely served from the leftovers in the buffet from a the same day.
(1)Laura H.
It's like a little Indian oasis in a sea of fast food netherlands. We saw a billboard on the expressway and thought, why not? We figured if it was awful we could simply fall back on Steak n Shake. We could tell simply from the aromas when we walked in that we'd found a winner. We had the lunch buffet (offered 7 days a week!), and it was amazing!! They have 3 kinds of soup, pakora, tandoori chicken and afghan chicken, several curries (meat and veggie), basmati rice imported from India, and veggie fried rice. The tikka masala is always one of my faves, but this one was paneer, so not my fave. The chicken makhani was delish. The lamb vindaloo was good but could've been spicier. Great cilantro chutney. They also bring an endless basket of garlic naan to the table, and it is fantastic! A little rice pudding is the perfect finish. All this for $11.99/person! This is now our fave road trip stop when we are heading south!
(4)Stephen B.
Warm and friendly ambiance, excellent service and great food. This restaurant is so good I returned the next day for another meal. I wasn't disappointed, it was just as good the second day. I live in the UK where indian food is staple so a good restaurant in Indiana (where I visit frequently) is an important discovery. If you haven't tried indian quisine yet this restaurant is a good place to experience this wonderful food.
(5)Peter S.
My broski and I had dinner here, after having a good day at RamenCon 2011 (anime con across the street), and decided to treat ourselves to Indian food. We saw an article in a magazine, in our hotel room, and we're glad we took its advice... Dinner was FANTASTIC! First, the lime sodas are very good and refreshing, the crispy papads were particularly tasty, and the sauces very aromatic with a nice kick to them. We started out with samosas and fried calamari, both of which were very well prepared. We enjoyed how uncommonly crispy and flaky both were, without being terribly oily. The accompanying sauces complemented them very well. For dinner, we ordered seafood curry with garlic naan and chicken tikka masala over rice. I've had the same dishes at several other Indian restaurants, and Taste of India's was among my favorite. Everything was very well prepared, with juicy chicken and shrimp, served nice and hot. For desert we had carrot halwa, which was the perfect balance of sweet and satisfying. Service was very good, even though we were there near closing time. Our server, and the other employees, were very attentive. The leftovers were also particularly good, the next day. Any time we come back to Merrillville, we'll be sure to have dinner at Taste of India again.
(5)Kelly B.
The food is fantastic here! It's has a very clean & bright atmosphere and the service is exemplary. The vegetable samosas are a lovely way to start the evening (with a glass of wine). My favorite dishes are any of the vegan entrees! They're wonderful! A good way to finish the meal is with the Masala tea.
(5)Alyssa L.
Delightful food, helpful service, graceful dining room! Upon arrival, I was taken aback by the lapse between lunch and dinner. My boyfriend and I had arrived around 4:30 in the afternoon and found the doors locked. It is very unusual for restaurants to close between meals in this area. We passed the time at the bar of a certain near by over-themed yet underwhelmed food restaurant. It was definitely worth the wait! The food was excellent. For starters, the chutney is phenomenal. We ordered the veggie samosas as an appetizer and asked for a rec commendation on our entree. Our server was so en parr with the menu that after asking us a few simple taste preferences, he took our order without us ever even knowing exactly what it was. We received a lamb dish, medium heat, served with peppers, onions, and alongside rice and garlic naan that was cooked to perfection. I also ordered the mango lassi and an Indian beer. Overall, one of the best restaurant experiences we've had in a long time. A true gem, in an awful area! :)
(4)A A.
Great Indian restaurant in northwest Indiana. They have great hours, so when I am working late and in town, I am very happy to have an alternative to fast food. Favorite dishes are chicken tikka masala, and lamb rogan josh. The vegetable samosas are also good.
(5)Ravi N.
The lunch buffet has diverse choices both for vegetarian and non-vegetarians and it is reasonably priced. The ambience is good and the service is courteous. Most of the dishes can be cooked to American palate (less spicy).
(4)Jerry S.
Everything on the Buffet is Absolutely Delicious. I keep going back for the unique tastes totally different than my normal american diet...Nothing was too Hot or too Spicy. Its addictive. Place is clean and would highly recommend this place for tastes that are a bit different that your use too, but extraordinary. Only negatives would be... not crazy about the Music and the Service is very good.
(4)Kim N.
WOW. the best naan i've ever had. Those little cumin seeds lend just an awesome punch to typical naan flavor. Also helps that they are served piping hot and fresh! Really great variety in the lunch buffet - everything from butter chicken to goat curry to various pakoras. Everything tasted great!! The restaurant is clean & open and service is very good. I continue to be surprised at what awesome ethnic food i'm finding in this little town.
(4)Renee G.
Everything I have tried is amazing! Highly recommended items: Mulagatani soup, Boti Kabob... also the Taj Mahal beer is a good treat. Great service and nice atmosphere!
(5)Matthew B.
Great food, and lots of it. Garlic Naan was some of the best I've had. Like a cross over between naan, and crispy garlic bread. For the price range, I think 4-5 stars is just about perfect. Definitely recommend.
(4)Davin L.
As only the second Indian restaurant in the area, the competitive bar is relatively low. Fortunately, Taste of India clears it with style and panache to spare. I enjoyed the weekend buffet with two friends, in addition to ordering the Chicken Kourma and Garlic Naan. The chicken was tender and delicious, and the naan was fluffy and tasty. Service in my opinion was excellent, almost annoyingly so. The staff was always nearby to ask if we needed a refill on drinks, more rice, or more bread. I look forward to many more visits to try the various dishes, especially the lamb.
(4)Robert S.
I come here a lot and the service is almost always phenomenal (except when they're packed which is understandable). Buffet is top-notch. They have a vegetarian sampler plate that's perfect. I don't understand why every Indian place doesn't have one. You get to try a bunch of different dishes in one meal. Only drawback...I've come here before and found them closed between lunch and dinner.
(5)Lara L.
Not a lot to offer and overpriced. Good service though so not just 1 star. Owner has coupon on retail me not phone ap that he will not offer unless printed out (its a phone ap!) He also wont take the coupon off the buffet even though the coupon does not say this in the terms.
(2)Yako S.
Eat here and Chesterton, IN location often. Very good food and service. Service is better in Merrillville location. I have never experienced "watered down" Indian food, so have no idea what that could mean. I love turmeric and they have it. Naan is very good. Love the mushroom dish, dal and rice. Great place to go gluten free since there is a lot of rice.
(4)Omar A.
Chicken tandoori was dry and tasted reheated. I understand it can't be made fresh all the time but I would not recommend ordering it. The chicken biryani was mediocre, nothing to write home about. The chicken tikka masala sauce was good but the chicken tasted bland. The prices were steep considering the quality of the food.
(3)Christina G.
This restaurant has gone downhill! The two owners/managers that were there a year ago and so pleasant and accommodating are either gone or just never around when we're there. Instead we are greeted by less than enthusiastic employees who look like they hate being there. They have the worst people skills! We are always great tippers when we dine in but sadly now we can no longer support a place that clearly doesn't want our business. We usually order the Dal Makani...For starters they have reduced the amount of rice in their carry out orders. It's about a third of the amount that you get with the entrée when you dine in the restaurant. It's barely enough for one person and doesn't balance out the normal amount of lentils they give you, so the meal actually ends up being more like lentil soup. So we stopped ordering out because when we would ask for the full amount of rice that's supposed to come with the order, they insisted in charging an extra 5 bucks for a side order of rice. Therefore, logically we dine in so there is no silly rice issue. Today was the last straw. We arrived 20 minutes before there restaurant was closing before reopening for their dinner hours. We were awkwardly standing at the door as a female employee just looked our way for a bit then coldly asked the man behind the bar what time it was. She then turned us away at the door very rudely, saying they were closing early, in 10 minutes. There was no apology and she acted like she couldn't be bothered to even talk to us. It's a shame that the employees here have ruined our experience at this restaurant. After 5 years of loyal patronage, we are no longer coming back.
(1)angie p.
I did like the food here better than the Tandoor. The Tandoor made me puke 2 times in a row and this place did not make me sick at all. I suggest the buffet, it is cheaper and you get more for your money. As for regular dinner, it can get expensive since you have to order rice separately and almost everything separately. It would be nice if something came with something. The waiters were really nice and helpful. I liked the chicken bryani here, there could have been more vegetables in it but it was really good. I loved the buffet items. It was all really good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Amy S.
I've seen remarks on slow service, but my experience was just the opposite. I've had prompt and friendly service both times I've gone, and definitely plan to return in the future, whenever in the Merrillvillle area. The lunch buffet was an excellent value, offering up a quite a few choices, hot and cold. The menu also offered a good variety at a fair price. The atmosphere is nice as well. I will definitely be back! Delicious!
(4)Kim K.
Always wonderful and consistent. We have been there for the lunch buffet as well as dinner and it is always delicious. We are currently hooked on the Mushroom Masalawala with Garlic Naan, Lamb Saag and Gulab Jamun. (I swear I could eat Gulab Jamun every day and never tire of it.) It's true, the service can be a little slow sometimes, but the staff is always very friendly and affable. We usually just go with it and enjoy our meal there as a relaxed and incredibly flavorful feast. I'm so happy we have Taste of India here in town!
(4)Lindsay M.
Their lunch buffet is delicious and totally worth the price!!
(5)Matt L.
The food is about average, actually. By comparison to Tandoor in Schererville, the lamb is tenderer, the korma sauce is equivalent, but the masala wasn't as good. The portions are also smaller, for about the same price, and while I don't know if our experience was typical, we had to wait quite a while (probably about 20 minutes) between being seated and first contact with our waiter. If you're looking for Indian in Indiana, go to Tandoor instead.
(2)Mary B.
This was my first time here and I loved it!! I don't eat a lot of Indian food, well because there just isn't a lot around here. Well thank god for this place. Now I have someplace to go besides the boring usuals. We had the lunch buffet and I really don't remember all the names of the dishes but they were all delish, esp. the chicken. The spices were great and the decor is very nice. I'll be back.....
(4)Michael B.
In Northwestern Indiana, affectionately known as "the Region", there aren't a lot of ethnic food choices, and Indian food is no exception. So it is great to have another choice and a fine one at that. What sets this restaurant apart from the others is the decorum and service: much more spacious, comforting and refined and the wait staff is accommodating and professional to a fault. Additionally, I found the menu to have more options and among the choices, all were prepared nicely and tasted great. I would not say that all the dishes were phenomenal or exceptional so I won't grant a 5-star. Also, having attended this restaurant on a holiday (typically the Indian restaurants are open during US holidays) I couldn't help but notice that they raised the buffet price even though the holiday landed on a weekday, they treated it like a weekend. Not to mention that some of the other menu options are a tad pricey comparatively. A great ethnic addition to the community, a good competitor among the Indian fare contributors with decent ambience but a slightly devious pricing scheme with some menu options appearing a bit high for nothing extraordinary.
(4)Chris Z.
Good food and the wait staff was very helpful when it came to what was vegan and what was not. The service was not as bad what some make it out to be but it also wasn't the best. One issue I had was when we ordered rice the waiter did not ask us which kind and gave us the more expensive option. Had I known there was an option I would have gone for the cheaper of the two. But that little issue won't keep me from coming back to try out the buffet. Vegan & vegetarian friendly!!!
(4)Matthew B.
Indian in Indiana? This might have been the best Indian restaurant that I've been to in the Hoosier State. We came here on the drive back up to Chicago from Indianapolis on a Sunday night. Definitely a 4, maybe even a 4.5 stars. I don't remember exactly what we got since I'm writing this about a month later, but man, good food, well spiced, and a very nice interior. The service might have been a bit slow, but all-in-all an excellent addition to the Merrillville strip. (Note: In the strip mall just SW of the I65/US30 interchange)
(4)Kourtney L.
The food & atmosphere were amazing. The service, not so much. I can happily recommend the mushroom masalawala and tandoori chicken. We also had some great veggie appetizers but the names escape me. The service was incredibly slow throughout the meal and we sat for at least a half hour/forty minutes after finishing our meals waiting for the check. The servers blew by us each time we tried to get their attention and the bus boy just kinda ignored us. Work on your wait staff and I'll be back.
(3)Jennifer G.
I cannot stop raving about this place. I have had a lot of Indian food at a lot of different places, locally, on vacations, etc., and this is the best of the best. This time we had the vidaloo and the tandoori mix. So good, everything is just perfect. They do a steady stream of business it seems but I really hope word catches on so this place never closes!
(5)Rachael M.
As a foodie who came from a small town in TN, I learned all about Indian food when I moved to Los Angeles. I walked into Taste of India with no expectations one way or the other whatsoever. You just never know what you're gonna get until it's on the plate! But I was ABSOLUTELY THRILLED with the quality of food at this restaurant. For $8.99 at the buffet you can try, like, 22 dishes, and ALL of them were SO good. Nothing was less than totally delicious! The Chef is actually a 5 star chef from Bombay. DON'T MISS THIS PLACE! To-die-for Saag Paneer, Tandoori Chicken that is better than I have *ever* had in my life (SOOO succulent!), and very yummy eggplant. I'd give it more stars if I could! :)
(5)Barb R.
Fresh, friendly and spotless. Read my review here -- examiner.com/restaurant-…
(4)Charles R.
This is the best Indian food around! We love the Saag Paneer here. The service an food are always top notch!
(5)Jay G.
I didn't like the food or the service. We asked for advice on what to order and didn't get any. We ended up getting several dishes which we thought would be a variety but they all tasted the same.
(1)Colin M.
My wife and I were thinking about going for seafood on Satruday night, so first we tried Joe's Crab Shack...and discovered a 30 - 45 minute wait. So we left there, and tried Red Lobster...a 20 minute wait there. Wow, even with the economy in the dregs, people were still lining up to eat overpriced seafood on a Satruday night in Merrillville! I suggested we try the new Indian Restaurant that recently opened, and when we got there, we found it only about half full. Yay! No waiting. We arrived at about 8pm, and found the place to be nicely decorated with a classy ambience. The boothsand tables had white tablecloths, so you knew that this was going to be a little better experience than just your average buffet restaurant. Another good sign: Indian families were there to eat. Since they know authenticity when they taste it, I thought that was a good sign for us. The menu was pretty complete with the classic Indian entrees: tandoori chicken, mutter paneer, gulab jamun, etcetera. What was interesting was in the back they had a short list of Chinese entrees. I'd never seen that before at any other Indian restaurant. My wife decided to try one of the Chinese dishes: Cilantro Fish, only to be informed that they were out of fish. My poor wife just wasn't going to get any seafood, no matter how hard she tried. Instead, she asked for a recommendation, and the waiter suggested Chicken Haryali, which was cooked in a sauce featuring cilantro, jalapeno and mint. She isn't crazy about hot and spicy, so the waiter promised he'd make it mild for her. I ordered Lamb Biryani and Naan. While we waited for our food, we noshed on the Pappadum's and sauce which were served cokmplementary. When the food arrived, the Biryani was a huge portion, piled high on a big plate. Biryani is a rice dish, heavily spiced with garlic, cardamom, fennel, onion, peppers, cumin, etcetera. The few lamb chunks in the rice were very tender and delicious. My wife's Chicken Haryali was served in a smaller brass vessel; it was chunks of chicken in a fragrant green sauce. But that was all there was to her meal, so remember that all of this is a la carte when ordering. We did order some plain jasmine rice so she could have something to spoon her chicken over. The first few bites were very flavorful and delicious; after about a half dozen mouthfulls, we started to feel the heat. These dishes were spicy hot! Not flamethrower hot, but spicy nonetheless, much to my wife's chagrin. "If this is mild, I'd hate to try the hot version", she said. Our waiter did bring her some complementary mango ice cream when she remarked about the spiciness. The Naan (Indian bread) that came with it was also a nice counterpoint, and provded a blank canvas to spread and dip with the sauces. The Biryani came with a lovely yoghurt sauce which cooled some of the fire. I would definately try this place again, maybe even try the buffet some lunchtime. The food was good, really good, although spicy. There were some couples who were obviously on a date, and it seems like a good place for that. The entrees were in the 11 - 17 dollar range, but remember, they come a la carte for the most part. The wait staff was a little disorganized and inattentive...they could improve their score by being a little more attentive to empty water glasses, checks and other things. They serve wine and beer.
(3)Keziah C.
I love, love, love the Vegetable & Keema Samosas!!! Yummy in my tummy!
(4)MG H.
Two important words to remember: Lunch buffet.
(4)Dave D.
My friend and I split the mixed grill ($25.95, comes with garlic naan) and vegetable biryani ($10.95). Everything was incredibly delicious. It was a perfect combination of dishes to split. Between this place and Tandoor in Schererville, you cannot go wrong. They are just about tied for my favorite restaurants in the area.
(5)L. R.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I've been in. It is well lit, modern looking, bright and very clean. The waiters are all dressed professionally in black and white. The tables are enough distance apart so you can carry on a conversation easily. Need I mention we were pleased to see lots of Indian people eating her, too. The service is attentive and they fill your water glass before you ask. They also make good suggestions. We can eat here and please everyone - vegan, carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian. Our dinner started with vegetable samosas. They were incredible. Light little pillows filled with vegetables (peas, potatoes, rice). The appetizer portion has 3 samosas. We also ordered onion naan. Again, delicious, so much so we couldn't stop eating it. I had aloo gobi which is my favorite Indian dish. I asked for it medium spicy and it had a great kick and great taste. My husband ate chicken curry. Ate the entire thing it was so good. All dishes were served with basmati rice - a nice touch. At the end of the meal with your check, there is a dish with hot hand towels so you can clean up. We are going to be going back to this place next week, and will continue to go. It's so nice to have such a wonderful restaurant near us.
(5)Gerry G.
I had vegetable samosas, dal lentil soup, lamb Rogan gosh and naan bread .... all delicious. Staff was attentive and friendly. Honestly yelp you got to do something about autocorrect I ate Vegetable Samoans deal lentil soup and nana bread !!!
(4)Terika K.
What started as a bad Valentine's Day delivery experience turned into one the best Indian meals that I've ever had! Spending time in Merrillville for the long weekend, I decided to try this place out. I started an online order and submitted prior to dinner hours. An hour and a half later my food hadn't arrived, so I called the restaurant. The owner answered and informed me that the online order hadn't been received. *bummer* Next he proceeded to tell me that they were not going to deliver due to the Valentine's Day rush. *double bummer*. I kindly said thanks, but no thanks and he graciously agreed to deliver my food. Everything arrived hot and fresh and flavorful! Being a Chicagoan, I tend to be a bit of an ethnic food snob and this place really surprised me! I will definitely visit again once the weather is better. Despite eating a little later than I had originally wanted, I appreciate the owner's willingness to accommodate my order and deliver it personally!
(5)Kuldeep G.
'Indian spicy'...we loved the level defined for spicy..It was really indian spicy. We ordered mutter paneer and kolhapuri chicken and both were amazing.courteous staff.very nice ambiance.
(5)Stu H.
The food here is fantastic. My wife and I got the buffet for lunch. The Saag Paneer was delicious and the Naan is excellent also.
(5)Bryan D.
Cheap buffet for great authentic food. Chicken curry was very good. I wish it was spicier but I know buffets need to cater to all. I'll be going next time I'm in town.
(4)Rajus D.
Good Indian food. Nice place to eat if you are traveling on i-65. It is very close to exit 253. They are open till 2:45 PM.
(4)Joy M.
I come here just about every week. I had to cut down to once a week on Fridays because I had to start practicing moderation. Fridays is the best day because they have these little potato cake things that are awesome. I've gone so much that I've started to enjoy the music they play! Speaking of which it's almost lunch time and I'll be headed there in a bit!
(4)Brad K.
Best okra I have had in my life! Lunch buffet is not huge, but everything on it tasted amazing. Plenty to eat and all of it was really fresh out of the oven. About 15 different choices, and all but two were gluten free. Hope to stop here again!!
(5)Harini P.
This place was once delicious, now everything is watered down and tasteless. So sad that the quality has gone down significantly. If you want tho attract business, start with the food.
(2)Kim K.
Always wonderful and consistent. We have been there for the lunch buffet as well as dinner and it is always delicious. We are currently hooked on the Mushroom Masalawala with Garlic Naan, Lamb Saag and Gulab Jamun. (I swear I could eat Gulab Jamun every day and never tire of it.) It's true, the service can be a little slow sometimes, but the staff is always very friendly and affable. We usually just go with it and enjoy our meal there as a relaxed and incredibly flavorful feast. I'm so happy we have Taste of India here in town!
(4)Lindsay M.
Their lunch buffet is delicious and totally worth the price!!
(5)Matt L.
The food is about average, actually. By comparison to Tandoor in Schererville, the lamb is tenderer, the korma sauce is equivalent, but the masala wasn't as good. The portions are also smaller, for about the same price, and while I don't know if our experience was typical, we had to wait quite a while (probably about 20 minutes) between being seated and first contact with our waiter. If you're looking for Indian in Indiana, go to Tandoor instead.
(2)Mary B.
This was my first time here and I loved it!! I don't eat a lot of Indian food, well because there just isn't a lot around here. Well thank god for this place. Now I have someplace to go besides the boring usuals. We had the lunch buffet and I really don't remember all the names of the dishes but they were all delish, esp. the chicken. The spices were great and the decor is very nice. I'll be back.....
(4)Kathryn O.
Great Indian food! The garlic naan is amazing and comes fresh to your table with purchase of buffet. I've only ever eaten the buffet and am never disappointed!! They changed the glubjamon so that was disappointing but always great food, great price and great service!! When Devon is too far this place will satisfy your Indian food craving!
(4)Reed H.
Quality Indian food. Not much more to it. Great service, no complaints. Chicken 65 as an appetizer is a great choice. They do lamb like it should be done. We do have a lack of Indian places in the region, but this place is great
(4)L L.
This restaurant is improving again after a dry spell. Fresh and frangrant. Great atmosphere, good service. They have a lunch buffet that is good, but the dinner entrees are excellent.
(4)Jaspreet S.
Simply atrocious! If your looking for a good Indian meal at Taste of India then simply come for appetizers only. Curries that are watered down and blended with heavy cream do not justify paying $15 for an entrée. The person with me took two bites from his paneer tikka masala and left it because it was equivalent to drinking from a carton of heavy cream with a straw. My bland and watered down chicken tikka masala curry was most likely served from the leftovers in the buffet from a the same day.
(1)Matthew B.
Great food, and lots of it. Garlic Naan was some of the best I've had. Like a cross over between naan, and crispy garlic bread. For the price range, I think 4-5 stars is just about perfect. Definitely recommend.
(4)Davin L.
As only the second Indian restaurant in the area, the competitive bar is relatively low. Fortunately, Taste of India clears it with style and panache to spare. I enjoyed the weekend buffet with two friends, in addition to ordering the Chicken Kourma and Garlic Naan. The chicken was tender and delicious, and the naan was fluffy and tasty. Service in my opinion was excellent, almost annoyingly so. The staff was always nearby to ask if we needed a refill on drinks, more rice, or more bread. I look forward to many more visits to try the various dishes, especially the lamb.
(4)Robert S.
I come here a lot and the service is almost always phenomenal (except when they're packed which is understandable). Buffet is top-notch. They have a vegetarian sampler plate that's perfect. I don't understand why every Indian place doesn't have one. You get to try a bunch of different dishes in one meal. Only drawback...I've come here before and found them closed between lunch and dinner.
(5)Laura H.
It's like a little Indian oasis in a sea of fast food netherlands. We saw a billboard on the expressway and thought, why not? We figured if it was awful we could simply fall back on Steak n Shake. We could tell simply from the aromas when we walked in that we'd found a winner. We had the lunch buffet (offered 7 days a week!), and it was amazing!! They have 3 kinds of soup, pakora, tandoori chicken and afghan chicken, several curries (meat and veggie), basmati rice imported from India, and veggie fried rice. The tikka masala is always one of my faves, but this one was paneer, so not my fave. The chicken makhani was delish. The lamb vindaloo was good but could've been spicier. Great cilantro chutney. They also bring an endless basket of garlic naan to the table, and it is fantastic! A little rice pudding is the perfect finish. All this for $11.99/person! This is now our fave road trip stop when we are heading south!
(4)Amanda A.
My go-to for quality Indian food. I'm vegan and they always accommodate me and my children! Excellent service, comfortable environment, and great food.
(5)Matthew B.
They only have a buffet apparently, which looked fine but I'm not really into buffet. There were no Indian people working it was three white females working. I guess I want my first experience with Indian food to be a little more authentic than this place.
(2)Peter S.
My broski and I had dinner here, after having a good day at RamenCon 2011 (anime con across the street), and decided to treat ourselves to Indian food. We saw an article in a magazine, in our hotel room, and we're glad we took its advice... Dinner was FANTASTIC! First, the lime sodas are very good and refreshing, the crispy papads were particularly tasty, and the sauces very aromatic with a nice kick to them. We started out with samosas and fried calamari, both of which were very well prepared. We enjoyed how uncommonly crispy and flaky both were, without being terribly oily. The accompanying sauces complemented them very well. For dinner, we ordered seafood curry with garlic naan and chicken tikka masala over rice. I've had the same dishes at several other Indian restaurants, and Taste of India's was among my favorite. Everything was very well prepared, with juicy chicken and shrimp, served nice and hot. For desert we had carrot halwa, which was the perfect balance of sweet and satisfying. Service was very good, even though we were there near closing time. Our server, and the other employees, were very attentive. The leftovers were also particularly good, the next day. Any time we come back to Merrillville, we'll be sure to have dinner at Taste of India again.
(5)Honest A.
SIMPLY GREAT local Indian food. Chicago-quality. Decor is 1980s tacky but who cares, food is tasty!
(5)BK R.
The lentil soup is perfectly seasoned and light. The "Chicken 65" appetizer is terrific...medium spice level is plenty warm (the flavors are outstanding). Highly recommend the fish tikka with garlic nann. It is served sizzling on a platter with perfectly cooked rice. Even the homemade tamarind and mint sauces are outstanding... As I write this I am thinking to change the rating to "5" star... Try the homemade orange kulfi ice cream to finish your feast. You will conclude with a hot towel for the hands. Definitely worth a return visit. Don't hesitate to ask the managers for advice... They are extremely personable and helpful.
(4)Stephen B.
Warm and friendly ambiance, excellent service and great food. This restaurant is so good I returned the next day for another meal. I wasn't disappointed, it was just as good the second day. I live in the UK where indian food is staple so a good restaurant in Indiana (where I visit frequently) is an important discovery. If you haven't tried indian quisine yet this restaurant is a good place to experience this wonderful food.
(5)Genevieve T.
I recently tried Taste of India for the first time. The kadai chicken was good and the garlic naan was delicious. The service was great. I would go back.
(4)C W.
Great food and service. Very nicely decorated, we went in the daytime, but looks like dining at night would be the time it really shines. It was my wife's first go at Indian food, and glad that it was a place that served excellent tasting Indian food.
(4)The grapevine W.
WONDERFUL AND REFRESHING ! I first visited this quaint "TASTE OF INDIA" a few months ago. It was a welcoming pleasant surprise. The staff is very helpful, and uniformed. I enjoyed the food so much that I now have a standing order.....Favoritefood chickencurry..................11.95 KeemaMattar (Lamb)........................12.95 ChickenBiryan..............11.95 Biryani.......Chix,veg,lamb, Shrimp, Breadbasket..................6.95 KeemaNaanw/lamb.......3.50 TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT !
(5)Kay J.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! This place kicks the S'ville Indian restaurant in the ass! It is pretty, nice table cloths, glasses, plates - ambiance. When I asked my waiter for a small beer he said "No, I bring you Taj." Oh-kay. It was huge and icy cold. Good thing since my 'medium hot' (again, the waiter) was FREAKIN' HOT!!! Do NOT order food until you have a cold beverage in front of you. My friend and I split the mixed grill ($19.95) and Biryani, a rice dish. Don't know what was in the rice but HOT, HOT, HOT! The meat platter had 7 or 8 different fish, shrimp, chicken, lamb and beef choices - all tender and delicious. We skipped desert and the food and wine and beer came to $72 plus tip. Service was attentive - maybe a bit too much. I am looking forward to going back with my brother and my Indian friends who will enjoy the food.
(4)Kelly B.
The food is fantastic here! It's has a very clean & bright atmosphere and the service is exemplary. The vegetable samosas are a lovely way to start the evening (with a glass of wine). My favorite dishes are any of the vegan entrees! They're wonderful! A good way to finish the meal is with the Masala tea.
(5)Alyssa L.
Delightful food, helpful service, graceful dining room! Upon arrival, I was taken aback by the lapse between lunch and dinner. My boyfriend and I had arrived around 4:30 in the afternoon and found the doors locked. It is very unusual for restaurants to close between meals in this area. We passed the time at the bar of a certain near by over-themed yet underwhelmed food restaurant. It was definitely worth the wait! The food was excellent. For starters, the chutney is phenomenal. We ordered the veggie samosas as an appetizer and asked for a rec commendation on our entree. Our server was so en parr with the menu that after asking us a few simple taste preferences, he took our order without us ever even knowing exactly what it was. We received a lamb dish, medium heat, served with peppers, onions, and alongside rice and garlic naan that was cooked to perfection. I also ordered the mango lassi and an Indian beer. Overall, one of the best restaurant experiences we've had in a long time. A true gem, in an awful area! :)
(4)A A.
Great Indian restaurant in northwest Indiana. They have great hours, so when I am working late and in town, I am very happy to have an alternative to fast food. Favorite dishes are chicken tikka masala, and lamb rogan josh. The vegetable samosas are also good.
(5)Ravi N.
The lunch buffet has diverse choices both for vegetarian and non-vegetarians and it is reasonably priced. The ambience is good and the service is courteous. Most of the dishes can be cooked to American palate (less spicy).
(4)Jerry S.
Everything on the Buffet is Absolutely Delicious. I keep going back for the unique tastes totally different than my normal american diet...Nothing was too Hot or too Spicy. Its addictive. Place is clean and would highly recommend this place for tastes that are a bit different that your use too, but extraordinary. Only negatives would be... not crazy about the Music and the Service is very good.
(4)Kim N.
WOW. the best naan i've ever had. Those little cumin seeds lend just an awesome punch to typical naan flavor. Also helps that they are served piping hot and fresh! Really great variety in the lunch buffet - everything from butter chicken to goat curry to various pakoras. Everything tasted great!! The restaurant is clean & open and service is very good. I continue to be surprised at what awesome ethnic food i'm finding in this little town.
(4)Renee G.
Everything I have tried is amazing! Highly recommended items: Mulagatani soup, Boti Kabob... also the Taj Mahal beer is a good treat. Great service and nice atmosphere!
(5)Amy S.
I've seen remarks on slow service, but my experience was just the opposite. I've had prompt and friendly service both times I've gone, and definitely plan to return in the future, whenever in the Merrillvillle area. The lunch buffet was an excellent value, offering up a quite a few choices, hot and cold. The menu also offered a good variety at a fair price. The atmosphere is nice as well. I will definitely be back! Delicious!
(4)Michael B.
In Northwestern Indiana, affectionately known as "the Region", there aren't a lot of ethnic food choices, and Indian food is no exception. So it is great to have another choice and a fine one at that. What sets this restaurant apart from the others is the decorum and service: much more spacious, comforting and refined and the wait staff is accommodating and professional to a fault. Additionally, I found the menu to have more options and among the choices, all were prepared nicely and tasted great. I would not say that all the dishes were phenomenal or exceptional so I won't grant a 5-star. Also, having attended this restaurant on a holiday (typically the Indian restaurants are open during US holidays) I couldn't help but notice that they raised the buffet price even though the holiday landed on a weekday, they treated it like a weekend. Not to mention that some of the other menu options are a tad pricey comparatively. A great ethnic addition to the community, a good competitor among the Indian fare contributors with decent ambience but a slightly devious pricing scheme with some menu options appearing a bit high for nothing extraordinary.
(4)Chris Z.
Good food and the wait staff was very helpful when it came to what was vegan and what was not. The service was not as bad what some make it out to be but it also wasn't the best. One issue I had was when we ordered rice the waiter did not ask us which kind and gave us the more expensive option. Had I known there was an option I would have gone for the cheaper of the two. But that little issue won't keep me from coming back to try out the buffet. Vegan & vegetarian friendly!!!
(4)Matthew B.
Indian in Indiana? This might have been the best Indian restaurant that I've been to in the Hoosier State. We came here on the drive back up to Chicago from Indianapolis on a Sunday night. Definitely a 4, maybe even a 4.5 stars. I don't remember exactly what we got since I'm writing this about a month later, but man, good food, well spiced, and a very nice interior. The service might have been a bit slow, but all-in-all an excellent addition to the Merrillville strip. (Note: In the strip mall just SW of the I65/US30 interchange)
(4)Kourtney L.
The food & atmosphere were amazing. The service, not so much. I can happily recommend the mushroom masalawala and tandoori chicken. We also had some great veggie appetizers but the names escape me. The service was incredibly slow throughout the meal and we sat for at least a half hour/forty minutes after finishing our meals waiting for the check. The servers blew by us each time we tried to get their attention and the bus boy just kinda ignored us. Work on your wait staff and I'll be back.
(3)Jennifer G.
I cannot stop raving about this place. I have had a lot of Indian food at a lot of different places, locally, on vacations, etc., and this is the best of the best. This time we had the vidaloo and the tandoori mix. So good, everything is just perfect. They do a steady stream of business it seems but I really hope word catches on so this place never closes!
(5)Colin M.
My wife and I were thinking about going for seafood on Satruday night, so first we tried Joe's Crab Shack...and discovered a 30 - 45 minute wait. So we left there, and tried Red Lobster...a 20 minute wait there. Wow, even with the economy in the dregs, people were still lining up to eat overpriced seafood on a Satruday night in Merrillville! I suggested we try the new Indian Restaurant that recently opened, and when we got there, we found it only about half full. Yay! No waiting. We arrived at about 8pm, and found the place to be nicely decorated with a classy ambience. The boothsand tables had white tablecloths, so you knew that this was going to be a little better experience than just your average buffet restaurant. Another good sign: Indian families were there to eat. Since they know authenticity when they taste it, I thought that was a good sign for us. The menu was pretty complete with the classic Indian entrees: tandoori chicken, mutter paneer, gulab jamun, etcetera. What was interesting was in the back they had a short list of Chinese entrees. I'd never seen that before at any other Indian restaurant. My wife decided to try one of the Chinese dishes: Cilantro Fish, only to be informed that they were out of fish. My poor wife just wasn't going to get any seafood, no matter how hard she tried. Instead, she asked for a recommendation, and the waiter suggested Chicken Haryali, which was cooked in a sauce featuring cilantro, jalapeno and mint. She isn't crazy about hot and spicy, so the waiter promised he'd make it mild for her. I ordered Lamb Biryani and Naan. While we waited for our food, we noshed on the Pappadum's and sauce which were served cokmplementary. When the food arrived, the Biryani was a huge portion, piled high on a big plate. Biryani is a rice dish, heavily spiced with garlic, cardamom, fennel, onion, peppers, cumin, etcetera. The few lamb chunks in the rice were very tender and delicious. My wife's Chicken Haryali was served in a smaller brass vessel; it was chunks of chicken in a fragrant green sauce. But that was all there was to her meal, so remember that all of this is a la carte when ordering. We did order some plain jasmine rice so she could have something to spoon her chicken over. The first few bites were very flavorful and delicious; after about a half dozen mouthfulls, we started to feel the heat. These dishes were spicy hot! Not flamethrower hot, but spicy nonetheless, much to my wife's chagrin. "If this is mild, I'd hate to try the hot version", she said. Our waiter did bring her some complementary mango ice cream when she remarked about the spiciness. The Naan (Indian bread) that came with it was also a nice counterpoint, and provded a blank canvas to spread and dip with the sauces. The Biryani came with a lovely yoghurt sauce which cooled some of the fire. I would definately try this place again, maybe even try the buffet some lunchtime. The food was good, really good, although spicy. There were some couples who were obviously on a date, and it seems like a good place for that. The entrees were in the 11 - 17 dollar range, but remember, they come a la carte for the most part. The wait staff was a little disorganized and inattentive...they could improve their score by being a little more attentive to empty water glasses, checks and other things. They serve wine and beer.
(3)Keziah C.
I love, love, love the Vegetable & Keema Samosas!!! Yummy in my tummy!
(4)MG H.
Two important words to remember: Lunch buffet.
(4)Rachael M.
As a foodie who came from a small town in TN, I learned all about Indian food when I moved to Los Angeles. I walked into Taste of India with no expectations one way or the other whatsoever. You just never know what you're gonna get until it's on the plate! But I was ABSOLUTELY THRILLED with the quality of food at this restaurant. For $8.99 at the buffet you can try, like, 22 dishes, and ALL of them were SO good. Nothing was less than totally delicious! The Chef is actually a 5 star chef from Bombay. DON'T MISS THIS PLACE! To-die-for Saag Paneer, Tandoori Chicken that is better than I have *ever* had in my life (SOOO succulent!), and very yummy eggplant. I'd give it more stars if I could! :)
(5)Barb R.
Fresh, friendly and spotless. Read my review here -- examiner.com/restaurant-…
(4)Charles R.
This is the best Indian food around! We love the Saag Paneer here. The service an food are always top notch!
(5)Jay G.
I didn't like the food or the service. We asked for advice on what to order and didn't get any. We ended up getting several dishes which we thought would be a variety but they all tasted the same.
(1)angie p.
I did like the food here better than the Tandoor. The Tandoor made me puke 2 times in a row and this place did not make me sick at all. I suggest the buffet, it is cheaper and you get more for your money. As for regular dinner, it can get expensive since you have to order rice separately and almost everything separately. It would be nice if something came with something. The waiters were really nice and helpful. I liked the chicken bryani here, there could have been more vegetables in it but it was really good. I loved the buffet items. It was all really good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Dave D.
My friend and I split the mixed grill ($25.95, comes with garlic naan) and vegetable biryani ($10.95). Everything was incredibly delicious. It was a perfect combination of dishes to split. Between this place and Tandoor in Schererville, you cannot go wrong. They are just about tied for my favorite restaurants in the area.
(5)L. R.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I've been in. It is well lit, modern looking, bright and very clean. The waiters are all dressed professionally in black and white. The tables are enough distance apart so you can carry on a conversation easily. Need I mention we were pleased to see lots of Indian people eating her, too. The service is attentive and they fill your water glass before you ask. They also make good suggestions. We can eat here and please everyone - vegan, carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian. Our dinner started with vegetable samosas. They were incredible. Light little pillows filled with vegetables (peas, potatoes, rice). The appetizer portion has 3 samosas. We also ordered onion naan. Again, delicious, so much so we couldn't stop eating it. I had aloo gobi which is my favorite Indian dish. I asked for it medium spicy and it had a great kick and great taste. My husband ate chicken curry. Ate the entire thing it was so good. All dishes were served with basmati rice - a nice touch. At the end of the meal with your check, there is a dish with hot hand towels so you can clean up. We are going to be going back to this place next week, and will continue to go. It's so nice to have such a wonderful restaurant near us.
(5)Kelly B.
The food is fantastic here! It's has a very clean & bright atmosphere and the service is exemplary. The vegetable samosas are a lovely way to start the evening (with a glass of wine). My favorite dishes are any of the vegan entrees! They're wonderful! A good way to finish the meal is with the Masala tea.
(5)Gerry G.
I had vegetable samosas, dal lentil soup, lamb Rogan gosh and naan bread .... all delicious. Staff was attentive and friendly. Honestly yelp you got to do something about autocorrect I ate Vegetable Samoans deal lentil soup and nana bread !!!
(4)Rajus D.
Good Indian food. Nice place to eat if you are traveling on i-65. It is very close to exit 253. They are open till 2:45 PM.
(4)Brad K.
Best okra I have had in my life! Lunch buffet is not huge, but everything on it tasted amazing. Plenty to eat and all of it was really fresh out of the oven. About 15 different choices, and all but two were gluten free. Hope to stop here again!!
(5)Harini P.
This place was once delicious, now everything is watered down and tasteless. So sad that the quality has gone down significantly. If you want tho attract business, start with the food.
(2)Terika K.
What started as a bad Valentine's Day delivery experience turned into one the best Indian meals that I've ever had! Spending time in Merrillville for the long weekend, I decided to try this place out. I started an online order and submitted prior to dinner hours. An hour and a half later my food hadn't arrived, so I called the restaurant. The owner answered and informed me that the online order hadn't been received. *bummer* Next he proceeded to tell me that they were not going to deliver due to the Valentine's Day rush. *double bummer*. I kindly said thanks, but no thanks and he graciously agreed to deliver my food. Everything arrived hot and fresh and flavorful! Being a Chicagoan, I tend to be a bit of an ethnic food snob and this place really surprised me! I will definitely visit again once the weather is better. Despite eating a little later than I had originally wanted, I appreciate the owner's willingness to accommodate my order and deliver it personally!
(5)Kuldeep G.
'Indian spicy'...we loved the level defined for spicy..It was really indian spicy. We ordered mutter paneer and kolhapuri chicken and both were amazing.courteous staff.very nice ambiance.
(5)Stu H.
The food here is fantastic. My wife and I got the buffet for lunch. The Saag Paneer was delicious and the Naan is excellent also.
(5)Bryan D.
Cheap buffet for great authentic food. Chicken curry was very good. I wish it was spicier but I know buffets need to cater to all. I'll be going next time I'm in town.
(4)Yako S.
Eat here and Chesterton, IN location often. Very good food and service. Service is better in Merrillville location. I have never experienced "watered down" Indian food, so have no idea what that could mean. I love turmeric and they have it. Naan is very good. Love the mushroom dish, dal and rice. Great place to go gluten free since there is a lot of rice.
(4)Lara L.
Not a lot to offer and overpriced. Good service though so not just 1 star. Owner has coupon on retail me not phone ap that he will not offer unless printed out (its a phone ap!) He also wont take the coupon off the buffet even though the coupon does not say this in the terms.
(2)Omar A.
Chicken tandoori was dry and tasted reheated. I understand it can't be made fresh all the time but I would not recommend ordering it. The chicken biryani was mediocre, nothing to write home about. The chicken tikka masala sauce was good but the chicken tasted bland. The prices were steep considering the quality of the food.
(3)Christina G.
This restaurant has gone downhill! The two owners/managers that were there a year ago and so pleasant and accommodating are either gone or just never around when we're there. Instead we are greeted by less than enthusiastic employees who look like they hate being there. They have the worst people skills! We are always great tippers when we dine in but sadly now we can no longer support a place that clearly doesn't want our business. We usually order the Dal Makani...For starters they have reduced the amount of rice in their carry out orders. It's about a third of the amount that you get with the entrée when you dine in the restaurant. It's barely enough for one person and doesn't balance out the normal amount of lentils they give you, so the meal actually ends up being more like lentil soup. So we stopped ordering out because when we would ask for the full amount of rice that's supposed to come with the order, they insisted in charging an extra 5 bucks for a side order of rice. Therefore, logically we dine in so there is no silly rice issue. Today was the last straw. We arrived 20 minutes before there restaurant was closing before reopening for their dinner hours. We were awkwardly standing at the door as a female employee just looked our way for a bit then coldly asked the man behind the bar what time it was. She then turned us away at the door very rudely, saying they were closing early, in 10 minutes. There was no apology and she acted like she couldn't be bothered to even talk to us. It's a shame that the employees here have ruined our experience at this restaurant. After 5 years of loyal patronage, we are no longer coming back.
(1)Ari A.
First of all food was great but we had a very bad experience at the end of our dinner. When you walk into restaurant, it says they have two buffet price, one for weekdays which is 9.99$ and weekends 11.99$ . They charged weekend price on a weekday. When i asked them, they told me " they charge weekend price for the dinner". This pricing doesn't appear on anywhere in this restaurant. So basically, they repriced the for us. My question is "what if i didnt have that extra 4$ bucks in my pocket ??" Someone has to warn us before we start eating. Am i right guys ?
(2)Bethany S.
Stopped here on the way to Chicago since all of us in the car liked Indian food, and it was a good choice. Excellent service, clean, nicely decorated, delicious food. One of the better Indian places I've been to. We were all happy.
(4)Kimmie R.
I can't give this place five stars, because it is by no means a five star restaurant but the food was very good! They offer multiple choices for a reasonable price and the food is perfectly seasoned. If you are ever in Merriville, Indiana and you aren't sure where to stop and eat go ahead and drive over to 81st Ave and check Taste of India out! They are friendly yet, very nervous and hesitant with their customer service it's almost funny. They stand back and watch you like they are trying to figure out if something is wrong before you say it, but their English isn't that good so yeah it's cute. Overall, the staff was friendly, attentive and approachable. The food was spicy perfection and reasonably priced, so enjoy!
(4)Mari M.
This review is based solely on the lunch buffet. We came in to eat on a Sunday and ordered the lunch buffet. The food was okay, but I have definitely had better. Everything I ate tasted fine, but nothing was memorable. I was also somewhat disappointed at the lack of vegetarian options at the buffet. They kept running out of samosas and rice and we had to ask that the stock be replenished. The naan they served with the buffet was covered in garlic, which I did not really care for. The rice pudding was really good. I think the buffet was $11.95. I would like to go back for dinner and order off of the menu. Some of my favorite Indian dishes (aloo palak, dahl makhani, palak paneer) were not offered at the buffet, but were on the menu. I'm hoping ordering off the menu will make me a regular here since it is way more convenient than driving up to Devon.
(3)Nancy L.
Pleasantly surprised to find a decent Indian place when driving through Merrillville. Conveniently located just West of I65 exit 253 on South side of highway. Lunch buffet had plenty of selections for my vegetarian daughter. Beans and lentil dish was especially good. Quick and yummy. I will stop here again on my next drive through.
(4)Dee O.
This was sadly the worst Indian food I have ever had. What makes it even sadder is that I pretty much nearly died in order to get this food. Totally not exaggerating. I was stuck in Indiana (again) because of a snow storm and decided to get some Indian food since it had good reviews and was next to my hotel. Taste of India did not clear their driveway of snow so I was stuck in the mushpile of snow with half of my car still on the street. Thankfully I didn't get hit by on-coming vehicles and was able to get myself out of the mush. I parked next door at the Hooters and risked my life walking on the busy highway to get back to Taste of India. Service here also mightily sucked. Another reviewer said it best. Good restaurants ask you how your food is. Don't expect that here. During my meal, I really wanted a glass of wine to wash the barely edible food down. Alas, there was not a server to be seen. Instead, I could hear them talking and laughing about who knows what. They were sure quick to find me and give me my check. It didn't matter that my food was largely uneaten. Now to the food. I knew I was pretty much toast when the first page of the menu had Chinese dishes on it. My usual meal at Indian restaurants is the roasted eggplant. It usually looks and tastes about the same in the many Indian restaurants I have eaten at. I was taken aback when my meal was delivered to my table as it looked nothing like what I was used to. And it tasted nothing like it too. It had the unmistakable taste of lentil, which was not stated as an ingredient in the menu as I wouldn't have ordered it. The meal was rather unenjoyable. I also missed cumin in the rice. For the first time ever in my life, I didn't finish the rice I was given at an Indian restaurant. The naan was the only saving grace. It was soft and delicious. I almost ordered another one to go since I was surely going to bed hungry. My experience here is obviously different from most other reviewers but it was memorable enough to ensure I stay far away from this place. I hope to God I stop getting stuck in random towns in Indiana but if I get stuck in Merrillville again, I will be eating at the Chipotle down the road.
(1)Dan P.
I was so surprised the buffet food is so fresh this place is very clean and the service was second to none! Have been to lunch buffet and dinner twice never disappointed!
(5)Adrienne B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years now. This is where I introduced him to Indian cuisine thanks to groupon. He was very hesitant to try but now it's one of our staple restaurants. His favorite is the lamb korma and mine is probably the paneer tikka masala. The owner is extremely nice and appreciates everyone. We haven't found another place in the area with the same service and food in the area.
(5)Heather O.
The food and service was really great. Without realizing it we were there past closing time for lunch, they didn't rush us whatsoever. Worth the drive from Michigan for great Indian food.
(4)Paul P.
Amazing food. Please help support. Lack of ethnic places in nwi. Worth the experience! This place rivals chicago Indian restaurants!
(5)Rajus D.
Good Indian food. Nice place to eat if you are traveling on i-65. It is very close to exit 253. They are open till 2:45 PM.
(4)Joy M.
I come here just about every week. I had to cut down to once a week on Fridays because I had to start practicing moderation. Fridays is the best day because they have these little potato cake things that are awesome. I've gone so much that I've started to enjoy the music they play! Speaking of which it's almost lunch time and I'll be headed there in a bit!
(4)Brad K.
Best okra I have had in my life! Lunch buffet is not huge, but everything on it tasted amazing. Plenty to eat and all of it was really fresh out of the oven. About 15 different choices, and all but two were gluten free. Hope to stop here again!!
(5)Harini P.
This place was once delicious, now everything is watered down and tasteless. So sad that the quality has gone down significantly. If you want tho attract business, start with the food.
(2)Terika K.
What started as a bad Valentine's Day delivery experience turned into one the best Indian meals that I've ever had! Spending time in Merrillville for the long weekend, I decided to try this place out. I started an online order and submitted prior to dinner hours. An hour and a half later my food hadn't arrived, so I called the restaurant. The owner answered and informed me that the online order hadn't been received. *bummer* Next he proceeded to tell me that they were not going to deliver due to the Valentine's Day rush. *double bummer*. I kindly said thanks, but no thanks and he graciously agreed to deliver my food. Everything arrived hot and fresh and flavorful! Being a Chicagoan, I tend to be a bit of an ethnic food snob and this place really surprised me! I will definitely visit again once the weather is better. Despite eating a little later than I had originally wanted, I appreciate the owner's willingness to accommodate my order and deliver it personally!
(5)Kuldeep G.
'Indian spicy'...we loved the level defined for spicy..It was really indian spicy. We ordered mutter paneer and kolhapuri chicken and both were amazing.courteous staff.very nice ambiance.
(5)Gerry G.
I had vegetable samosas, dal lentil soup, lamb Rogan gosh and naan bread .... all delicious. Staff was attentive and friendly. Honestly yelp you got to do something about autocorrect I ate Vegetable Samoans deal lentil soup and nana bread !!!
(4)Alyson M.
I'm always a fan of the food here. I don't think I've had anything 'bad' besides service. Worst food service and customer service I'd ever witnessed or been a part of. I wanted to order a bottle of wine to have ready for my 2 friends... but I never saw anyone after that. There was a girl that had facial piercings and was dressed in attire not suitable for this restaurant; you have cloth napkins, a glass cover over table cloths and stemmed glassware for water. She was wearing a hoody and leggings? I didn't realize she was an employee for a while. I don't care about the facial piercings, it was the black hoody that said "love" across the back and had a pink heart embossed on the front left chest, paired off with black leggings and brown ugg boots, unkempt hair and the most unwelcoming expression on her face. That's what bothered me. My girlfriends came in and they hadn't been greeted for almost 10 minutes- and when they were, Hoody Girl approached, pad of paper ready, and said "are we ready order now?" Order what? Drinks? Sure. Appetizers? Maybe. We ordered a bottle of wine and appetizers. While browsing the menu we had a question about an entrée, we had to stop her and ask, her response was "I don't know" - she walked away, and came back with an answer. She brought our wine- the first time I'd been t this restaurant, I was shown the bottle of wine to verify that that was the one we ordered. She came and loudly placed the glasses down, not speaking at all. We thanked her. The other woman brought our appetizers. We never saw either of them at our table after that. They didn't once come to check on our appetizers. Ok, maybe Hoody isn't our server? In fact we saw her leave at one point, so we assumed that yea...maybe the other woman was. She came back, both women brought us our three entrees. We received no rice. It was another 5-7 minutes before I saw Hoody again, and I had to stop her, again, to get our rice, which wasn't suffice for having ordered three entrees. Then guess what...neither of the women came to our table again. No one checked on our meals, and we were out of wine, and no one took our dishes from the appetizers, so I put them on the table next to us. No one asked about dessert, our check was just brought to us. We presented a coupon for a BOGO and gave it to the first women, not Hoody, because she brought our check. First Woman was gone for almost 10 minutes figuring out the BOGO, she came by, and went to a gentleman - presumably a manager or owner? To ask if she did it right, she re-presented it to us and I asked "is everything ok??" And she didn't respond. We receive the check again, and a meal was removed, but a GRATUITY was added to the tune of 15%. The total was reduced by just under $3. There was also a charge that says "Open Food $1." I brought it to the counter, where that same mystery man was, to dispute the gratuity since we'd had the worst service imaginable. He kindly removed the unnecessary gratuity. The woman HIGHLIGHTED on my coupon where it said "please tip 15%-20% prior to discounted bill" - Really? For what? To whom? Who was our server?! No one even introduced themselves. I never left such a bad tip in my life before this experience. Now this was the most we'd seen Hoody at all, when it came time for us to pay. Then she sat at the bar and watched us, waiting for us to leave. We stood up, and just barely started putting on our jackets and gathering our belongings when she hopped off the chair, swooped in between us and grabbed the book with the money off the table. Didn't thank us, say "goodnight" or smile of course, and went to the computer. She and the other woman gave us dirty looks on our way out. It's a shame that a nice restaurant has people like this servicing its patrons. Word-of-mouth advertising gets people far, why would I send anyone to this place if they're going to be treated like that?
(1)Amanda A.
My go-to for quality Indian food. I'm vegan and they always accommodate me and my children! Excellent service, comfortable environment, and great food.
(5)Matthew B.
They only have a buffet apparently, which looked fine but I'm not really into buffet. There were no Indian people working it was three white females working. I guess I want my first experience with Indian food to be a little more authentic than this place.
(2)Honest A.
SIMPLY GREAT local Indian food. Chicago-quality. Decor is 1980s tacky but who cares, food is tasty!
(5)Matthew B.
Great food, and lots of it. Garlic Naan was some of the best I've had. Like a cross over between naan, and crispy garlic bread. For the price range, I think 4-5 stars is just about perfect. Definitely recommend.
(4)Bethany S.
Stopped here on the way to Chicago since all of us in the car liked Indian food, and it was a good choice. Excellent service, clean, nicely decorated, delicious food. One of the better Indian places I've been to. We were all happy.
(4)Dee O.
This was sadly the worst Indian food I have ever had. What makes it even sadder is that I pretty much nearly died in order to get this food. Totally not exaggerating. I was stuck in Indiana (again) because of a snow storm and decided to get some Indian food since it had good reviews and was next to my hotel. Taste of India did not clear their driveway of snow so I was stuck in the mushpile of snow with half of my car still on the street. Thankfully I didn't get hit by on-coming vehicles and was able to get myself out of the mush. I parked next door at the Hooters and risked my life walking on the busy highway to get back to Taste of India. Service here also mightily sucked. Another reviewer said it best. Good restaurants ask you how your food is. Don't expect that here. During my meal, I really wanted a glass of wine to wash the barely edible food down. Alas, there was not a server to be seen. Instead, I could hear them talking and laughing about who knows what. They were sure quick to find me and give me my check. It didn't matter that my food was largely uneaten. Now to the food. I knew I was pretty much toast when the first page of the menu had Chinese dishes on it. My usual meal at Indian restaurants is the roasted eggplant. It usually looks and tastes about the same in the many Indian restaurants I have eaten at. I was taken aback when my meal was delivered to my table as it looked nothing like what I was used to. And it tasted nothing like it too. It had the unmistakable taste of lentil, which was not stated as an ingredient in the menu as I wouldn't have ordered it. The meal was rather unenjoyable. I also missed cumin in the rice. For the first time ever in my life, I didn't finish the rice I was given at an Indian restaurant. The naan was the only saving grace. It was soft and delicious. I almost ordered another one to go since I was surely going to bed hungry. My experience here is obviously different from most other reviewers but it was memorable enough to ensure I stay far away from this place. I hope to God I stop getting stuck in random towns in Indiana but if I get stuck in Merrillville again, I will be eating at the Chipotle down the road.
(1)Adrienne B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years now. This is where I introduced him to Indian cuisine thanks to groupon. He was very hesitant to try but now it's one of our staple restaurants. His favorite is the lamb korma and mine is probably the paneer tikka masala. The owner is extremely nice and appreciates everyone. We haven't found another place in the area with the same service and food in the area.
(5)Dan P.
I was so surprised the buffet food is so fresh this place is very clean and the service was second to none! Have been to lunch buffet and dinner twice never disappointed!
(5)Heather O.
The food and service was really great. Without realizing it we were there past closing time for lunch, they didn't rush us whatsoever. Worth the drive from Michigan for great Indian food.
(4)Stu H.
The food here is fantastic. My wife and I got the buffet for lunch. The Saag Paneer was delicious and the Naan is excellent also.
(5)Bryan D.
Cheap buffet for great authentic food. Chicken curry was very good. I wish it was spicier but I know buffets need to cater to all. I'll be going next time I'm in town.
(4)Yako S.
Eat here and Chesterton, IN location often. Very good food and service. Service is better in Merrillville location. I have never experienced "watered down" Indian food, so have no idea what that could mean. I love turmeric and they have it. Naan is very good. Love the mushroom dish, dal and rice. Great place to go gluten free since there is a lot of rice.
(4)Lara L.
Not a lot to offer and overpriced. Good service though so not just 1 star. Owner has coupon on retail me not phone ap that he will not offer unless printed out (its a phone ap!) He also wont take the coupon off the buffet even though the coupon does not say this in the terms.
(2)Omar A.
Chicken tandoori was dry and tasted reheated. I understand it can't be made fresh all the time but I would not recommend ordering it. The chicken biryani was mediocre, nothing to write home about. The chicken tikka masala sauce was good but the chicken tasted bland. The prices were steep considering the quality of the food.
(3)Christina G.
This restaurant has gone downhill! The two owners/managers that were there a year ago and so pleasant and accommodating are either gone or just never around when we're there. Instead we are greeted by less than enthusiastic employees who look like they hate being there. They have the worst people skills! We are always great tippers when we dine in but sadly now we can no longer support a place that clearly doesn't want our business. We usually order the Dal Makani...For starters they have reduced the amount of rice in their carry out orders. It's about a third of the amount that you get with the entrée when you dine in the restaurant. It's barely enough for one person and doesn't balance out the normal amount of lentils they give you, so the meal actually ends up being more like lentil soup. So we stopped ordering out because when we would ask for the full amount of rice that's supposed to come with the order, they insisted in charging an extra 5 bucks for a side order of rice. Therefore, logically we dine in so there is no silly rice issue. Today was the last straw. We arrived 20 minutes before there restaurant was closing before reopening for their dinner hours. We were awkwardly standing at the door as a female employee just looked our way for a bit then coldly asked the man behind the bar what time it was. She then turned us away at the door very rudely, saying they were closing early, in 10 minutes. There was no apology and she acted like she couldn't be bothered to even talk to us. It's a shame that the employees here have ruined our experience at this restaurant. After 5 years of loyal patronage, we are no longer coming back.
(1)Ari A.
First of all food was great but we had a very bad experience at the end of our dinner. When you walk into restaurant, it says they have two buffet price, one for weekdays which is 9.99$ and weekends 11.99$ . They charged weekend price on a weekday. When i asked them, they told me " they charge weekend price for the dinner". This pricing doesn't appear on anywhere in this restaurant. So basically, they repriced the for us. My question is "what if i didnt have that extra 4$ bucks in my pocket ??" Someone has to warn us before we start eating. Am i right guys ?
(2)Paul P.
Amazing food. Please help support. Lack of ethnic places in nwi. Worth the experience! This place rivals chicago Indian restaurants!
(5)Reed H.
Quality Indian food. Not much more to it. Great service, no complaints. Chicken 65 as an appetizer is a great choice. They do lamb like it should be done. We do have a lack of Indian places in the region, but this place is great
(4)L L.
This restaurant is improving again after a dry spell. Fresh and frangrant. Great atmosphere, good service. They have a lunch buffet that is good, but the dinner entrees are excellent.
(4)Kathryn O.
Great Indian food! The garlic naan is amazing and comes fresh to your table with purchase of buffet. I've only ever eaten the buffet and am never disappointed!! They changed the glubjamon so that was disappointing but always great food, great price and great service!! When Devon is too far this place will satisfy your Indian food craving!
(4)Kimmie R.
I can't give this place five stars, because it is by no means a five star restaurant but the food was very good! They offer multiple choices for a reasonable price and the food is perfectly seasoned. If you are ever in Merriville, Indiana and you aren't sure where to stop and eat go ahead and drive over to 81st Ave and check Taste of India out! They are friendly yet, very nervous and hesitant with their customer service it's almost funny. They stand back and watch you like they are trying to figure out if something is wrong before you say it, but their English isn't that good so yeah it's cute. Overall, the staff was friendly, attentive and approachable. The food was spicy perfection and reasonably priced, so enjoy!
(4)Mari M.
This review is based solely on the lunch buffet. We came in to eat on a Sunday and ordered the lunch buffet. The food was okay, but I have definitely had better. Everything I ate tasted fine, but nothing was memorable. I was also somewhat disappointed at the lack of vegetarian options at the buffet. They kept running out of samosas and rice and we had to ask that the stock be replenished. The naan they served with the buffet was covered in garlic, which I did not really care for. The rice pudding was really good. I think the buffet was $11.95. I would like to go back for dinner and order off of the menu. Some of my favorite Indian dishes (aloo palak, dahl makhani, palak paneer) were not offered at the buffet, but were on the menu. I'm hoping ordering off the menu will make me a regular here since it is way more convenient than driving up to Devon.
(3)Nancy L.
Pleasantly surprised to find a decent Indian place when driving through Merrillville. Conveniently located just West of I65 exit 253 on South side of highway. Lunch buffet had plenty of selections for my vegetarian daughter. Beans and lentil dish was especially good. Quick and yummy. I will stop here again on my next drive through.
(4)Jaspreet S.
Simply atrocious! If your looking for a good Indian meal at Taste of India then simply come for appetizers only. Curries that are watered down and blended with heavy cream do not justify paying $15 for an entrée. The person with me took two bites from his paneer tikka masala and left it because it was equivalent to drinking from a carton of heavy cream with a straw. My bland and watered down chicken tikka masala curry was most likely served from the leftovers in the buffet from a the same day.
(1)Jennifer G.
I cannot stop raving about this place. I have had a lot of Indian food at a lot of different places, locally, on vacations, etc., and this is the best of the best. This time we had the vidaloo and the tandoori mix. So good, everything is just perfect. They do a steady stream of business it seems but I really hope word catches on so this place never closes!
(5)Rachael M.
As a foodie who came from a small town in TN, I learned all about Indian food when I moved to Los Angeles. I walked into Taste of India with no expectations one way or the other whatsoever. You just never know what you're gonna get until it's on the plate! But I was ABSOLUTELY THRILLED with the quality of food at this restaurant. For $8.99 at the buffet you can try, like, 22 dishes, and ALL of them were SO good. Nothing was less than totally delicious! The Chef is actually a 5 star chef from Bombay. DON'T MISS THIS PLACE! To-die-for Saag Paneer, Tandoori Chicken that is better than I have *ever* had in my life (SOOO succulent!), and very yummy eggplant. I'd give it more stars if I could! :)
(5)Barb R.
Fresh, friendly and spotless. Read my review here -- examiner.com/restaurant-…
(4)Charles R.
This is the best Indian food around! We love the Saag Paneer here. The service an food are always top notch!
(5)Jay G.
I didn't like the food or the service. We asked for advice on what to order and didn't get any. We ended up getting several dishes which we thought would be a variety but they all tasted the same.
(1)angie p.
I did like the food here better than the Tandoor. The Tandoor made me puke 2 times in a row and this place did not make me sick at all. I suggest the buffet, it is cheaper and you get more for your money. As for regular dinner, it can get expensive since you have to order rice separately and almost everything separately. It would be nice if something came with something. The waiters were really nice and helpful. I liked the chicken bryani here, there could have been more vegetables in it but it was really good. I loved the buffet items. It was all really good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Dave D.
My friend and I split the mixed grill ($25.95, comes with garlic naan) and vegetable biryani ($10.95). Everything was incredibly delicious. It was a perfect combination of dishes to split. Between this place and Tandoor in Schererville, you cannot go wrong. They are just about tied for my favorite restaurants in the area.
(5)Colin M.
My wife and I were thinking about going for seafood on Satruday night, so first we tried Joe's Crab Shack...and discovered a 30 - 45 minute wait. So we left there, and tried Red Lobster...a 20 minute wait there. Wow, even with the economy in the dregs, people were still lining up to eat overpriced seafood on a Satruday night in Merrillville! I suggested we try the new Indian Restaurant that recently opened, and when we got there, we found it only about half full. Yay! No waiting. We arrived at about 8pm, and found the place to be nicely decorated with a classy ambience. The boothsand tables had white tablecloths, so you knew that this was going to be a little better experience than just your average buffet restaurant. Another good sign: Indian families were there to eat. Since they know authenticity when they taste it, I thought that was a good sign for us. The menu was pretty complete with the classic Indian entrees: tandoori chicken, mutter paneer, gulab jamun, etcetera. What was interesting was in the back they had a short list of Chinese entrees. I'd never seen that before at any other Indian restaurant. My wife decided to try one of the Chinese dishes: Cilantro Fish, only to be informed that they were out of fish. My poor wife just wasn't going to get any seafood, no matter how hard she tried. Instead, she asked for a recommendation, and the waiter suggested Chicken Haryali, which was cooked in a sauce featuring cilantro, jalapeno and mint. She isn't crazy about hot and spicy, so the waiter promised he'd make it mild for her. I ordered Lamb Biryani and Naan. While we waited for our food, we noshed on the Pappadum's and sauce which were served cokmplementary. When the food arrived, the Biryani was a huge portion, piled high on a big plate. Biryani is a rice dish, heavily spiced with garlic, cardamom, fennel, onion, peppers, cumin, etcetera. The few lamb chunks in the rice were very tender and delicious. My wife's Chicken Haryali was served in a smaller brass vessel; it was chunks of chicken in a fragrant green sauce. But that was all there was to her meal, so remember that all of this is a la carte when ordering. We did order some plain jasmine rice so she could have something to spoon her chicken over. The first few bites were very flavorful and delicious; after about a half dozen mouthfulls, we started to feel the heat. These dishes were spicy hot! Not flamethrower hot, but spicy nonetheless, much to my wife's chagrin. "If this is mild, I'd hate to try the hot version", she said. Our waiter did bring her some complementary mango ice cream when she remarked about the spiciness. The Naan (Indian bread) that came with it was also a nice counterpoint, and provded a blank canvas to spread and dip with the sauces. The Biryani came with a lovely yoghurt sauce which cooled some of the fire. I would definately try this place again, maybe even try the buffet some lunchtime. The food was good, really good, although spicy. There were some couples who were obviously on a date, and it seems like a good place for that. The entrees were in the 11 - 17 dollar range, but remember, they come a la carte for the most part. The wait staff was a little disorganized and inattentive...they could improve their score by being a little more attentive to empty water glasses, checks and other things. They serve wine and beer.
(3)Keziah C.
I love, love, love the Vegetable & Keema Samosas!!! Yummy in my tummy!
(4)MG H.
Two important words to remember: Lunch buffet.
(4)L. R.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I've been in. It is well lit, modern looking, bright and very clean. The waiters are all dressed professionally in black and white. The tables are enough distance apart so you can carry on a conversation easily. Need I mention we were pleased to see lots of Indian people eating her, too. The service is attentive and they fill your water glass before you ask. They also make good suggestions. We can eat here and please everyone - vegan, carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian. Our dinner started with vegetable samosas. They were incredible. Light little pillows filled with vegetables (peas, potatoes, rice). The appetizer portion has 3 samosas. We also ordered onion naan. Again, delicious, so much so we couldn't stop eating it. I had aloo gobi which is my favorite Indian dish. I asked for it medium spicy and it had a great kick and great taste. My husband ate chicken curry. Ate the entire thing it was so good. All dishes were served with basmati rice - a nice touch. At the end of the meal with your check, there is a dish with hot hand towels so you can clean up. We are going to be going back to this place next week, and will continue to go. It's so nice to have such a wonderful restaurant near us.
(5)Ravi N.
The lunch buffet has diverse choices both for vegetarian and non-vegetarians and it is reasonably priced. The ambience is good and the service is courteous. Most of the dishes can be cooked to American palate (less spicy).
(4)Jerry S.
Everything on the Buffet is Absolutely Delicious. I keep going back for the unique tastes totally different than my normal american diet...Nothing was too Hot or too Spicy. Its addictive. Place is clean and would highly recommend this place for tastes that are a bit different that your use too, but extraordinary. Only negatives would be... not crazy about the Music and the Service is very good.
(4)Kim N.
WOW. the best naan i've ever had. Those little cumin seeds lend just an awesome punch to typical naan flavor. Also helps that they are served piping hot and fresh! Really great variety in the lunch buffet - everything from butter chicken to goat curry to various pakoras. Everything tasted great!! The restaurant is clean & open and service is very good. I continue to be surprised at what awesome ethnic food i'm finding in this little town.
(4)Renee G.
Everything I have tried is amazing! Highly recommended items: Mulagatani soup, Boti Kabob... also the Taj Mahal beer is a good treat. Great service and nice atmosphere!
(5)Stephen B.
Warm and friendly ambiance, excellent service and great food. This restaurant is so good I returned the next day for another meal. I wasn't disappointed, it was just as good the second day. I live in the UK where indian food is staple so a good restaurant in Indiana (where I visit frequently) is an important discovery. If you haven't tried indian quisine yet this restaurant is a good place to experience this wonderful food.
(5)BK R.
The lentil soup is perfectly seasoned and light. The "Chicken 65" appetizer is terrific...medium spice level is plenty warm (the flavors are outstanding). Highly recommend the fish tikka with garlic nann. It is served sizzling on a platter with perfectly cooked rice. Even the homemade tamarind and mint sauces are outstanding... As I write this I am thinking to change the rating to "5" star... Try the homemade orange kulfi ice cream to finish your feast. You will conclude with a hot towel for the hands. Definitely worth a return visit. Don't hesitate to ask the managers for advice... They are extremely personable and helpful.
(4)Genevieve T.
I recently tried Taste of India for the first time. The kadai chicken was good and the garlic naan was delicious. The service was great. I would go back.
(4)C W.
Great food and service. Very nicely decorated, we went in the daytime, but looks like dining at night would be the time it really shines. It was my wife's first go at Indian food, and glad that it was a place that served excellent tasting Indian food.
(4)The grapevine W.
WONDERFUL AND REFRESHING ! I first visited this quaint "TASTE OF INDIA" a few months ago. It was a welcoming pleasant surprise. The staff is very helpful, and uniformed. I enjoyed the food so much that I now have a standing order.....Favoritefood chickencurry..................11.95 KeemaMattar (Lamb)........................12.95 ChickenBiryan..............11.95 Biryani.......Chix,veg,lamb, Shrimp, Breadbasket..................6.95 KeemaNaanw/lamb.......3.50 TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT !
(5)Kay J.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! This place kicks the S'ville Indian restaurant in the ass! It is pretty, nice table cloths, glasses, plates - ambiance. When I asked my waiter for a small beer he said "No, I bring you Taj." Oh-kay. It was huge and icy cold. Good thing since my 'medium hot' (again, the waiter) was FREAKIN' HOT!!! Do NOT order food until you have a cold beverage in front of you. My friend and I split the mixed grill ($19.95) and Biryani, a rice dish. Don't know what was in the rice but HOT, HOT, HOT! The meat platter had 7 or 8 different fish, shrimp, chicken, lamb and beef choices - all tender and delicious. We skipped desert and the food and wine and beer came to $72 plus tip. Service was attentive - maybe a bit too much. I am looking forward to going back with my brother and my Indian friends who will enjoy the food.
(4)Kim K.
Always wonderful and consistent. We have been there for the lunch buffet as well as dinner and it is always delicious. We are currently hooked on the Mushroom Masalawala with Garlic Naan, Lamb Saag and Gulab Jamun. (I swear I could eat Gulab Jamun every day and never tire of it.) It's true, the service can be a little slow sometimes, but the staff is always very friendly and affable. We usually just go with it and enjoy our meal there as a relaxed and incredibly flavorful feast. I'm so happy we have Taste of India here in town!
(4)Lindsay M.
Their lunch buffet is delicious and totally worth the price!!
(5)Matt L.
The food is about average, actually. By comparison to Tandoor in Schererville, the lamb is tenderer, the korma sauce is equivalent, but the masala wasn't as good. The portions are also smaller, for about the same price, and while I don't know if our experience was typical, we had to wait quite a while (probably about 20 minutes) between being seated and first contact with our waiter. If you're looking for Indian in Indiana, go to Tandoor instead.
(2)Mary B.
This was my first time here and I loved it!! I don't eat a lot of Indian food, well because there just isn't a lot around here. Well thank god for this place. Now I have someplace to go besides the boring usuals. We had the lunch buffet and I really don't remember all the names of the dishes but they were all delish, esp. the chicken. The spices were great and the decor is very nice. I'll be back.....
(4)Amy S.
I've seen remarks on slow service, but my experience was just the opposite. I've had prompt and friendly service both times I've gone, and definitely plan to return in the future, whenever in the Merrillvillle area. The lunch buffet was an excellent value, offering up a quite a few choices, hot and cold. The menu also offered a good variety at a fair price. The atmosphere is nice as well. I will definitely be back! Delicious!
(4)Michael B.
In Northwestern Indiana, affectionately known as "the Region", there aren't a lot of ethnic food choices, and Indian food is no exception. So it is great to have another choice and a fine one at that. What sets this restaurant apart from the others is the decorum and service: much more spacious, comforting and refined and the wait staff is accommodating and professional to a fault. Additionally, I found the menu to have more options and among the choices, all were prepared nicely and tasted great. I would not say that all the dishes were phenomenal or exceptional so I won't grant a 5-star. Also, having attended this restaurant on a holiday (typically the Indian restaurants are open during US holidays) I couldn't help but notice that they raised the buffet price even though the holiday landed on a weekday, they treated it like a weekend. Not to mention that some of the other menu options are a tad pricey comparatively. A great ethnic addition to the community, a good competitor among the Indian fare contributors with decent ambience but a slightly devious pricing scheme with some menu options appearing a bit high for nothing extraordinary.
(4)Chris Z.
Good food and the wait staff was very helpful when it came to what was vegan and what was not. The service was not as bad what some make it out to be but it also wasn't the best. One issue I had was when we ordered rice the waiter did not ask us which kind and gave us the more expensive option. Had I known there was an option I would have gone for the cheaper of the two. But that little issue won't keep me from coming back to try out the buffet. Vegan & vegetarian friendly!!!
(4)Matthew B.
Indian in Indiana? This might have been the best Indian restaurant that I've been to in the Hoosier State. We came here on the drive back up to Chicago from Indianapolis on a Sunday night. Definitely a 4, maybe even a 4.5 stars. I don't remember exactly what we got since I'm writing this about a month later, but man, good food, well spiced, and a very nice interior. The service might have been a bit slow, but all-in-all an excellent addition to the Merrillville strip. (Note: In the strip mall just SW of the I65/US30 interchange)
(4)Kourtney L.
The food & atmosphere were amazing. The service, not so much. I can happily recommend the mushroom masalawala and tandoori chicken. We also had some great veggie appetizers but the names escape me. The service was incredibly slow throughout the meal and we sat for at least a half hour/forty minutes after finishing our meals waiting for the check. The servers blew by us each time we tried to get their attention and the bus boy just kinda ignored us. Work on your wait staff and I'll be back.
(3)Davin L.
As only the second Indian restaurant in the area, the competitive bar is relatively low. Fortunately, Taste of India clears it with style and panache to spare. I enjoyed the weekend buffet with two friends, in addition to ordering the Chicken Kourma and Garlic Naan. The chicken was tender and delicious, and the naan was fluffy and tasty. Service in my opinion was excellent, almost annoyingly so. The staff was always nearby to ask if we needed a refill on drinks, more rice, or more bread. I look forward to many more visits to try the various dishes, especially the lamb.
(4)Robert S.
I come here a lot and the service is almost always phenomenal (except when they're packed which is understandable). Buffet is top-notch. They have a vegetarian sampler plate that's perfect. I don't understand why every Indian place doesn't have one. You get to try a bunch of different dishes in one meal. Only drawback...I've come here before and found them closed between lunch and dinner.
(5)Laura H.
It's like a little Indian oasis in a sea of fast food netherlands. We saw a billboard on the expressway and thought, why not? We figured if it was awful we could simply fall back on Steak n Shake. We could tell simply from the aromas when we walked in that we'd found a winner. We had the lunch buffet (offered 7 days a week!), and it was amazing!! They have 3 kinds of soup, pakora, tandoori chicken and afghan chicken, several curries (meat and veggie), basmati rice imported from India, and veggie fried rice. The tikka masala is always one of my faves, but this one was paneer, so not my fave. The chicken makhani was delish. The lamb vindaloo was good but could've been spicier. Great cilantro chutney. They also bring an endless basket of garlic naan to the table, and it is fantastic! A little rice pudding is the perfect finish. All this for $11.99/person! This is now our fave road trip stop when we are heading south!
(4)Peter S.
My broski and I had dinner here, after having a good day at RamenCon 2011 (anime con across the street), and decided to treat ourselves to Indian food. We saw an article in a magazine, in our hotel room, and we're glad we took its advice... Dinner was FANTASTIC! First, the lime sodas are very good and refreshing, the crispy papads were particularly tasty, and the sauces very aromatic with a nice kick to them. We started out with samosas and fried calamari, both of which were very well prepared. We enjoyed how uncommonly crispy and flaky both were, without being terribly oily. The accompanying sauces complemented them very well. For dinner, we ordered seafood curry with garlic naan and chicken tikka masala over rice. I've had the same dishes at several other Indian restaurants, and Taste of India's was among my favorite. Everything was very well prepared, with juicy chicken and shrimp, served nice and hot. For desert we had carrot halwa, which was the perfect balance of sweet and satisfying. Service was very good, even though we were there near closing time. Our server, and the other employees, were very attentive. The leftovers were also particularly good, the next day. Any time we come back to Merrillville, we'll be sure to have dinner at Taste of India again.
(5)Alyssa L.
Delightful food, helpful service, graceful dining room! Upon arrival, I was taken aback by the lapse between lunch and dinner. My boyfriend and I had arrived around 4:30 in the afternoon and found the doors locked. It is very unusual for restaurants to close between meals in this area. We passed the time at the bar of a certain near by over-themed yet underwhelmed food restaurant. It was definitely worth the wait! The food was excellent. For starters, the chutney is phenomenal. We ordered the veggie samosas as an appetizer and asked for a rec commendation on our entree. Our server was so en parr with the menu that after asking us a few simple taste preferences, he took our order without us ever even knowing exactly what it was. We received a lamb dish, medium heat, served with peppers, onions, and alongside rice and garlic naan that was cooked to perfection. I also ordered the mango lassi and an Indian beer. Overall, one of the best restaurant experiences we've had in a long time. A true gem, in an awful area! :)
(4)A A.
Great Indian restaurant in northwest Indiana. They have great hours, so when I am working late and in town, I am very happy to have an alternative to fast food. Favorite dishes are chicken tikka masala, and lamb rogan josh. The vegetable samosas are also good.
(5)