Take a Taste of India

As I walked into the Taste of India, the smell of sweet spices and freshly baked bread filled the air followed by the sound of tranquil music.

I never thought such a relaxing environment could be found in downtown Athens. This quiet, little restaurant is located next to the Bombay Café, down the street from the Cold Stone Creamery on East Broad Street.

Inside, it was very well decorated. There were several statues and pictures of Indian women and what seemed to be religious icons. It was a very quaint place and made me feel right at home.

I was quickly greeted by one of the hosts, who was dressed in a sari, a garment worn by women in southern Asia. As she led me to my table I took a quick glance around the room and noticed the buffet at the back of the restaurant. Once she took my drink order I immediately headed to get my food.

Looking around, I realized that I had never heard of any of these foods before and some of their names were nearly impossible to pronounce. However, they all looked and smelled delicious, so I took a little bit of everything.

I was always told that Indian food was really spicy so I was surprised to find that nothing I ate was too overpowering, but it was all delicious. Most of the food I tried looked alike, though each had its own unique taste and smell. All of it was incredibly flavorful. I liked everything I ate, and I'm a pretty picky eater.

The chicken curry was especially delicious. Chicken curry is a northern Indian classic chicken dish that is cooked in thick curry sauce and sprinkled with cilantro. The sauce did not taste like anything I have ever eaten before, but it was really good. It had a little bit of a spicy taste to it, but it was not too much to handle. I also enjoyed the Chana Masala, a dish of diced potatoes and Garbanzo beans covered in a northern Indian style sauce.

When I was done with my food, I didn't have to wait long for the waitress to bring me the check. And while $8.95 may seem like a lot of money to spend on a lunch buffet, I was happy to pay it, and I left feeling that it was money well spent.

It was fun to try something new for a change, and the atmosphere was much different than any other restaurant I had ever been to. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes ethnic foods or just wants to try something new.