Flavors of India, Battambang — Restaurant in Battambang

I first experienced this restaurant when we were here in town a few weeks ago. I had just ordered some takeaway and got the eggplant masala which was at that time very very good. We dined in this visit and the meal started with a nice little bowl of chicken soup which I believe now was the highlight of the entire meal, which came without us ordering for it. The food I thought was average not bad but not great the price point was a little bit higher than I would get in Phnom Penh at this quality. The service was good and the server was friendly. I'm not sure if there was just a different cook this night but I was really hoping for my experience from 3 weeks ago which this did not meet. I suppose here in Battambang during these times you should temper expectations but if you are Bangladeshi, Indian, or Pakistani the quality should probably be consistent. But our chicken kadai was not the British Indian restaurant version it was more traditional like the real Punjabi style which was a welcome addition. As I am a firm believer that Indian food made by Indians or Pakistani food made by pakistanis or Bangladeshi food made by Bangladeshi should be authentic to their country and not the colonial British version which is just loaded with cream because the British tastes demand it. While I questioned the consistency of the quality here if you want authentic style dishes you may ask for it though if you don't you may end up getting British Indian restaurant versions, which most of you will...

We were spending a few days in Battambang and looking for halal food. Slim pickings in this part of the country, so we were happy to find Flavors of India.

The first encounter we ordered takeout, delivered to our hotel. Amazingly, the food arrived in 30 minutes, from phone call to delivery! The chicken tandoori and Rogan josh were delicious, the naan bread heavenly. We made a mental note to go back.

Fortunately, the next evening was the opportunity we were waiting for. Similar to takeout delivery, the service was prompt, professional and friendly. The dishes were served quickly, and the food was just as tasty as the previous evening. Chicken biryani, parathas, stuffed caspicum, mutton dhanya, and cucumber raita rounded out the menu. Yes, we got carried away! All of it was delicious. The surprise for me were the sutffed caspicums: wonderful balance of creamy sauce and piquant peppers. The masala tea was thankfully unsweetened and had that welcoming 'dusty' taste. My partner's honey lassi was so delicious she ordered a second.

The restaurant was nearly full and the clientele appeared to all be non-Khmer. The menu being a bit on the pricey side and the location in the middle of the 'expat strip' probably accounted for this. But the food is so delicious and the service so friendly that we're definitely planning on return trips. Hmmm . . ....

The food at this restaurant was absolutely delicious, with rich flavors and authentic Indian taste. I truly enjoyed the meal! However, the service could use some improvement. While the staff was very friendly, it took more than half an hour for my tomato soup to arrive, even though the restaurant wasn’t too busy. It would be great to see a bit more efficiency in serving food so that guests can fully enjoy the experience without long waits.

That said, the quality of the food makes this place worth visiting, and with a little improvement in service speed, it could be an exceptional dining spot. Looking forward to coming back and seeing...