Mela Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Asheville

Mela Indian Restaurant, nestled in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, is a true gem that takes diners on a flavorful journey through the diverse and aromatic world of Indian cuisine. With its cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and tantalizing flavors, Mela Indian Restaurant offers a dining experience that is sure to delight the senses.

Upon entering Mela Indian Restaurant, you are greeted with warm and inviting ambiance, with hints of Indian culture in its decor and furnishings. The restaurant's friendly and knowledgeable staff make you feel right at home, providing attentive service throughout your dining experience.

The menu at Mela Indian Restaurant is a culinary treasure, offering a wide range of options for both meat lovers and vegetarians alike. From classic favorites like chicken tikka masala and lamb curry to unique regional dishes like dosas and biryanis, there is a plethora of choices to explore. The dishes are made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, resulting in an explosion of flavors that are a true celebration of Indian cuisine.

One of the highlights of dining at Mela Indian Restaurant is the authentic and complex flavors of the dishes. From the rich and aromatic spices to the perfectly balanced sauces, each bite is a burst of flavors that transport you to the streets of India. The portion sizes are generous, and the prices are reasonable, offering good value for the quality and quantity of food served.

The restaurant's commitment to accommodating dietary restrictions is also noteworthy, with a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available on the menu. The staff is happy to provide recommendations and explanations about the dishes, ensuring that you have an enjoyable and satisfying dining experience.

Mela Indian Restaurant also boasts a well-curated selection of Indian-inspired cocktails and beverages that perfectly complement the flavors of the food. From refreshing mango lassis to spiced chai teas, the drink menu adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the dining experience.

In conclusion, Mela Indian Restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is a culinary gem that offers a flavorful journey through the diverse and aromatic world of Indian cuisine. With its cozy ambiance, attentive service, and tantalizing flavors, it's a must-visit destination for those seeking an authentic Indian dining experience. If you're a food enthusiast who appreciates bold flavors and rich spices, Mela Indian Restaurant is a must-try restaurant that will leave you with a memorable and...

It's my last week in Asheville, so I had to hit up @mela.asheville yet again. I'm so excited to be back at downtown's OG Indian Restaurant & try something new. Although it's just a Monday, it's still pretty busy! To go orders fly out into the night.

I wanted to try it all, so I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter (100% Vegan) & to drink, the Sassi Lassi.

Stoli Vanilla shines through this inventive take on a Mango Lassi. The perfect drink to calm a hot tongue if you're a spice whimp.

I'm blown away by the entre presentation! For a culinary explorer, like me, this is an exciting map of taste opportunity just waiting to be unearthed.

First, I dip my hot garlic nann bread into the rich Baingan Bharta (tandoor roasted eggplant, tomato & fresh green peas) Mildly spicy, a dash sweet & incredibly comforting on a chilly night.

The Punjabi Chloe is a rich, complex chickpea dish & I just want to get lost in it... mmm...

The Lentil Dal is vibrant, souplike & light. Mela has a very special & unique way of packing tons of spice & fresh herb into everything without overwhelming any dish with heat or superfluous flavors.

The Bhindi Masala... wow!

This is my first Bhindi Masala ever. A popular indian dish with Okra, Tomatoes, Onions & Spices. After my swim today, I feel like I'm loading up on my healthy plants & complex proteins.

I keep finding myself actually W.O.L! Literally saying "wow" out. loud!

That culinary journalism study in college is really paying off with each & every bite here. The whole platter makes me feel like a kid who gets to play with his food.

In the center of the plate lies achar, a bright, spicy, hot vinegar-tinged vindaloo of pickled carrots & jalapeno.

I would recommend Mela to any culinary explorer but especially if you like Indian food. Thanks to the entire staff for a wonderful experience!

Fun Fact: The bar is...

Pathetic food ! Don’t go there. We called in to ask for table for 11 people. They said they can’t book a table initially as it’s a big crowd . We mentioned we have little kids and were driving straight there. They agreed that they can get us a table after 30 minutes. When we reached, we were told there was a miscommunication and they can’t give us a table. The only option was to order food for a take away and it in our car in the parking lot across the street. We ordered Butter naan. We were told they don’t do butter naan. They said they can only do plain naan. We ordered Garlic naan and they had it on the menu. We ordered chicken tandoori, chicken kebab , mattar paneer , mela special chicken curry , some kozhi gravy. We asked everything to made medium spice. There was one friendly staff who understood that we need lots of to go boxes and gave us a sufficient for 7 adults and 4 kids. They called us and said the food was ready to be picked and they had to add mandatory gratuity as it exceeded $100. I don’t know if this is correct. With the hunger , we didn’t argue more . We picked food.

Then came the real surprise! The tandoori was ok ! Naans were a rubbery and not able to be torn up ! The curries, not a single one had any salt / masala . The food was not having any aroma , any texture . It was as if we were having some uncooked tomato chutney which had big pieces of semi cooked chicken. None of us liked any of it. We literally had to waste so much food. It was late and we had to drive more and we decided to start without going back to the place and yelling for the worst food they have cooked.

I don’t know how this place is located in the downtown of Ashville and has gotten 4.2 stars ! Please do not go there if you would have some love for Indian food! What they serve is not Indian food .

I would not recommend this to...