Shalimar of India — Restaurant in Burlington

I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and I must say it was an absolute culinary delight! From the moment I stepped in, the warm and inviting (it is a bit of a hole in the wall, but that adds to it) ambiance set the stage for good dining experience. First and foremost, let's talk about the naan - an obvious labor of love. The aroma wafting from the kitchen was enough to make my mouth water, and when the fresh, piping hot naan arrived at the table, I knew I was in for a treat. Each piece was perfectly soft, with just the right amount of char, and it was evident that they were homemade. The naan alone would bring me back. Now, onto the star of the show - the Chicken Tikka Masala. It's not an exaggeration to say that it was out of this world! The tender chicken pieces were bathed in a rich, creamy tomato-based sauce that was perfectly balanced with aromatic spices. Every bite was a burst of flavor, and the spice level was just right for my palate. I could taste the authenticity and passion that went into crafting this dish, making it a...

I don't write reviews and the reason for this review is to help restaurant to improve (if they want to). I'm not Indian, so I don't know if the food that was we ordered was prepared property. I personally liked nun. But "mixed tandoori" consisted of only chicken and hamburger (maybe that what it supposed to be) Also we ordered the food to be mild, knowing that it could be very hot, but the "mild" doesn't mean no spices, including salt, at all, and this is how our food tested like. Also the time it took to cook is crazy, it was almost an hour, and I know it doesn't take one hour to bake thin bread or to cook rise, which I'm sure they didn't start cooking from the scratch after we ordered. The prices for beer are $2 for bottle, it's very low for a beer in restaurant, it should be at least 5. Decor is also needs a huge...

Giving this place a 5-star but putting it in context a bit. Shalimar is hands down the best Indian food in Vermont. For flavor, spice level, veg/meat options, basically everything. If it were in NYC, San Diego, or Boston, it would probably only garner a four star rating and wouldn't have a ton to differentiate it from the competition.

That being said, you can't go wrong, and even if you live in one of the foodie capitals of the world, you will enjoy Shalimar and come away from your experience satisfied. I try to work in a visit to Shalimar with every trip to Burlington.

For those like me, who have a bizarre fascination with burning themselves down, make sure you use the double ask trick with spice. Ask for it hot, then make sure to say it again and clarify that you want...