Taste Of India — Restaurant in Cedar Rapids

I've only gone once, but this ranks in the best Indian food I ever had. As you will read from many reviews, the service is really slow, but the food is definitely worth the wait! One of my favorite things they offer at this restaurant is letting you choose how spicy your entrees are. I love Indian food spicy, but my girlfriend does not, so this let us order what we wanted without her having to fear her mouth burning. The food is served in little copper pots, as sort of a stew. There is plenty of solid food in the pot, but there is also a lot of extra sauce that is good on rice or naan. The restaurant also had a very calming atmosphere with music just loud enough to drown out the other conversations in the restaurant without interfering with your conversation.

What we got:

Samosas (the order came with 2) - These were on the bigger side of samosas that I have had, and they were served 2 sauces that were both very good. They have a little spice to them, so unless you don't like things even a little spicy, I would highly recommend starting out with these.

Naan bread - This was an extra side, the dishes are served with endless rice, but we like naan too. There wasn't anything special about it though, it's a flat bread for those who don't know what it is. It is really good dipped in the sauce from the entree.

Lamb Vindaloo - medium heat - I found this dish to be wonderful! It was packed with flavor without being too spicy. The flavors of the dish were all very well matched, and I would highly recommend the Vindaloo to anybody! I would personally suggest the chicken to people, as the lamb was a little tough, but I am not a lamb connoisseur, so I don't know if this is normal or not. It was delicious without a doubt, and I would order it again after I try everything else on the menu.

Shrimp Masala - low heat - My girlfriend loved this dish. I'm not a fan of shrimp, so I just had the sauce over rice, but it was very good. It was much milder in terms of how spicy, and how spiced it was, and it was a little creamy. I will probably try the chicken masala next time I go. She also told me this also reheated very well, so if you can't eat it all (we got a lot of food), this may be a good choice for you.

Mango drink? - I cannot remember which one she ordered, but there are 2 smoothie like mango drinks on the menu. From what she told me (I am not a fan of mango) it was really good. The only thing that was wrong with it was the size, The glass is tall and thin, and probably only holds about 12 ounces, so I would recommend a glass of water...

Unique culinary gems, such as The Black Sheep, are what make Cedar Rapids so great. As my mind flips through the many options, I turn my thoughts to the foreign eateries like Phong Lan, an unknown hideaway for delicious Vietnamese meals. Finally, my mind settled on a very popular restaurant in Marion.

The Taste of India is a restaurant hosting mouth-watering Indian cuisine. As soon as you walk into the establishment, you are calmed and relaxed by the beautiful design, soft smell of spices, and laid back ambiance with dim lighting. The wait times are always short, usually less than 5 minutes. Although, even if you do, right inside the waiting area is nice comfy couches. The wait staff is kind and are very good about timing when coming for your order or bringing your food.

I always start off with an ice water and a mango lassi, a “Refreshing drink made with homemade yogurt, milk, and crushed mangoes,” according to the menu. It's kind of like a yogurty mango smoothie. You spend $3 and it's worth every penny.

One big part of the Indian diet is bread. My family always gets naan ($2.50), garlic naan ($3.00), or Peshwari naan ($3.50). My favorite is garlic but it all depends on taste. With the bread I usually get starters. Chicken pakora ($3.00, 20 ct.) and vegetable samosas ($3.50, 3ct.) are delectable, especially with the delicious tamarind sauce. It also comes with a cilantro chutney but it is not my favorite.

If the naan starts to make your mouth dry, you can top it with some basmati rice and a spoonful of mouth-watering curry. I sampled three types at the low and medium spice ranges. Medium was fine for me, but I eat spicy food on a regular basis. The first Curry I tried was the chicken tikka masala ($11.95), my high hopes were not per se met, but it was still very delicious and the meat was perfectly tender. The butter chicken ($11.95) was my least favorite yet still delightful, it was, however, my parents favorite. Finally, my personal favorite was the chicken coconut korma ($11.95). The magnificent flavors resonate within your tongue with each and every bite. It's tasty and savory, yet light. A true highlight of the meal.

All in all, Taste of India is one of my favorite restaurants here in Cedar Rapids. The food is amazing, the service is respectable, and it all comes at a generally affordable price tag. From the first appetizer to the last sip of my lassi,...

I enjoyed lunch the other day with the irrepressible Laura Jean Dammann at Taste of India.

We both love Indian cuisine, and I was happy that Laura, who is a regular, recommended them for lunch.

We were seated instantly and the service was brisk. Our waitstaff, which included several rotating individuals, gave us time to chat but were nearby when it was time to place our order.

I like to order a dish I am familiar with, the idea being that I have had it in several establishments and can compare it to the others.

I chose Baingan Bharta, a roasted eggplant dish, usually richly spiced, that I am quite fond of. Laura chose the daily luncheon special, which is a combination meal of 2-3 dishes with naan and rice. Her three-dish combo consisted of Butter Chicken, Chicken Korma, and Vegetable Makhani.

Firstly, a few words about the presentation of the special. The dishes were served in a bento box, which I found not only functional but charming. I had actually ordered the same special to take home for my partner, so I was able to taste the dishes.

The chicken was plentiful and the sauces were silky and flavorful. I like the idea of smaller portions of multiple dishes. It allows one to sample different tastes in a single meal.

My dish was delectable! The eggplant was very well roasted, and the spice was rich and deep. I enjoyed this version of it, and the only word that comes to mind to describe its flavor is... dark.

It was different than many other preparations, and I couldn't say that one was better than the other, but this dish definitely stood out from the crowd.

We also enjoyed an appetizer, Vegetable Cutlets, mildly spiced potato & green peas patties served with tamarind & cilantro chutney.

This was a completely new dish for me, and I found the patties to be mild (as advertised), and very satisfying as they are quite dense. The consistency and flavor married well with the two sauces and I quartered the patties into delightful little bites.

It was a wonderful lunch, I very much enjoyed the company (thanks, Laura🙏), the bustling, bright, and clean setting, and the yummy food!

I will return to taste their version of another favorite of mine, Gobi (Gobhi) Manchurian. As well as try a few new dishes, most notably Gobhi 65, cauliflower florets, deep fried and sauteed with house special masala sauce, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and topped with...