After spending a beautiful day at Bayside Marketplace, we were ready for a good dinner and searched for nearby options. We came across Namaste Miami, a restaurant offering Indian cuisine, and decided to give it a try. It was about a 20-minute drive, and we were lucky to find convenient roadside parking near the restaurant.
First Impressions: When we entered Namaste Miami, the place wasn't too crowded, which initially made us hesitant about our choice. However, we decided to stay, and we're so glad we did! It turned out to be a hidden gem with fantastic food and great service.
The Dining Experience: We began our meal by ordering some basic and infant-friendly options for our little one, including Yellow Dal and rice. For ourselves, we chose appetizers like Chilli Chicken and Chicken Tikka.
The Yellow Dal and Rice arrived quickly, and it was exactly what we hoped for--light, flavorful, and homemade. It was perfect for our infant, who happily enjoyed every bite.
Then came the appetizers, starting with the Chilli Chicken--and wow, it was exceptional! The chicken was perfectly cooked, with just the right balance of spices and flavors that made it absolutely mouthwatering. We devoured it so quickly that we ended up ordering another plate! Chicken Tikka was equally delicious, with tender, marinated pieces of chicken cooked to perfection.
For the main course, we chose Chicken Kadhai, Chicken Biryani, and Garlic Naan. The service was efficient, and our dishes arrived promptly. The Chicken Kadhai was rich, flavorful, and cooked with a delightful blend of spices. The Biryani was aromatic, with well-cooked rice and succulent pieces of chicken, and the Garlic Naan complemented the dishes perfectly. Every bite was satisfying and left us craving more.
Sweet Endings: To finish our meal, we indulged in some classic Indian desserts--Gulab Jamun and Rasmalai. Both were absolutely delicious! The Gulab Jamun was soft and soaked in syrup, while the Rasmalai was creamy, light, and a perfect way to end the meal.
Final Thoughts: Namaste Miami exceeded our expectations with its flavorful dishes, great service, and cozy ambiance. The food was mouthwatering, finger-licking good, and satisfying from start to finish. While the restaurant may not have been bustling with crowds when we arrived, it turned out to be a fantastic choice, and we're so...
Read moreThe first thing I remember was how cold the restaurant was. It had to be in the low 60's and the AC was blowing like a hurricane. The server just ignored our request to turn the air conditioning down. My wife had to leave the restaurant before I finished because of how cold it was.
Namaste advertises an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet so we gave it a try because we love to eat all different types of Indian curry and tandoori. The food was good but it's not a buffet. You choose from either chicken or lamb curry and they bring you a platter with small servings of a few items; in our case, lamb curry, vegetable korma, dal tadka, white rice, and a side of chicken tandoori. Nan and rice pudding dessert are also served. You can ask for more of anything and it was brought fairly quick. So, it wasn't a buffet but we had all we wanted to eat.
As for the flavors, I found the food quite bland (I later learned they will add spices if requested). The tandoori chicken was the best item. It was served piping hot, moist, and well-seasoned. The lamb curry was fresh and cooked to fork-tender but lacked the authentic Indian spices of a rich curry. The same for the vegetable korma. The nan was also excellent; slightly crisp at the edges and tender bread. The rice was plain white rice without any seasonings. (I don't think it was basamati rice. I don't eat sweets so I only tasted the rice pudding dessert. It was sweet and not too thick. Including tax and tip, lunch cost us $50 for two people, nothing extra.
Would I recommend the lunch buffet? If you want a filling meal and aren't too picky about rich Indian spices, give it a try. Next time I'll tell them to spice it up to the max and see if that improves the authenticity of the taste.
On a side note, our server seemed to have difficulty understanding my questions. It was like he had memorized answers to commonly asked questions and guessed which question I asked often answering with a randomly unrelated response with a deep and...
Read moreI visited this afternoon for their "lunch buffet" - and was extremely disappointed with the quality of the food that was served. The dishes were old and lacked flavor, and the overall presentation was unappealing.
The price of the buffet was extremely overpriced for the quality of the food that was served. Not only was the food lacking in flavor and freshness, but it also gave me stomach problems after I ate it. For 2 people they charged 70 DOLLARS! This buffet (which is rather a plate with just 3 vegetables) cost 27$ per person. But get this - THEY HAVE A 20% SERVICE FEE (AFTER TAX!!!... for a buffet!?!? This is asinine. Then- they have the audacity to ask for another 30% tip... literally the food was so old and gross, and the "naans" are just deep fried tortillas!!
Upon arriving at the restaurant, the atmosphere was uninviting and the staff seemed disinterested in providing good service. The buffet was poorly organized and it was difficult to find fresh food. The dishes that were available were overcooked and lacked the vibrant flavors that I expect from Indian cuisine.
Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The food was subpar and the service was lacking, and I would give it a rating of just one star. The high price of the buffet was not justified by the quality of the food, and I would not risk experiencing stomach problems again by returning to this establishment. There are much better Indian restaurants out there that offer fresher, more flavorful dishes at a more...
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