Flavors of India — Restaurant in Essex Junction

I visited this restaurant this weekend for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and freshness of the ingredients. Indian cuisine is often cooked over long period of time over slow heat and ordinary place will tend to feel like you're getting "old" stuff. This is not the case here and as much as curry is cooked slowly over time the shrimp in the shrimp curry was firm and fresh feeling rather than over done and mushy as it happens sometimes in lesser restaurants.

If this place was in Manhattan, the line would be two blocks long at lunch time as well as dinner. Having lived in NYC I have experienced many ethnic foods of all kind and Nepali Kitchen is as Authentic as you will find.

The lamb curry was mild and fragrant in a way of a french beuf bourgignon with a slightly lighter gravy but with more exotic undertones (As the place doesn't sell alcoholic beverages, I would suggest a California Merlot with the lamb if you can or a red french Bourgogne or a light tasting IPA if you like beer, an unfiltered like Fiddlehead or Switchback would do as well).

The shrimp curry was a bit spicier and rich with a generous quantity of shrimp and really nice with an order of praratha (Nice with maybe a good Zinfandel or even a french Cote du Rhone like a Chatauneuf du Pape or if you like beer a lager would do well there to just refresh without competing with the fragrances of the food).

The Basmati served with these dishes wasn't as exciting as it could have been to server with such well prepared dishes and felt rather plain to my taste (I like my indian basmati with a strong ghee smell with grains a bit on the dryer side that fluidly flake out rather than bunches up--not that it was sticky by any means--with some nutty and slight dry fruit undertones)

By contrast as far as rice dishes go, If you're interested in experiencing a firework of fragrances with a nice bite of hot pepper that build up nicely as you eat, the vegetable Biryani (a very generous serving) was rich with seeds and flavors of all sort but not so much cardamon seeds as the usual indian restaurant and the presentation did remind more of thai asian in some ways than typical Indian dish.

Nepal being so close to China as truly it's own style of flavors with discrete hints of Asia that are not usual to the palate (at least a palate used to traditional Indian foods). For instance they have a whole choice of Chow Mein noodles dishes described as "Nepali-style noodle dish sautéed in a light tomato sauce, red onions, cilantro, and spices" which as a habit I typically associate with chinese food.

To put things in perspective the day we eat there they had a dishwasher problem and couldn't serve us in regular plates and utensils and we agreed to be served in take out containers instead so I can't really say what the portions would look like in a plate but, after ordering and eating without retinue a shared appetizer (papadum), a shrimp curry, a lamb curry and a vegetable biryani for 3 people, we eat another dinner the next day at home.

The setting is not on par with the food as the place although sunny is not fancy by any means. There is lots of easy access parking. It is friendly and the staff very welcoming. The whole affair came up under $50 which for such a feat seemed very reasonable for 3 happily well fed people two days in a row. I took away a star in my rating only for the lack of personality in the decoration, the plain basmati was a bit under par with the rest of the dishes and the lack of...

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Flavors of India, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish! The restaurant has a warm, inviting ambiance that made us feel relaxed and ready to enjoy our meal. The service was outstanding as well—our server was attentive and helpful, guiding us through the menu and checking in just the right amount.

We started with a Vegetable Samosa, which was crisp and perfectly seasoned. For our entrées, my wife ordered the Chicken Korma, which had a rich coconut flavor balanced beautifully with the creamy yogurt sauce. I went for the Lamb Vindaloo, and the spicy option delivered just the right kick, with the tomatoes and lemon juice adding a refreshing tang.

The portions were generous, leaving us more than satisfied and even with some leftovers to enjoy at home. The garlic naan was fluffy and fragrant, perfect for scooping up every bit of the delicious sauces. We paired our meal with Mango Lassis, which were creamy and refreshing, adding a nice balance to the spicier dishes.

Overall, I would say Flavors of India offers a wonderful mix of authentic flavors, friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere. We look forward to returning soon to try even more...

Easily one of the best, reasonably price dinner spots in Chittenden County. The Nepalese and Burmese menus are loaded with great stuff, but my recommendation would be to order what you've never heard of. I've eaten almost everything on the menu at this point. Here are the highlights:

Lapet Thoke - it's a small salad made from fermented tea leaves, roasted garlic, some peas, cabbage, and a handful of other flavors and spices that I can't place. It is incredibly flavorful and for me one of the most interesting things you can eat in Vermont.

Aloo Tikki - a Nepalese fried mash potato... or something? I don't know how to describe it, but the texture is that of mashed potatoes, but the exterior is slightly crispy like a french fry (or hashbrowns). It's served with a nice sauce to dunk it in as well. Stupidly good.

Bhuteko Bhat - if you've ever had legit fried rice you know it's on another level from what you get at 99% of takeout joints. This is the good kind of fried rice.

Sahi Korma - a more standard curry that they make flawlessly. Not overly sweet, nice herbaceous flavor, very rich...