Namaste Garden, Indian Restaurant and Sweets — Restaurant in Essex Junction

I visited this restaurant on my way back from Vermont. Had 5 stars but barely reviews under 100. I was a bit skeptical but wanted to give it a shot. It is always difficult and emotionally draining to give negative or poor reviews to any restaurant because so much effort is invested by many involved parties.

Anyways, without wasting too much of readers' time, here it is:

Vibe - It was ok. Small but decent. Atmosphere - I always dislike loud music of any kind because it makes conversation unpleasant. Customer Service - It was good. The staff was nice. Food - Most important part of reviews.

Munchow Soup - Nothing like it's name. I had this item at many different Indian restaurant and was never disappointed. However, this soup was an insult to its name. It tasted like sipping on red 🌶 powder. Veg sizzler - Filler with vegetables. Pav Bhaji - This was an insult to Pav Bhaji. How can an Indian restaurant sincerely mess up a Pav Bhaji. Even amateurs can cook amazing Pav Bhaji. This was a huge disaster. Saag Tofu - Missing flavor and salt. Only 3 small pieces of tofu and rest are spinach gravy. This was a turn-off. Lost my appetite. I asked for it to be spiced, and it was bland. Malai Kofta - Sweet and runny gravy. Never had malai kofta like this ever before in my life Kashmiri Naan - Missing the dry fruit and sweetness. It seemed that dry fruit was barely sprinkled and no sweetness. It tasted like regular tandoori naan.

I just don't understand how could this restaurant have 5 stars for such worse food quality. I would recommend chef needs proper training or needs to be replaced.

On positive note, staff was nice.

I would not recommend this...

I have been here 4 times in the past month and a half. Hands down the best Indian food I have found in Vermont. I am not a vegetarian and while I would love it if they offered lamb or chicken dishes, I don't feel like I am missing out on anything. The food is so incredibly flavorful and delicious, and the wide range of different types of food means I don't feel I am missing out on anything. It's the only vegetarian restaurant that I have eaten at where that is the case.

The atmosphere is fine, but it is not a large place. The first time I ate from there was take-out and I didn't even think about the atmosphere. The three times I ate in it was busy, and takeout customers walking through the seating area made it a bit chaotic. That wouldn't stop me from eating there, but I don't know if I would recommend it for a first date. The service has been top notch every time though. Hopefully their success will mean they expand a bit. And boy-o-boy do I hope they are successful for the long term! The construction in Essex makes parking a bit counterintuitive, but once the construction is completed that won't be an issue. Don't let it keep you away. One thing I have noted are how many South Asians I have seen eating there. Maybe it's shallow, but I am impressed when I see people who probably grew up eating that kind of food choose to go there. It is undoubtedly my favorite restaurant in Chittenden county for casual dining. The prices (likely due to being vegetarian only) are very reasonable, which is really saying something- especially for this area where most restaurants are crazy expensive.

If you like Indian food,...

We met the two chef-brothers and their recipe-creating father at their new restaurant. We were so happy with their food that it took restraint not to hug them. I’m not kidding. Within the first few bites of food, we knew – they’re gonna need a bigger place.

We had Shahi Thali, a combination of great dishes, rice, bread, etc. We don’t eat meat or dairy and the chefs accommodated us. Their saag was the best I’ve ever had. Their Dal Makani, Dal Tarka, Rajma curry and Chana curry were just the best. At home we usually eat at an Indian restaurant that was on the Yelp Top 100 list for 5 years in a row, so its no little thing to say this restaurant makes The Best Indian food we’ve ever had.

By 6 they were packed, inside and outside. We just beat the crowd and considering how many dishes we ordered, it was a good thing! We ordered nearly the same food to go so we could enjoy it - morning and night – for the following few days until we flew home. It was so delicious that if I lived nearby, I’d eat there every day. The chefs were so humble for their talent and their father was proud of the results of his recipes. This family knows flavor and how to best represent the food of their ancestors. They also respect their guests and happily make vegan, vegetarian and mildly spiced dishes.

We miss them. I mean it. Of all the people, places and experiences we had, we miss this family and their wonderful food. I’ve considered asking them to ship an order to me, but I don’t believe they’re set up to do that yet. They’re still grappling with the fact that, after a few months, their new place is already...