Taste of India 3 — Restaurant in Lincoln City

To the ocean. There are times when I have to be there. To hear the surf. To feel myself small and, of course, to eat.

Lincoln City has its stalwarts and we patronize them. But, when a new joint opens offering something different, we're always game.

Note to noobs reading my review. I'm not into ambiance as a metric for stars. It's about the food.

Taste of India is brand new along the main drag, near the Galucci's fixture. It is clean without decorations. Perhaps the decor will evolve. I understand they have sister restaurants in Newport and McMinnville..

If you know Indian food, you know, regardless of the menu items, there are many regional differences that can make spicing different and heat levels a bit unpredictable. Never go to an Indian restaurant expecting your favorite, exact taste profiles. Be open to the joint's unique, regional take.

Vegetable pakora is often separate vegetable slices, coated in a spiced mixture and deep fried. Today, the pakora were a mixture of shredded veggies balled and fried. There was no specific vegetable's taste, just a pleasant vegetal vibe. The spicing and salting were perfect. Crunch. Salt. Spice. Toothsome inside. Dip that in the yoghurt forward green chutney or the tammarind. Had to hold back.

Rogan Josh was my go to when we lived in Hong Kong. Today, today was the first time in 32 years that my mouth happy danced. This curry has a rich sauce and the plenty lamb pieces fell apart on the fork. Like coming home.

Michael, our son, went lamb Vindaloo hot. It was. The sauce hit the right vinegar and tomato notes. He ate it all.

Bill went vegetarian with the Masala Bhindi. This is a fragrant, okra curry. Succulent, roasted green pepper pieces and sweet onion pieces bulk up the dish. He ordered it hot. Delicious!

Note to new fingers to Indian food: they do vegetarian dishes that could make not having meat again ok.

I ordered an Onion Kulcha. This is the naan bread stuffed with tiny onion pieces and with spices. It was tandoor hot upon arrival. Crisp outside. Chewy inside. Sigh...

Bill ordered Paneer Naan. Naan with paneer cheese in it. Not gooey. Just flavorful.

While the guys were finishing their curries, I ordered a masala chai. This place's iteration is just, slightly clove forward. Loved it.

Prices? Fair Service? Attentive and thorough Parking? Yep

Return trip? Without question.

Celebrate, Lincoln City! You've been...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Taste of India, and I have to say, it was some of the best Indian food I've ever had. The coconut curry was absolutely divine, rich and creamy with just the right balance of spices. The garlic naan was perfectly soft and fragrant, an ideal complement to the curry. Every bite was a delight.

The service was excellent, too. We had two waiters assisting us. The younger one seemed like he was still learning the ropes, but the more experienced waiter was right there guiding him and checking in on us. He even made some fantastic recommendations, and we’re already looking forward to trying them next time.

The presentation of the dishes was impressive, served in unique and thoughtfully chosen dishes that added to the overall experience. The restaurant has an upscale vibe, but there were a few quirky touches that made it feel charming rather than stuffy. Honestly, the food is so good that any little imperfections are easily overlooked.

It’s no surprise that this place has earned so many rave reviews. The quality of the food alone is worth the visit, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Keep up the great work,...

Delicious Indian food!! I was highly impressed by the extensive variety on the menu, fair prices and good sized portions. I love Indian food, and I can honestly say that this restaurant is excellent and authentic. They even have a cocktail menu, including Indian cocktails!! So delicious. I am vegan and my husband is vegetarian, we appreciate when we go out to eat the menu has a vegetarian section, and even better if the restaurant has vegan items labeled as such, to make it easy for us to find things for us that we can eat, this restaurant has both!! We went directly to the ‘veg’ section, and had PLENTY vegetarian/vegan items to choose from. We were able to order cocktails, appetizers and entrees and ALL were absolutely delicious!! We will definitely be back soon. Oh, also, all of the employees were very kind and attentive, gave great service, and were very personable. And I loved the Indian music playing in the background as I enjoyed my delicious meal. Thank you Taste of India!!! You guys are amazing!...