Sanika's Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Mount Juliet

My father, who had never had Indian food, and I tried Sanika's on the 4th of July. I've had really good Indian food several times in the past. Some more expensive, some less. What I haven't had is better Indian food anywhere!

The menu is HUGE! There are literally 100s of choices.

As a starter we had the 555 Baby Corn. This was a crispy fried sweet baby corn chunks with a really nice, lightly sweet batter in a savory sauce with a little afterburn heat, and topped with some sliced red onions. I'd never had this before and it was delicious! I'll definitely get it (or one of the many variations on the menu) again!

I had Goat Korma (medium hot) and it was fantastic! Nice big meaty chunks, not too much bone, in a savory sauce. [NOTE: A word of advice -- I really like spicy foid but if you've never eaten Indian-spicy, i seriously recommend you dont go higher than medium to start! It's delicious but the heat level on Indian food goes WAY up and if you've never tried it it can be overwhelming and ruin your meal.] I also had very aromatic jasmine rice and we got delicious Naan (we got the garlic cheese) to split.

My father got a classic: Butter Shrimp Masala (mild). We didn't count them but there were roughly ten large shrimp (tail on) in a classic masala sauce. My father raved about the freshness of the shrimp and the delicious sauce. I tasted the sauce and it was fantastic. He loved dipping the Naan in the sauce. He also had the jasmine rice. My father declared after we left, that this is his new favorite restaurant and is where he wants to go for his birthday! Pretty high praise from someone who had never even tried a curry before!

Last thing, well two more. First, the restaurant was absolutely spotless! We watched one of the waitresses clean a table (and the chairs) with a level of care that you frankly don't see very often! Even the floor was so clean you could eat off of it! Second thing, we spent a few minutes talking to the owner and her husband and they were both really, really, nice. Turns out they live right in tge neighborhood. Her husband had actually stopped by the table a few times during dinner to make sure we were happy and enjoying our meal.

I'll close with this, if you've never tried Indian food, give Sanika's a try! Mt Juliet is incredibly lucky to have an Indian restaurant of this caliber! This is a small, local family owned and operated, really high quality place that deserves our business! We will most definitely be back and...

If you're ready to step up your Indian game to GOURMET, this is your place! Wow! Listen, if you don't want to read the rest of this review, just read this part:

I am a food snob. Wilson county has very little GOOD food. But that's now behind us. Sanika's is THE VERY BEST FOOD of any type in all of Wilson county. Absolutely. Hands down. Discussion over.

Not only that, it's the very best Indian food I have ever eaten. And I adore Indian food.

You won't believe the quality of the food here. You also won't believe the breadth of the menu. It goes on for pages. I got to talk to Mani the owner about why his quality is so high. He told me it is because they buy their spices directly from India and bypass the processing that most spices go through in the U.S. He also tries to buy as much as he can directly from Indian farmers in the Chettinad region of India. This region is particularly known for their exquisite spice blends.

This food is astonishingly good. The LAMB! Oh the lamb. Wow! I'm not a huge fan of lamb, but here?! Oh my gosh. I think I must have just never had good, fresh lamb before! It was so tender and flavorful and perfectly seasoned. It was a different experience of any lamb I've ever eaten before.

And the pricing. I'm kinda hoping they don't see this review because our family got out for $60 absolutely stuffed, dessert included. Reasonable pricing keeps us coming back often.

There are two types of people in the world: Those who love Indian food and those who have never tried it.

If you've never tried Indian food, I would recommend that you do not go here first because you're going to be ruined for every other Indian option nearby. Go somewhere else, love it, enjoy it, and try a few other places. It's all amazing. Then spoil yourself and go to Sanika's.

If you're already an Indian lover, once you go here, you're done. Game over. You already love Indian food. You probably didn't know it could...

Sanika’s Indian Cuisine in Mt. Juliet, TN has quickly become our favorite Indian restaurant in the Nashville area. The butter chicken masala is absolutely unmatched. No other Indian restaurant around Nashville compares when it comes to flavor and quality.

The portions are large and the pricing is very fair, which makes every visit feel like great value. They also have a wide variety of fresh breads, and we’ve tried several — each one has been excellent, from naan to garlic and beyond.

One of the things that makes Sanika’s so special is the management. Every time we go, the manager takes the time to personally check in and make us feel welcome. He shared with us that this is a locally family-owned restaurant, and that pride in ownership really shows in the food and the service.

The food itself is spectacular. The spice levels are honest and customizable. If you ask for spicy, you actually get a real kick, which is rare compared to many other restaurants. At the same time, they offer very mild options for those who prefer a gentler flavor, so there’s something for everyone.

For anyone searching for authentic Indian food near Nashville or Mt. Juliet, Sanika’s Indian Cuisine is the place to go. Amazing butter chicken, great variety, generous portions, friendly management, and the kind of flavors that keep you coming back...