Shalimar Indian Kitchen — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

On a cold Thursday evening in Nashville, my husband wanted Indian vegetarian food. I was in the mood for Chinese food so I got takeout from Chinatown, a few doors down, while my husband got take out from Shalimar. He said they didn’t even bother giving him an itemized receipt, just a credit card receipt for $19.99. When he got to the hotel and we opened the bag from Shalimar, we were in for a shock!

First the vegetable pakora was unlike any vegetable pakora we have seen. It was made the laziest way, absolutely no effort was put in it, as you can see from my pics.

Next the Saag Paneer, which happen to be my husband’s favorite, came in the tiniest takeout container. We paid full price for it, why were we served half the portion! I have posted a side by side pic of the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce that I got from Chinatown a few doors down comparing it to the Saag Paneer we received. Look at the portion difference basically for the same price. My husband said there was zero taste to the Saag Paneer, again cooked with no love or effort.

Finally the Paratha, my husband had called them to ask about their Naan and they had said they do not own a Tandoor and their Naan comes from a facility outside (I.e. frozen Naan) so he wanted to be safe and ordered the paratha. When we touched the foil it came in, it felt hard as a rock. On opening the foil, there was a joke of a portion of paratha that too it was hard as a rock and can you believe they have the audacity to charge $3.99 for this!

Shalimar has to be one of the worst food experiences we have ever experienced! The food is prepared with no effort and no love. They do business here with the tiniest heart! Never again are we ever dining here or getting...

Shalimar Mehfil never disappoints! Their Biryani and Chicken Tikka Masala are both absolutely delicious and full of authentic desi flavor.

The Biryani is cooked to perfection long, aromatic basmati rice, tender meat, and the perfect blend of spices. It’s flavorful without being greasy or overly spicy, and every bite has that rich, traditional Hyderabadi taste. You can tell they take their time to get the balance just right.

The Chicken Tikka Masala is creamy, smooth, and full of depth. The chicken pieces are soft and juicy, covered in a rich tomato-based sauce that pairs beautifully with naan or rice. It has just the right amount of spice and a comforting, home-style flavor.

Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the service is always friendly and welcoming. Whether you dine in or take out, the quality stays consistent.

If you’re craving real, flavorful Indian food especially Biryani and Tikka Masala Shalimar Mehfil is one of the best spots in town. Highly...

The two stars signifies their poor service and subpar food. I was happy to see the 100% marks for their health rating, and the festive environment. However, the food was not very appealing. Albeit, my food selections were from 4 vegetarian dishes (saag paneer, okra curry, a mushroom curry, and something else). The spices used for each dish did not produce the mouthwatering flavors known to describe these indian dishes. They all tasted similar and rather bland actually. The vegetable to oil ratio is fairly high as well. The "naan" might be pita bread-whatever it is, I think it is not great. The saving point was the tandori roti - which was fresh and delicious. If you eat here, i would steer you away from their fake naan. There are a handful of indian restaurants in the area I have visited- Sitar, bombay palace, and woodlands (in no order of preference). Unfortunately I regretfully admit, all three are superior...