Curry delights in a small city

St. John's is diversifying it's portfolio.

A downtown well-known international flavour staple, India Gate restaurant (Duckworth St.), has been said to rival the best Indian and curry joints from near and far. With dishes like tandori chicken, lamb jalfrezi, various pakoras, and about a half dozen types of nann there’s lots to try. If you’re not sure what to get why not try the lunch buffet Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30, but be warned that it will probably be packed and a reservation is recommended. If you want to enjoy their luscious flavours at home you can order take out and it'll be ready when you arrive to pick it up.

I was at India Gate the other day and had a grand feast. The restaurant was about half-full and the food was spot on. The atmosphere is comfortable and sort of formal but you cold easily go dressed in jeans or something casual (especially for lunch). Service is always good and waitstaff attentive. I highly recommend trying the mango lassi which is a cold and refreshing smoothie-type yogurt mango drink. Also if there are two of you dining (or more) consider getting a few dishes to share. Once the food comes you'll definitely want to try your neighbour's and it's easier if this is pre-arranged. Finally I recommend ordering the Gate Snacks appetizer platter if there are two or more in your party. It's a lovely assortment of golden fried starters with pakoras, samosas, and bhajia. And keep in mind whatever you don't eat in one sitting will be delicious for lunch the next day.

On Water St. you can also sample Indian food at Taj Mahal where, if you get a seat near the back, you can watch chefs cook bread in their tandoor oven through an observation window. Taj also has a lunch buffet which features beef Mon-Wed and everyone’s favorite butter chicken Thurs-Fri. Ask anyone who likes Indian food in St. John's and they'll give you their opinion on which one they like better: India Gate or Taj Mahal. It's a matter of personal preference but I say try them both and make your own decision. Both have good eats and offer both meat and veggie options.

There’s also International Flavours on Quidi Vidi Rd. where you can get one of two choices: a plate of veg. curry or meat curry. Sometimes they’ll give you dollop of something new on your plate just to try. This spot always delivers authentic home cooked food.

If you aren’t in the downtown area and really want a samosa, try Taste East on Allandale Rd. (near the University). They have curries, kebabs and samosas for take-out at decent prices ($1.25 veg. samosa). Great for a lunchtime snack. Some people I know go to Tate East now to stock up on fresh spices and other Indian ingredients which can still be hard to find in our grocery stores.

Finally, if you’re in the mood for an authentic, home cooked international food experience and you don’t care about decor try Afghan Restaurant on Duckworth. The food is delish, cheap, and once you get a whiff of what’s on your plate you don’t care about the plastic table clothes or small tables anymore. They offer kebabs, samosas and lots of juicy, marinated meats, tender rice, warm bread...enough said.

Those are the best places that I've tried for Indian (and related) food in this city. If you're hankering for something creamy or spicy or just mouthwatering I highly suggesting making your way to one of these spots for a Indian treat.