Taste Of India
1060 Old Marion Rd, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402
Taste Of India Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1060 Old Marion Rd
Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402 - Phone (319) 294-6999
- Website https://www.toicr.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Pinar A.
We recently moved to Cedar Rapids and this place became one of our favorite places. My husband and I dine here frequently. We are both vegeterians and enjoy Indian culture and food. Food is delicious. Service is very nice. I highly recommend Taste of India. Stop by and breath the spices and enjoy!
(5)Lucy R.
The food was absolutely delicious and the service was excellent! We've been to India and this place knows how to make Indian food that is supurb! We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Stephen P.
Incredible Indian food in the Midwest. Big selection and nice atmosphere (for being in a strip mall). Naan variety basket is delicious with any meal. The freshly squeezed juice is really good too. Lamb and chicken are really tender and the sauces must be simmering all day to develop the perfect flavor. Always ask for yogurt sauce with anything you get (comes with the Briani rice entrées) Price is right on point for the quality and great service! Bar is usually wide open to hang out and enjoy a Thai, American, or Indian beer and watch cricket. Definitely a favorite place to go.
(5)Chris S.
Really nice decor with exceptional food quality. I had the mulligatawny soup and chicken vindaloo. I am a seasoned traveller and am always on the lookout for a nice Indian restaurant. Vindaloo is a go-to item for me when I'm at a new place. The chicken was perfectly cooked (many times, the chicken is giant chunks, overdone and dry). The sauce was great, too. I ordered it spicy and was happy they didn't hold back. (I'm doing my best to hold back the waterfall trying to come out of my nose). The only thing preventing a five star is that I kinda wish the menu was a little more extensive, but they did have pretty good descriptions. I would like to only knock down half a star, but yelp doesn't allow that. I will definitely come back next time I'm in town!
(4)Kailyn G.
I'm about three months late with this review. I spent four months working in Cedar Rapids. This was my go-to restaurant for dinner. FOOD: Surprising to find such good Indian food in Iowa. Wasn't expected. I always got the malai kofta, roti, and eggplant pakora. The malai kofta is in this deliciously thick creamy sauce. Large portions. Perfect for take out for the business traveler. SERVICE: Average. Take out was always about 20 minutes from my order call. Person at the register was not too friendly but always polite. ENVIRONMENT: Only ever did take out so can't comment. The restaurant was pretty spacious.
(5)Namir S.
Growing up in NJ, I've been around good Indian food. This is good indian food. And considering all of the options, this is probably the best Indian restaurant in Iowa. Fish masala was fantastic, paneer tikka was very good. Malai kofta was very good (not the best I've had, but better than all others I've had in Iowa). Good classic tandoori and garlic naan. Service is slightly lacking (the non-Indian staff are more attentive than the Indian staff, which is quite normal for Indian restaurants). Looks like a nice place on the inside, some people were sitting at the bar. Not the best wine selection, so I didn't order any.
(5)Addison G.
I'm moving to Miami tomorrow and wanted my last dinner to be here. The lunch buffet is such a good deal that I'd forgotten how important it is to explore the full menu, and not just because you can order it spicy. Some recommendations I have to make: Goan Fish Curry. Just discovered this one last week, but it might overtake my reining favorite, which is... Vegetable Kurma. It works well with any meat, but I prefer the vege crunch. It has a rich and creamy sauce with a subtle sweetness that makes it the best. I order this as a second main dish every time while exploring the menu, so I get leftovers and a reliably awesome experience. The Mulligatawny soup is good, though not outstanding, but I have found an appetizer replacement in... Vegetable Paddies in Chick Pea Curry with yogurt and cilantro. I forgot the menu name, but this is tasty. Be sure to have the Chai tea. One cup before, with a refill after to help settle everything (while typing up your review), along with... Mango Kulfi, which is somehow creamy while having a texture like shaved ice. Indian food in general is in my top three along with Thai and Sushi, and this place is as good as Indian I can remember from Francisco, D.C., Miami and London. Check it out. You're lucky to have it around.
(5)Cynthia V.
Yuuuum. Total treat finding this place. I've been living off Chipotle and Jimmy Johns while in town for work. Try the butter chicken, aloo goobi, and the garlic naan. Your tummy will be disappointed that it wasn't able to eat ALL the food!
(4)Arun M.
May be because the options for Indian food are limited in NE Iowa or may be they are genuinely good. I enjoyed their food very much. I had visited only once so limited experience. The place is huge and there is ample sitting for couples and groups alike. The wait staff is courteous and they seemed very knowledgeable about the food choices. I had their Paneer chili, which is an indian-south asian fusion dish made with mixed spices from both cuisines. They made it very good. Naan and Roti are freshly made and delicious. Rice could have been better but overall delicious food. Definitely recommend for someone looking for some delicious indian food in the area.
(4)Kt M.
Good food, gives a flair for something we don't get here in Eastern Iowa a lot good diverse food. It's good, like you should try it, but try it with friends.
(4)Georgia M.
My father-in-law had had very limited Indian cuisine so it was wonderful for him to try small portions of the Sunday buffet. All of the food we tried was fantastic. The paneer was melt-in-your-mouth perfect! The curry'y were delicious, on the very mild side. The staff was friendly and attentive - not an empty soda or water glass the whole meal. Will defiantly come back when I'm Cedar Rpadis again.
(5)Arthur K.
Mediocre food, and subpar service. I was told I'd get a refund for a carry out order that was incorrect (We received a Lamb Korma instead of a Mutter Paneer, so one of our party, a vegetarian, didn't get dinner that night).
(2)Jenna F.
Consistently delicious Indian food. Our family goes here all the time.
(5)Robin D.
My son and I went here for lunch buffet today (Sunday). There was not a lot of variety for a $10 per person buffet. Half of it was vegetarian which is great. The waitress was very nice and friendly. She let us look at the buffet so we could decide if that was what we wanted. When my son inquired about dark beers she said she could send someone out who knew about beer. I asked for a drink menu instead and my son was able to choose one. The buffet had about 4 meat dishes and 5 vegetarian ones. The basmati rice was cooked perfectly (I did wish it had saffron like at Taj Mahal on Center Point Rd though). The Saag Paneer was delicious as was the Vegetable Korma. The Pindi Channa was just tomato sauce and chick peas so I was not a fan because it didn't have much flavor. The Vegetable Biryani was good. There was also some yellow sauce that had hot peppers sitting in it that reminded me a bit of hollandaise sauce which I love. The food was warm but not hot temperature wise. There was also an eggplant and potato dish that was excellent. The naan bread was set on the cold part of the buffet near the chutney and raita and a very small dish of salad veggies so it was cold and I did not enjoy it much. The coriander chutney is amazing, but I can get the same thing from the Indian store by the Taj Mahal. The pakoras looked almost burnt. They were very small and did not have much flavor (I love the large, flavorful pakoras at Taj Mahal with chunks of veggies in them and good seasonings.) Between the two of us I am sure we tried everything. The chicken curry was very mild and just okay, Tandoori Chicken was kind of dry. The chicken, vegetable rice dish was very good. I did not care for their choice of White Zinfandel wine. Barefoot and Sutter Home make much better ones. It was not worth the $6. For dessert they had a mango pudding and a rice pudding. We had the mango. It had chunks of canned mango in it and was delicious. It is something I had never had before. The interior is very dark in dark red curtains with the rest being all browns and blacks with splashes of dark red color on the tables. We had to ask the waitress if we get a ticket or had to pay up front after we were left sitting there quite a while once we finished eating. They were good about refilling water glasses and removing plates though. I will give it another shot some time and get something besides the buffet; maybe the food will be fresher with a better temperature and more flavor if I ask for it spicy. I think I still like the Taj Mahal better though. In summary, the service was just okay - not very proactive, interior lacking lighting (needs candles or track lighting above tables or something, but very nicely decorated), food was hit and miss, but mostly good. Temperature of the food was not as warm as expected and wine was not great.
(3)David H.
Love it. Almost every Friday night. And they catered my son's graduation party - they set up an oven in our driveway for the bread and stationed 2 cooks/servers at our house for the afternoon. Great place. Be careful with the "extra" spicy - you may have to work your way up to it.
(5)Sara P.
Best food, Indian or otherwise! I am a vegetarian and they cook all the food on the vegetarian portion of the menu separately from any meat. The curry, with veggie dumplings, was probably the best thing I've ever eaten!
(5)Andrea J.
Stayed in Cedar Rapids for a day and after scouring the place for some food joints decided to try out this place that had great reviews. Ordered the chicken biryani (hot) and the DAal makhani ( med). The food is pretty authentic. The rice was good quality long grain rice, plenty of chicken nicely iced in. And the daal, enough said , very flavorful. There were no fillers in this daal. Awesome place and very authentic. Great find.
(5)Rachel G.
I usually order take out from this restaurant. Why, you may ask? I have a pretty solid suspicion that when you order in and get butter chicken in their small metal pots they jip you out of some food. And their service can be pretty slow. But man is their food top notch. Top notch Indian in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor. I always order butter chicken medium or spicy with garlic naan. The richness of the spices are just wonderful. They also have great vegetable pakoras with bold tamarind and mint chutneys. My boyfriend and I visit here for anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions. I have tasted the Lamb Vindaloo and like it a lot too. I need to try more off of the menu but they have never gone wrong with what I consistently order. Get take out here for sure, but the ambiance is still pretty nice in-restaurant.
(4)Spice T.
Nice veg cutlets, not spicy but great crisp for shell and chutney. The Kadai paneer with onion kulcha was the highlight. Perfect textured paneer. The very spicy sauce was perfect heat rating and sauce was creamy but not heavy, with long sautéed onions. The mango milkshake better than the lasso, not heavy and tasteful.Now for the rad malai to end a great meal.
(4)Emma E.
I am glad the food is so flipping great cause the service is usually pretty slow..(we waited 45 mins just for our check once) but it's always worth the wait!!! I dream of the butter chicken and mint chutney!!
(5)Jordan S.
I had never had Indian food prior to this, but Taste of India made me a fan. Service was a bit slow, but the food was fantastic! I would definitely tell people to get over here to try this. WARNING: They are closed on Monday's. Found this out the hard way :)
(4)Mark L.
Excellent Indian food; attentive and friendly service. Restaurant was a pleasant surprise while on a business trip. Baingan Bharta was tasty and prepared at my requested spicy level of 3 to 4. Garlic Naan was fresh, hot and seasoned nicely.
(5)Amanda B.
If you can stand the poor (at worst) to mediocre (at best) service then this is a fantastic restaurant. The food is very good, the ambiance is tranquil. I found the pricing to be excellent and their chai tea is fantastic.
(3)Marc S.
Great Indian food. Well prepared, just the right hotness/spiciness we each wanted. Huge portions too.
(5)C T.
A wonderful dining experience. WOW. I was a table of 1, at 630 pm on a Tuesday. I was one of 6 -8 tables in the whole restaurant. I ordered the following: Hot Chai, Aloo Pakora (cauliflower), Paneer Makhni, Raita and Roti (comments below). AMAZING meal. My only regret is that I could not eat more. :( The Chai was delicious - creamy and sweet, but not so sweet as to cover up the spices. And they provided refills! Perfect on a cold day. The Aloo Pakora was the best that I have had ever. The batter was delicious, and they must have cooked each piece twice - once in the fryer, and then the pieces appeared as though they were cut in half and then broiled. The non-breaded flat side of the cauliflower had a nice crisp to it, and each piece was al dente. Perfect preparation. Paneer dishes are my favorite - I love the homemade cheese. I had never had Makhni before and I really enjoyed it. There were no additional veggies (peas, potatoes, etc.) - it was literally cheese and the creamy tomato based sauce. I asked for it to be a bit spicy and it was exactly what I wanted. (I was not breathing fire, but if you aren't good with spicy, then do not ask for this.) It was creamy, ginger-y, and full of the warm spices of India. (As it turns out, Makhni translates to "creamy", with butter (not ghee) or yogurt as the ingredient for the silky texture.) Also, the paneer demonstrated the perfect balance of density and moisture. Sometimes paneer is too moist and it falls apart, and sometimes it is too dense and it is dry. This paneer was perfect. The Basmati rice was excellent (Honestly, if I am at an Indian restaurant and the basmatic rice is NOT good, then I take that as a sign of overall quality. It is akin to a sushi chef not making good sushi rice...) This rice was delicious even on its own - well seasoned and moist. The Raita was perfect. Not too chunky, not too runny and it was very tangy and refreshing. You could taste the cucumber, there were slivers of carrot and the seasoning was spot on - not too salty with pronounced - but not overpowering - cumin. The Roti was good as well. It was a little crispier than I like, but it was tasty and served its purpose scooping Makhni and Raita. I would also like to comment on the Tamarind Chutney and the Cilantro-Mint Chutney that came with the Pakoras. I enjoyed the Tamarind chutney more than I usually do - I think because it wasn't overpoweringly sweet. That being said, it could have been a little thicker/chunkier to give some additional texture. The Cilantro-Mint chutney was the best that I have ever had. It seems that the inclusion of a chili pepper (of whatever variety) is often overlooked. This chutney had prominent cilantro, mint, serrano (I am guessing) and onion flavors all mingling together perfectly. I actually ate it with a spoon after my last pakora was eaten. It was THAT GOOD. In summary: DELICIOUS food, good atmosphere and great service. Eat here. Often.
(5)Daniel N.
I've been here many times over the years. This place gets 3 stars for their lunch buffet which could use some work but 5 stars for their menu items, especially for Cedar Rapids. The naan, samosas, butter chicken and mango lassi are all very good. The decor and ambience are good. The prices and portions are good.
(4)Cul F.
Place is quality through and through. I really enjoyed the curries. the flavors are outstanding and food is nice and spicy without being overwhelming. and thought experience was outstanding. the lamb was the highlight for me.
(5)Zane P.
5 stars. This place has the best authentic Indian food around. There spices are top notch and the serving sizes will have you taking some home for later. After traveling abroad this summer, I came home and had to try this place out as quickly as possible. Sure enough, it succeeded any expectations I had and more. The service was impeccable, as the employees give you space and social time, yet the personal environment allows them to "read" customers in order for the service to be done in a timely manner. I have and will continue to recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Jeremy Z.
Excellent entrees. The sauces were amazing.
(5)Paige P.
Thank goodness for Taste of India for bringing flavor and taste to Cedar Rapids!!! Don't bother with the falsey fusion restaurants of Cedar Rapids, go to the real; go to the best like Taste of India.
(5)Nate A.
I enjoyed the lunch buffet since I could try a little of each dish. The food was excellent! I really enjoyed the butter chicken and the chicken curry. Will definitely be back.
(5)David B.
The food here is extremely good, and the service is fantastic! If you are in the mood for some Indian food I can't tell you enough how much I recommend going to Taste of India.
(4)Nic P.
Like most Indian restraints in the midwest, eat at this one over lunch. The buffet will be better food and the service will be better. Otherwise, I wouldn't eat here.
(3)Tom R.
I am wondering if previous reviewers are simply trying to be "Iowa nice" or they have a very high tolerance for cruddy food, dingy atmosphere and poor service. I am thinking many of these reviews are works of fiction. Dark and depressing is the first impression when you walk in. Dirty dishes were everywhere and only three tables were occupied at 12:30 in the afternoon. My shoes were sticking to the floor. These should have been my cues to turn around and leave. But alas. This is a place in decline. The place mist have been very attractive at one time. It was a regional institution, but it is clearly having issues. Food was *meh*, lunch menu is VERY limited (6 dishes) and the bar was closed. Get this.....while dishes were scattered about on empty tables, were staff standing around arguing and doing nothing. In clear earshot the few guests who were there could hear them argue about their extreme workload (ironic, no?) and scheduling difficulties. The constant chatter from the staff arguing about work hours, the inattentive service and staffers watching TV in another area were very annoying. I called my lunch the Indian Diet lunch. Three chunks of Chicken in a peanut sauce with a gristly leg of tandoori chicken were the feature. The chicken leg was inedible I am sure Weight Watchers clients would be pleased. The Naan was cold, but crispy and light nonetheless. The rice was in one large solid mass. Avoid this place at all costs.
(2)Paula H.
finally some real ethnic food on Cedar Rapids. I have traveled to CR from Denver for business since 2001 and happy to discover this little gem. Yummy. And i found the service to be genuine and attentive.
(4)J D.
I finally had the food here, which is terrific, some of the better Indian food I've had. However, the first time I tried eating here I ordered takeout. I never brought my takeout home because the service was terrible and my food wasn't ready 30 minutes after I was told it would be. I'm glad I came back, and I probably will again. But don't expect great speedy service. There was a total of 3 tables in the restaurant, and it seemed like our waitress still couldn't make time for us.
(3)Valerie E.
Had the lunch buffet with my hubby the other day. Food was barely luke warm, which is seriously disappointing for Indian food - it should be served piping hot so all the yummy spices really come out. I asked a server to please toss my whole plate in the micro, which he did, and then handed it back to me with not even a word or apology. Still wasn't even really hot. Oh, and very few options on the buffet. Would you like chicken or chicken? Indian food should be served hot. Period. Not only that, but for food safety reasons a buffet should be kept hot. If you go here, order something from the menu and hopefully you will have a better experience than I did.
(2)Derek J.
Wait staff is just really poor overall. Every time I go there (yes, I come back for the GREAT food, and look past the service), the wait staff seems confused why I'm there. They just come off as very flustered overall. I don't know if it's the timing (odd it keeps happening), or what, but they really give me a creepy vibe. The staff took 15 minutes to come by and when they did, we had 2/4 menu's and they just asked us what we wanted. We were a little curt and said, "Would water be possible?" And the waiter walked off, returning with 2/4 waters. It's just bewildering. The food did arrive in a timely fashion, and it tasted wonderful and was exactly what we ordered. It's just the service. The wait staff just seemed...I don't know...stoned or something. Again, if you can put up with the wait staff who seem to be under the influence, the food IS WORTH IT. But seriously, get your heads on straight with the wait staff. Sheesh!
(3)Jessica W.
Yay! A POSITIVE update!! I've been back 3 times since the last 2 bad experiences, and things have been great all of those times. Very happy with the food and ambiance. The service overall is fine, some servers are really nice and helpful, and a couple are sort of socially challenged. I usually order the oh-so addicting Butter Chicken, but I have thought on several occassions that I wish they had a "butter chicken, minus the chicken, plus paneer" and they actual have this on their menu now!! I can't remember what it is called (and their online menu hasn't been updated yet), but it's the first item on the Vegetarian items. I totally recommend this dish It is always freezing in there so bring a sweater. Since moving to the new location, they have a large party dining room that seems perfect for a super fun gathering.
(4)Rachel Erica T.
I've been to Taste of India, over the course of the past 4+ years in Cedar Rapids, probably about 50 times. I grew up in Little India in Chicago, Land of Curry, so I like to think my opinion is somewhat informed about what makes a good American-Indian dish. And make no mistake: what you're going to get at Taste of India is amazing, authentic American-style Indian restaurant food. There's a big difference between what you would get, say, in an Indian restaurant in India, versus what you would get in an Indian restaurant here--the same goes for any nation's cuisine, I would guess. Nevertheless, this is my favorite restaurant in Cedar Rapids, period. Everything always tastes just the right mixture of savory and spicy. I'm one of those people who likes to order dishes that have me sobbing while I'm enthusiastically signing my check, so take that into consideration. If you want spicy, they will give you spicy. Try the signature take-out dish of Chicken Tikka Masala--originally created in Wales, but still absolutely delicious, nothing wrong with it--and their excellent Navratan and Korma curries. They have several different kinds of naan. My favorite is the garlic, although if you're in the mood for something buttery soft and mild, the plain is always a great standby. This is a great place to take people who have never tried Indian food before, because they have a very basic, but strong menu with some great specialties. Whether you're an Indian food veteran or completely new to the concept of curry, I highly recommend it.
(5)Kat H.
Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere Waiters were great and tolerant of larger group. Baigan bharta (extra spicy) with chili naan was no joke.
(4)Ed N.
This place is great. Nice crisp and clean flavors. Quite authentic to central India. The prices are very moderate, a family of four can eat quite nicely for under $50. I will be coming back.
(5)David W.
Surprisingly good Indian food in Iowa. I was happily surprised to have a nice dinner of naan and lentils when passing through Iowa.
(4)Joe S.
As good as it gets, without someone you know that cooks this food in their home. Tandoori and chicken sizzler are amazing.
(5)Katherine C.
I love Indian food, but I've only ever eaten Indian food in the midwest. That said, this is the best Indian restaurant I've ever eaten at in terms of food. Their samosas are fantastic, their spinach is delicious, and their cottage cheese is tasty. I like my food VERY mild, and they do a great job of making it as mild as I could hope. In contrast, my husband likes his food spicy and he is always satisfied with his spice level. We've eaten here more than ten times, and I've never been dissatisfied with the food. The service, however, is almost always lacking. There is only one server who really makes a consistent effort to even try to make us happy, the rest of the servers cannot be bothered to see how our food is, to get us refills or boxes, or to even answer our questions. Trying to eat her with a child is an absolute nightmare, and the dirty looks for the other customers make me want to only get take-out from here. In summary, fantastic food, lousy service.
(4)Mike M.
I'm by no means an expert on Indian cuisine, but I'm an expert on food that I like, and I really liked the food here! I never went to the previous location, but the current spot is a great setting. They seem to have a perfect amount of space, and there is plenty of parking. The decor is fairly low-key, but very distinguished, and the service was excellent. The food selection is solid, and you can adjust the spiciness of your meal to your tastes. I went with Medium, and it kicked my ass a little. I also love the fact that they serve both chocolate and strawberry milk! Their juice blender was down today, so I wasn't able to try their fresh juices. I'll definitely be going back soon. I'm a little sad that I hadn't gone sooner, to be honest.
(5)Alatkinam N.
The corridor's little gem!! The entrees on the dinner menu have been quite outstanding here every time I've tried them. Folks here seem to differentiate hot and spicy, which works for me because I pretty much can't stand the flavorless-chili-pepper-hot! The lunch buffet can vary in quality but I don't think it has ever been bad. I would rate their Lamb Biryani second only to Hema's Kitchen at Devon Ave in Chicago (coming from a meat loving Indian!).
(5)Jean R.
Although we live in Iowa City, we now plan all trips north of Cedar Rapids to coincide with lunch or dinner at Taste of India. The tasteful decor features two waterfall partitions, white tablecloths, colorful fabric wall hangings and no travel posters! It's clean and the lighting's soft. We're always warmly greeted by the owners and shown to a comfy booth or if we have a big party, to a low table surrounded by throw pillows for seats. Nice! I recommend dinner here, because the full menu isn't available at lunch (though the lunch buffet is in full swing and very popular if that's your thing). There are two dishes I highly recommend. One is "chana batar", a poori (deep fried puffy bread) served with a spicy chick pea stew that has a great tomatoey tang and a hint of sugar. The other is the Southern snack, Masala Dosa. This giant pancake made with lentil flour is folded around buttery diced potatoes, chile, black mustard seeds and cilantro, and is served with a small dish of sambar and coconut chutney. The garlic level in the latter is off the charts, so be sure to share : )
(4)Meghan S.
I loved Taste of India!! The atmosphere was that of an expensive restaurant, with the prices a little bit higher than Applebees. The food was delicious and giant portions! Definitely would be willing to go back, and I'm soooo excited there's one opening in Cedar Falls!
(5)Robert S.
Taste of India is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Cedar Rapids. The food is incredible and the ambiance is casual but classy. Prices are very fair with entrees costing around $11-15. The food is very authentic and can be a bit spicy, but they are more than happy to season to taste. I usually order my food "mild" and don't have any problems. This is an excellent place to take a date.
(5)John M.
I love this place. I'm in LA now and I miss it.
(4)Pro E.
went for lunch buffet on mother's day sunday. one of the best indian buffets i have ever had honestly. place was packed which was definitely a good sign. food was very authentic. they had a few chicken items and no other meat but it was so freaking good! did not go for the 3rd plate even though i could. went for the dessert. BEST DECISION EVER. dessert tasted like those were home made. delicious to say the least. my hot date wanted to share and i almost didn't want to. but they brought us extra from the back after we requested so i was open to share eventually. very nice decoration and extremely well kept. a well rounded dining experience indeed!
(5)Linda B.
It is my favorite restaurant on Cedar Rapids. Being a vegetarian, it's great to have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. I have tried almost every veg option on the menu and have loved it all. My hubby does eat meat and he has always been happy with every dish he has ordered. Yes, at times service is a little slow but I like their relaxing atmosphere-Americans are always in too big of a rush.
(5)Emily L.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant... ever. I do not have the greatest breadth of Indian cuisine to draw from, however would say that I have dined at an above-average amount of Indian restaurants in my life. I have yet to experience the lunch buffet, which I have heard great reviews about. Therefore, everything in this review ONLY relates to the supper menu. Naan is cooked to perfection, and the addition of garlic is delicious. The Raita is not one of my favorites at this particular Indian restaurant, but I do appreciate that they make their own yogurt for it. The cilantro dipping sauce is incredibly delicious. I wish I could remember what it is called... but it is simply amazing. Wildly flavorful and unlike anything found in general American cuisine. As for entrees, I appreciate the amount of rice that is served with the meal. Excellent portion sizes as well. Plenty for one person. Some of the entrees that myself, or others in my party (therefore I have tried) that stick out in my mind: Chicken Korma. This is my go-to. Absolutely delicious. I also love their in-house made paneer, so I always ask that they include paneer in my chicken korma. Really I would love just a panner Korma, and skip the chicken altogether, but when I asked for this, the gentleman who was serving looked at me as though I was crazy... so we just added the paneer to the dish. They provided a generous amount of paneer into my dish, which I appreciated. Wildly flavorful, and I like it at about a medium heat. I appreciate their attentiveness to your choice of heat level. Kadaii Chicken: Just alright. Was flavorful, but was not over the moon about it. Another member of our party really enjoyed it quite a bit, so there was a switch. Chicken Saag: Not one of the favorites. Nobody at our table cared for it, unfortunately. Relatively flavorless and just reminded us of a creamed spinach. Perhaps with a higher level of spice (the orderer of this ordered with a mild spice level), I could see how this dish would be better. Butter Chicken: Excellent. Top notch, and a good place for someone who is unfamiliar with Indian food to start I would think. Every time that I have been here, the service has been wonderful. Highly attentive. At times we have experienced a little bit of language barrier issues, but this is minor. The environment is great, and the ladies restroom is nice. I remember specifically it smelling very good. Writing this review has made me exceptionally hungry for some ToI (I think now we have a good enough relationship that I can start abbreviating the name :) ) so I may venture out to try the lunch buffet today. Keep up the good work here!
(5)Jeff W.
The food quality is excellent and taste superb. You can't go wrong with anything you order here. Missing one star because dinner was a little pricey for me - $20/person. For the hardcore low-carbers, there are only a few entrees you can get, if you hold the rice and naan (but they are SO good). A few more items for the South-Beach crew (lentils are diet compliant).
(4)Shunty M.
Being an Indian and fond of Indian food, when I first time came to Cedar Rapids and found that there is only once decent restaurant in town for Indian food, I thought I would get bored of same taste..However TOI turned out to be great in their recipes, their food isn't completely Indian when it comes to spice, but believe me they make awesome curries...!
(4)Katherine L.
My husband and I have been regular customers at Taste of India for the past four years. Despite the move in location, the food quality and price have remained high. We are both vegetarians, and we love the fact that we have so many tasty options for us. Taste of India is the place that we love to take guests from out of town (and they all eat meat), and we have yet to have a disappointed guest! They have all appreciated the good food and the reasonable cost. They have a buffet on the weekends and the limited menu on Monday-Thursday. The buffet is a great way to try a lot of dishes if you are a little unfamiliar with Indian food. The big advantage of dinner is getting to adjust your spice level. I would definitely recommend Taste of India - it is one of the best restaurants in Cedar Rapids.
(5)Shannon K.
I have never been to India.... and from what I am told of it... do not want to go. Which makes it very very good that Taste of India came all the way to me. I have been told that it is very authentic Indian cuisine.... I'll take their word for it; it is delicious all the same. Portions are very generous and you can pick your spicy level. I do not recommend very spicy unless you are ready for it. It's great, just keep some water handy for when your mouth catches fire. The atmosphere... well its in the old slot were Kaji used to be, and you can still see some of the remnants of Kaji there, but they do a nice job with the space they have. Complaint: Parking. There is a bar in the same strip of buildings, so you can end up parking a bit away depending on the crowd there. If you do need a Sherpa to guide you back to the entrance from your car, tip well, because it is worth the trip.
(4)Chitown D.
This place is great. It rivals the Indian restaurants on Devon in Chicago. Although the aloo gobi didn't have peas, which are my favorite, it was still delicious. The portions were a decent size and there were even vegan selections. The waiter was really attentive. Yet another pleasant Cedar Rapids surprise. Try it out!
(5)Ricardo M.
This is our Favorite restaurant in the Iowa City - Cedar Rapids area. The food is authentic, the service is helpful and friendly, and their recommendations are always right on target. Prices are fair and they have a great ambiance. Try the Panners, and the bread (cheese and garlic naan).
(5)p d.
Best Indian in IC/CR. New place is nice, spacious with music and decor giving great ambience. Perfect spice in butter chicken and palak paneer. Seems like they have stopped offering their complimentary papadum and chutney--too bad.
(5)Craig M.
My favorite Indian restaurant. A lot of variety.
(4)Becky O.
Best Indian buffet I've been to anywhere. Closed Mondays.
(5)Matt R.
I LOVE having this place so close to me... I've never been let down. I find myself in other cities (Milwaukee, Minneapolis, San Jose) eating at highly rated places and wishing it was as good as what these guys make. Taste of India is in the "In-Tent-City" building with a couple of other businesses. It's easy to spot with the bit white ...tent... thing they have for a roof. The decor inside is very standard for an Indian place... the big hole in the wall (which leads to where a bank used it be, now it's just empty) stops it from feeling cozy, but it's still nice. They have two glass fountains that looks like they need some maintenance, but unless you're seated right next to them you can't tell. The food is GREAT! I've gotten 3 different people to try Indian food here, and all 3 have loved it as well. My personal favorites are the Chicken Korma and the Lamb Curry. Tip: if you want it spicy, make sure they realize you ACTUALLY want it spicy... it took me a couple times before I learned to say "VERY. spicy." with the correct emphasis. Given the other place in town (Taj Mahal), eating your Indian food here is a no-brainer.
(5)Michelle S.
Why can't I find an Indian restaurant this good in Chicago?? First, the service was AmaZiNG! Everyone is sooo NICE! The decor and ambiance was date worthy. I'm not really digging the giant opening on one wall to what is a bank? Our server told us that they have plans for a banquet, party area and described how beautiful it was going to look! NICE! The lighting was dim and the music was at an excellent background volume to allow for decent conversation. The food...ummmm sooooo yummy! I tried the vegetable pakoras and veg samosas with mint chutney. Excellent. The chana masala and baigan bhartha were drool worthy. I'm seriously craving it again as I type. I can't speak to the meat entrees, but everyone there seemed to be enjoying their dishes. .
(5)Larry H.
Went to this place 2 x after a secret insider tip from one of the Indian brothers at work. Best tip ever! This is the big city flavor and quality in the middle of a reitired car dealership. This place is not easy to find, but if you look for the yellow tanning salon it will lead you there. This is probably one of only a few places near IC that I would take outsiders. (the people that I like) The decore is elegant. The service is top notch. The serice staff are friendly and very helpful. If you like to try good Indian food, dont miss this place. If this is your first time trying Indian food, try the other places in IC and then come here for a comparison. Trust me, this is for your own good.
(5)Eric M.
Some of the best Indian food I've had anywhere. Mulligatawny soup, naan bread, lamb korma, all unbelievably good.
(5)Jasmine J.
Great food. Restrooms were dirty, service wasn't great but the food was wonderful.
(4)Malorie H.
We went to Taste of India last month with a couple of newbies to Indian food. They both loved the flavors of the food. We had a combination of mild and medium spiced food at our table and all spice levels were great! The one complaint we had was that the beer menu was limited, if you were looking for an authentic Indian beer instead of American domestic. Overall, its the best Indian restaurant that we've found in CR!
(4)Bianca M.
This was a sad little lunch buffet. Perhaps it was just an off day, but there was nothing to write home about. I love Indian food, but this was a disappointment all the way around. The service was completely lackluster as well. I wouldn't return.
(1)Mike W.
Absolutely delicious! If you say you want it spicy it will definitely be spicy! Loved the naan and lamb vindaloo!
(5)Rae C.
Some friends and I were craving Indian food like nothing else so we looked up this place here at Yelp. The reviews seemed great, so it was worth a shot. First off, the restaurant is located in a good spot. It's easy to find and you'll see it immediately. When we walked into the place, it was pretty much empty. No surprise since it was about 8:00pm on a Thursday night. I was a little taken back by the look of the place. It seemed very formal and nice. The restaurant oddly leads into a space that looks like a warehouse. A little bit of an eyesore, but we were there for the food, not really the atmosphere. The menu is small, but it has a huge variety of vegan/vegetarian dishes. You're bound to find Indian food that'll please almost anyone. I ordered the Tandoori Chicken, which was a bit mushy and not as crispy as I would have liked. We also ordered the Aloo Paratha, Gulab Jamun, Nan, Mango Lassi, and fried potatoes. Everything was delicious, except for the Tandoor Chicken. However, the prices are pretty steep. It was almost $55 for all three of us to eat. At other Indian places we've been to, it's been around $35 or $40. Other than the prices, the place was yummy.
(4)J M.
Great place to enjoy Indian food! Reminds me of food I used to have in India.
(4)DON B.
I went there for lunch. Very thin selection.No curry! Apples for apples I gave this place two stars only when compared to similar ones from other places/cities / states.
(2)Jim B.
I've not been here for dinner, but I sure have enjoyed the lunch buffet on many different occasions. As others have said, without a doubt this place is better than Taj Mahal on Ct. Point Rd. Contrary to another opinion below, I don't think you can go wrong with the lunch buffet...it's all flavorful and very tasty! I especially have enjoyed the Chicken and the Paneer Kormas. The Naan that comes with the meal is perfect. This is indeed one of the best places to eat in Cedar Rapids.
(5)Sandra A.
Indian in Iowa? Indian in Hiawatha, Iowa? Indian in Hiawatha Iowa in an old car dealership? It was hard to be a hater the day I found this place.
(4)Jake E.
I tried the Lamb Saag and really enjoyed it.
(5)Ryan L.
Very good food. We tried the Samosa, Nann, Garlic Nann, Butter Chicken and a lamb curry. Highly recommend the Chai Tea. Only complaint is that I wish they would have a sampler meal for those who don't want to commit to one entree. if you haven't been, you need to go.
(4)Rachel M.
This is a once a week date night destination in the winter for us. I don't eat at other Indian Restaurants anymore because they never ever measure up. I've heard some so-so comments out in the world about the lunch buffet. Please be advised that it is most likely tailored to the Rockwell quick-lunch eaters, and dinner is an entirely different experience. They will ask you if you want your food Mild, Medium, or Spicy. The chef is Indian. He cooks like he knows what he's doing, so if you order Spicy, expect to be wiping sweat off of your eyeballs for an hour after dinner. It's wonderful. If you don't like Spicy food, ordering Mild is flavorful, satisfying, and delightful. Half of the menu is Vegetarian. I always order the Masala Dahl with Garlic Naan and a glass of house Pinot Noir. 100% excellent.
(5)Jake O.
Fantastic! One of the very best Indian places I've ever been to. Elegant is the perfect word for the decor, the service is excellent, and the food is fantastic. I recommend the Palak Paneer if you're looking for an authentic Indian taste, but on the other hand the sizzling chicken is some of the best seasoned chicken I've ever had. STRONGLY recommended.
(5)Ann S.
Fantastic food and great decor. The mango lassie was spot on. We also had samosas with corriander and tamarind chutneys. My main dish was the shahi paneer which was perfectly seasoned and very authentic and my husband had the lamb vindaloo which he really enjoyed. I finished my meal off with a great cup of masala chai. The staff was extremely friendly and pleasant. They even gave us some extra rice to take home. We will definitely be back! Awesome customer service!
(5)Imran P.
I eat at south Asian restaurants a lot and this is one of their finest -- the fact that it's in the middle of Iowa cornland makes it all the more surprising. We absolutely love the bhindi (okra) masala...although, sadly the last time we went there, the waiter told us that they don't have it because it's *not in season*. I almost told him that we are in the middle of summer and this is exactly when okra's the freshest...but I decided to not argue with him. Chicken karahi is really delicious and so is the ghobi. We have tried the various fusion dishes that we think are really interesting such as gobhi manchurian. I think that the key to their cooking is the fact that they don't cook their food into submission -- a crime that so many south Asian restaurants are guilty of committing. In my humble opinion, this is the best Indian restaurant in a 250 mile radius.
(5)Gordon B.
I was a big fan of Taste of India before they moved. I'd recommend them to folks at work and post good things about them on Facebook but things have changed since they moved. Same nice people and mostly the same food but the buffet arrangement is terrible. You walk into a U-shaped serving area with mostly hot food on the left and mostly cold food on the right and table at the end of the U. As you walk into the U to get some food you are competing for space with folks coming out and those coming down the other side. The serving area looks smaller than the old place. People waiting in line have to keep parting for servers and people bring out food for the buffet. So, maybe if the serving tables were back to back with the opening to the middle facing the door people could walk around the outside and the buffet could be replenished from the kitchen with out breaking up the line. There has to be a solution. What's there now just doesn't work. Please fix this! I really miss your food and want to be able to recommend you to all my friends and coworkers.
(2)Chad Z.
Best Indian food in the 380 corridor. The garlic naan is a must have. Get the bread sampler.
(4)Christopher M.
This place is great. Its comes as close to what you'll find on Devon St in Chicago. This place is 100x better than Taj Mahal (on Cntr pt rd I think). If you like Indian food, give this place a shot.
(5)Rob R.
Taste of India is not only the best Indian food in Cedar Rapids, it's the best in Eastern Iowa. The food is excellent - it's predominately Northern Indian cuisine. Their main cook is truly a chef and constantly wants to improve on his dishes. We've not found anything here that is bad, but we really are fond of the curries and their selection of vegetarian entrees (especially the Sabaz Bahar). If vegetarian isn't good enough, just ask - they'll do anything vegan also. The food on the lunch buffet isn't quite as good because it lacks the spice of their dinner selections. However, they make up for it with a plethora of selections. If you haven't tried Indian food, we would encourage you to visit the buffet for your first experience. The service is quite professional, but a few of the girls are a little dingy. We love Taste of India - it's arguably the best place to eat in Cedar Rapids.
(5)Dallas M.
This is the place to go for Indian food! Be ready to enjoy curry because there is plenty of it here. One of the few true 5 stars in Cedar Rapids. This place is worth the money every time I've gone.
(5)mel c.
perked my spirits...i am a little down in the dumps cuz CR doesnt have a healthfood store to write about or any good vegan/veggie restaurants so until i get the coin to open either to satiate the appetites of the healthier cedar rapidians i will be found feasting on this delish indian food.
(4)