Nawab Indian Restaurant
13 E 4th St, Bethlehem, PA, 18015
Nawab Indian Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
13 E 4th St
Bethlehem, PA, 18015 - Phone (610) 691-0388
- Website https://nawabcuisine.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
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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Jess M.
Had wanted to check out this place for a long time because I love Indian food and finally had to go in solo this afternoon. I was immediately seated in the dimly lit room and served chapati and water. I ordered a Mango Malasa Iced Tea which was very tasty along with garlic naan and lamb biryani. The rice came with lots of veggies, spices and the lambs cooked into it with the biryani sauce in a separate dish - very tasty. I ate about half my meal and needed to take the rest home for lunch tomorrow. Pretty good considering the area. I'd still prefer King of Tandoor from my old neighborhood, but Nawab is cheap and tasty.
(4)Steve D.
Average quality food, fair variety. Definitely not impressive compared to other Indian restaurants that I've been to. I would explore other options before coming here not that it was bad just that there are so many better options The salad bar is joke I'd actually rate this place 2-1/2 Stars the restaurant seems loaded with Ton of starving Lehigh students anxious to eat there $10 worth of food
(3)Sul A.
This is one of the best Indian restaurant I have visited. I ordered lamp Bryani and butter chicken with garlic naan, it was so delicious food and has tons of spices that not really hot spicy.
(5)Andres M.
Walked in, the waiter literally dropped the 4 menus in the middle of the table as he walked by. There was 1 couple sitting at a table with a To go box then we order and the food was terrible. As soon as we entered the waiter harassed us about how many people he would be serving, before we had a chance to even step both feet into the restaurant
(1)Raj N.
Below average Indian food. The restaurant was full with locals who probably don't know what good Indian food is . Servers are not friendly
(1)Haley G.
I do not go here much, but this is the place to go for Indian!!!! Doesn't matter if you don't know what anything means on the menu, they will explain it to you.
(3)Drooling N.
I have been in the lehigh valley for 8 years now and this was the first restaurant I ate out at. Being of Indian origin, naturally I had a lot of expectations. However, I shall try to review Nawab without bias and attempt to base my critique purely on taste. Any good Indian restaurant should realize that it is representing the cuisine of a billion people of incredible culinary diversity. Which basically means it should in essence make an honest effort to represent at least a particular region of India properly. Since this is my first review of an Indian restauarant, I would like to mention here that there is nothing called "Indian cuisine". Every region of India has its own distinctive cuisine, flavor and use of spices. In that respect. Nawab showcases North Indian cuisine. Now for my actual review. Other people can comment on the ambience, decor and service. To me the main criteria is food and I am sorry to say Nawab misses the mark by a long way. I have had both the buffet lunch as well as the ala carte dinner there and the flavor was quite bad. I shall critique some trademark North Indian dishes that I tried here from their ala carte menu. 1) Samosas: How it should be: Spiced potatoes and peas, fried in a flour dough. Should be crispy on the outside with consistently cooked potatoes and peas inside. It should have a mild heat in the background. The spices should be a blend of rich savory and mildly sweet. What it was: Not bad, but the dough was inconsistent and the stuffing lacked freshness. The peas felt like they were frozen and the potatoes needed more seasoning. 2) Kebabs (chef's special appetizer platter): How it should be: Indian kebabs are richer in flavor than their middle eastern counterparts. They consist of marinated meat/seafood cooked through in a tandoor (clay oven). The meat evolves into a delectable bite of succulent flavor. How it was: The cook on the meat, both chicken and shrimp was inconsistent. The kebabs were very bland and insipid. The meat on most ocassions were dry and lacked seasoning. 3) Paneer Tikka masala: How it should be: Panner is a type of un-aged cottage cheese made by curdling milk with lemon or similat mild acidic foods. Properly cooked panner should be like soft cheese cubes in a smooth, fresh sauce. In case of Tikka masala, a tomato based sauce. What it was: The panner was leathery and the sauce felt reheated and old. 4) Lamb Biriyani: What it should be: Biriyani is a persian dish which India has made its own. Every part of India has their own style of biriyani. Biriyani, basically is spiced meat and rice cooked over a low flame. It should have fluffy, long grained rice, evenly spiced and juicy, succulent pieces of meat. What it was: Very bland. The lamb was dry, the rice was tough and flavorless. I tried their desserts from their lunch buffets and they were all out of a can, or readymade desserts you get in Indian groceries. So they do not warrant a comment. Verdict: The food was extremely disappointing. I am well aware of Nawab's reputation as an establishment that has survived over 15 years, but I think that is largely due to people not used to Indian food. From the standpoint of a restaurant showcasing "North Indian" food, Nawab is among the worst I have had in this country. Compared to the other Indian restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, Spice India (all three locations), Mayuri (whitehall), Brindhavan (Bethlehem) and Aromas of India(easton), it ranks the lowest.
(1)Oswald C.
Best Indian food I've had in America. Don't let the humble/non-renovated venue fool you: the food is excellent and for just $10, you can break your stomach at their lunch buffet.
(5)Hana L.
It was really empty when we went. I remember thinking that the food was good, but that it wasn't really worth it. (It could also be my personal taste - I don't particularly like Indian.) They also didn't have my favorite - butter chicken!! My curry dish was good (don't remember which - but it was a standard one), but my friend's lamb curry dish was subpar.
(4)Michael H.
This is our favorite Indian restaurant and has been for some time. We have dined here dozens of times and always have a great meal. I always start with a plate of bhojia, a crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, fritter type thing. The waiter knows I love this and puts the order in upon our arrival. Jen usually gets a veggie assortment starter. The condiments are always fresh and yummy and whatever that thin crisp bread is called that appears at right when you sit down is always fresh, flavorful, crispy and warm. The vegetarian entrees are very yummy but many feature paneer (dairy). The nav rattan korma is absolutely yummerific but contains dairy. Other thing I love about Nawab is that their rice is the best basmati you could ever hope for. - light, perfectly prepared and very flavorful. Service is always prompt. Interior is basic and I much approve of the ambience - many are college kids on a dinner out. . A friend of mine of Indian heritage looks down very much on Nawab as being inauthentic. I wouldn't be surprised if every Indian place I ever been to isn't true to the real Indian traditions, but I will say that Nawab's food tastes great. Why not 5 stars? Just wish they had more vegan options
(4)Kelsey M.
Perhaps I am just spoiled by the selection of Indian food available in my previous town of residence, but I found this food to be only okay and a little expensive. Admittedly, I ordered it to-go, so it was about ten minutes before I got to eat the food, but that should have had no real effect on the food on the overall taste of the food, especially since it was still really warm. I ordered the butter chicken with rice and naan. The chicken wasn't particularly flavorful and not as creamy as I am used to. The tomato acidic flavor was a little overpowering. The naan was a little burnt. It was a large portion of the food, so I had multiple meals out of it. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing?
(3)Kristian J.
I went here for the first time the Sunday after an Indian wedding and thought I had already had my Indian food fix for the week, but boy was I surprised. This was real, authentic Indian food, and I know this because I went with people who were born and raised in India. They go there almost every week and I understand why. We all had a vegetarian bento box type of meal that came with a variety of different dishes and naan, highly recommended. The dessert options were also authentic and delish - the Rasmalai dessert, a sweet cottage cheese dessert was especially good, and I'm not usually a fan of cottage cheese!
(5)Alexandra L.
The Quick: BYOB, amazing authentic indian food, big portions, extremely reasonable prices, plus good service. The Details: I love this place. I've ordered almost everything on the appetizer menu and have devoured it all. The prices are so reasonable i recommend getting a few things to split. The Tiki Masala, the Vindaloo, a few other names I can't pronounce -- all delicious and made fresh to order. The Damage: We've ordered multiple apps and entrees to split, enjoyed a great bottle of wine, and spent about ~$25 per couple. Price cannot be beat.
(5)Anthony K.
I stopped in here for the first time after hearing mixed opinions. I had the chicken tikka masala and it was very delicious however I asked for it spicy And even my four hear old son agreed that it wasn't spicy. The service was quick but they were not friendly at all. The guy seemed kind of irritated that I was there as I was the only customer at the time. Also it's very pricey, sixteen dollars and some change for one order of tikka masala and naan is a little expensive. But overall it wasn't bad, they get three stars from me for the terrible hospitality and being over priced.
(3)Richard S.
This review is long overdue. We have been frequenting Nawab for over ten years. I am going to keep this simple... 1. Nawab is hands down the best Indian Food in the Lehigh Valley area 2. They have a limited but tasty lunch buffet that is a great value. 3. Dinner is expensive, but oh so good. 4. They make excellent Naan 5. Atmosphere in the restaurant is typical Indian Restaurant tacky. 6. Parking can be a bit of a challenge and is metered. We'll continue going back on a regular basis.
(4)John N.
Went to Nawab a couple weeks ago for dinner with friends as part of my search for some good Indian food in the Lehigh Valley. It was definitely way better than the place I tried a couple months ago In Whitehall (see my other reviews). The service was very good, and the food was all pretty decent, though I thought the flavor was dominated more by salt than Indian spices (in everything I tried- goat curry, shrimp curry (which my friend ordered "hot", and the saag paneer, and the pakoras). I liked the texture of the goat curry, and the meat seemed very fresh. The achar (spicy Indian pickle) had a really nice flavor, but I was puzzled why they left so much hard fruit and vegetable pits in it that I had to scrape away. It was good enough that I intend to go back and try again, and maybe ask for the "hot" level of spiciness. Not sure what was up with the salty flavor, or if they were trying to save money on the good spices. With a little adjustment, it seems they could really have something on par with restaurants in places like Pittsburgh (seriously, Pgh has Udipi, and People's Indian, to name just two excellent places which are very low cost as well). Seems like there should be enough Indians around here to get something good enough where they don't have to drive to New Jersey or Philly or NYC.
(3)Joe K.
Very friendly atmosphere. Great for families. Food was unique and very good. Please give this place a try. They are very helpful with explaining what everything is if you have never ate Indian food before.
(4)Alicia S.
I have eaten here several times now, the food has been consistently delicious. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food. The staff is not the boisterous welcoming staff you will find at other restaurants in the area, I don't mind the short and to the point interactions, but some people do. The prices are reasonable and I've never had a bad meal here, but sometimes I feel kind of rushed in and out, especially around lunch.
(3)Shirley D.
This has been long over due. My husband's best friend introduce this place to him and he's got us hooked to this place when we go and visit him. It's near the new casinos in Bethlehem. It's the only Indian restaurant in the area. The service is great and even better is the food. It's not greasy like other Indian restaurants. This is the only place that we order saag paneer, because they're the only place that makes it that good. We're not big spinach people and especially paneer, but this dish is kickass - ask them to make it spicy. The chicken tandoori is great, no fat, cook right and not dry. They have peshwari naan (sweet naan) that taste like a desert naan. It goes well with any curry dishes. Their condiments are sweeter than the other Indian restaurants, they have to accommodate to the people that lives within the area. It's a BYOB restaurant, so we can spend hours eating there and catching up with life. What makes this place great is the check at the end of the night, it's cheap, but you will get quality food, service and ambiance.
(5)Teresa M.
Excellent Indian cuisine. I had the pleasure of having Nawab's lunch buffet. It was tasty, fresh, and authentic. I don't pretend to be an expert by any means, but it far surpassed my expectations. Friendly staff, nice clean restaurant with good music. Quiet, considering how many tables were occupied. I'll definitely frequent this respectable establishment.
(5)Yue X.
Curry curry
(3)Steven C.
I ordered Chicken Tikki Masala, regular Naan, and veggie Samosa to go and it was ready in 5-10 minutes when they initially told me it would be 15 minutes. Unfortunately the method in which I was to later consume this food wasn't ideal for the way it was packaged but that's just a situational misfortune. I could not find anything wrong with this food; it was all incredibly scrumptious and perfectly portioned where I was plenty full by the end of my meal. The Samosas were big so well done on not skimping on that, I only got a half circle of naan for one order when I expected more but no big deal, the rice was fluffy and basmati, and the chicken was well seasoned and tender enough to tear apart with just a fork in hand.
(4)Emily R.
New Years Eve, the perfect place to go! We decided to travel about an hour to try the dinner menu at Nawab since my friend had tried the lunch for the buffet and said it was delicious. We were seated promptly and had some time to look over the menu. I decided to have Masala Tea (hot) and my husband had a strawberry lassi. Both were great! We decided to try the Vegetarian Platter for an appetizer. Everything on it was crisp and fresh. After we were finished with that our main meals were served. I ordered the Chef's special Biryani which was wonderfully seasoned. The yogurt sauce was delicious too. My husband and our friend both tried the platters which both had a nice assortment. I would recommend this restaurant to folks passing through the Bethlehem area or even making the drive to try it! We will be going back again!
(5)Joe B.
The worst part about this place is that when the doors open for lunch, they never have the food ready. They say they open at 11:30, but if you really want to try all the food on the buffet you basically have to wait until 12.
(2)Rebecca F.
Truly wonderful indian food!!!! The naan basket is off the chain. Highly recommend chicken tikka masala or chicken shahi korma. Huge portions, reasonable prices. We ate down to the very last drop! I could eat this every day!!! The decor is interesting and the staff are sometimes pushy but overall pretty nice. Nawab rocks!
(5)Gee K.
Best Indian Restaurant in the Valley. Food and service are both great. Prices are fair. The restaurant always fills up pretty quick for lunch and dinner. Would recommend.
(5)Jill K.
"Really love the this place. Huge menu, reasonably priced. Evetything we have tried has been delicious. The vegetable samosa are fantastic. Yum!!"
(5)Anna C.
I have been to India and enjoyed food their. Wawab was the best Indian food restaurant in this area. The lunch buffet was good, I love the curry and chicken. Although is only few dishes in lunch. Also the staff is friendly.
(4)Scott G.
Nawab has tasty food, though certainly not the best Indian food in the Lehigh Valley: for that, try Spice India (Whitehall--not Easton). Is it just me or has the portion size really decreased lately? The plate of rice delivered last night for two persons was about the size one would expect for one person. We ordered Nan: ONE piece--sliced in half, I guess, because we were two people? The main courses themselves were alright, but they too seemed smaller than in the recent past.
(3)J P.
I didn't really enjoy the lunch buffet. Maybe I'm spoiled having friends who cook authentic Indian food, but the dishes were all bland and there was a terrible looking salad bar that I didn't even taste. Unfortunately there's not really other options in the area. This place has won "Best of Lehigh Valley" awards, but I didn't see it when I ate there and I won't be returning.
(2)Z C.
i would give 0 stars if i could... place is horrible. .. mixed grill showed up ready in 5 min and tasted like it was a week old. .. no basmati rice and exotic indian cuisine?? food tastes like its from cans....please avoid.
(1)Amber L.
It was okay, but far from the best Indian food I've ever had.
(3)Wade L.
The widely differing reviews, i think, speak exactly to one of the problems of evaluating cuisine from another culture: morons like me don't know a decent Indian meal from the warmed-over stuff sitting around at Nawab. That said, the food is neither awful slop nor "cooked to perfection": there is nothing perfect about food scooped out of a warming dish, that's just not true even a little bit. But yeah, if you've never spent months (or your formative years?) in India, then this food might be kinda good. That was exactly my reaction. Is the naan good? I can't really say. But it sure tasted good because i needed lunch and it was a nasty, rainy day out. Is the tandoori chicken awesome? Who the eff knows, but i'll probably go back for it later because i certainly enjoyed it. If there's one thing i can say with relative certainty, it's that the coffee always seems to be pretty good. Just don't flame me if it's good because it turns out to be Chock Full o Nuts...it's hot, tasty, relatively inexpensive and it ain't weak. That's all i'm really asking for.
(3)Seana C.
Nawab is good if you're looking for basic Indian food, but it isn't anything out of this world. Indian cuisine usually has a lot of flavor, but the food at Nawab is a little bland. With more Indian restaurants popping up over the Valley, this wouldn't be my first choice, but if I'm in there area... this is where I'll go!
(3)Jugal K.
Very poor variety of dishes. They cut lot of corners with cheap appetizers and vegetables. Lot of potatoes. Overpriced for the selection and quality. Even the dal makhni was mixed with other lentils as it is one of the most expensive lentil in Indian food. Would not go again but this is the only place close by.
(1)Teresa H.
I've eaten here twice and neither times met my standards. This maybe be the best Indian in the valley, which is sad! The dishes are just ehh the service is decent. The atmosphere just as expected.
(3)Gia M.
My boyfriend and I visited Bethlehem for a Sunday evening concert and were unable to find a place on Yelp that was open, so we wandered around and happened upon Nawab. We walked in having decided to get take-out and tailgate in the parking lot (stop judging our unconventional tailgate food!). The service was quick: under 15 minutes, even though we didn't call ahead. They didn't seem used to people needing utensils or napkins, because we had to ask for both. I was definitely pleased with Nawab's offerings, food-wise. We got an order of naan, samosas, lamb masala, and chicken tikka masala. The meat sauces came in the usual sized containers and had big, tender pieces of meat. Very flavorful. They only gave us one container of rice, which ended up being enough (we were worried there wouldn't be). The samosas were the highlight of the night-- large pockets of the wonderful chickpea and potato combination that Indian places do so well. Definitely my favorite. The naan came as one large piece, sliced in half (which I though was a little skimpy). They did include the sweet and mint sauces with the order, as well as complimentary roti. While we ordered a lot of food, I was a little disappointed in the size of the naan order-- I would have expected more pieces. This is a great place to order take-out, though!
(4)Sherry S.
Very good, love the buffet and many delicious choices have been there a few times and it's always good, highly recommend it but at lunch go early to get the best variety and freshness for the buffet.
(5)Tyler L.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants anywhere. The lunch buffet is incredible and has a good range of choices. The food is always excellent and there is a good range of spice levels available. The staff is also excellent and very attentive.
(5)Rand H.
Fantastic lamb vindaloo and rogham josh. You can get a sweet naan with dates and raisins and nuts. Very attentive service and reasonably priced.
(4)Diane S.
The Chicken Tikki Masala had such a strong red sauce. Really overpowered the dish. Rice was very nice, but not very hot. Don't bother getting the mixed appetizer plate ($8.95) that includes 1 (ONE) dry tandoori shrimp. If the server sees that 2 people are sharing this appetizer, how difficult is it to put 2 shrimp on the barby? The onion salsa that comes with the appetizer cracker is to die for
(2)Sarah Z.
This place has the best Indian food around! My boyfriend and I go here every time I visit him at school (long distance holla). It's kind of "our place" because we ate here the first time I visited him at school, and we've returned ever since. The man who runs the restaurant even recognizes us now when we go there. For the record, I haven't had bad food here. Correction, I haven't even had satisfactory food here. It's all been DELICIOUS! My boyfriend and I usually get chicken tikka masala and chicken saag, respectively. Both are amazing. -The saag looks a little weird because it's cooked spinach with like brownish seasoned sauce, but again, it's delicious. I've tried other things, which are equally yummy, but I always go back. -I've also had the chicken chili, which has some sweet notes to it, so if you like the savory-with-a-little-sweet then I would highly recommend this one.. -Their rice is the best rice I've ever--ever--had. It's buttery, fluffy, and is always cooked perfectly. -The naan is another must-have. It's a blank but flavorful slate like the rice, and offers a different texture to the meal. -Both the mango and strawberry lassis are to die for. The thai iced tea is as well. -Finally, the desserts... I'm a huge fan of dessert, and I can confidently say that Indians just do it a different way. I'm glad that Nawab represents Indian dessert dishes because it's fun to try them, but you're not going to find cheesecake and apple crumbles here. The gulab jamun are little firm donuts soaked in a sweet sauce--so they're a little soggy. The "cottage cheese paddies" were interesting as well. Very different texture-wise. Both a good experience. This is a jewel of a place. The only complaint I have is that their waitstaff sometimes have a hard time understanding customer questions and conveying their answers in a clear way. Which, in a way, is okay with me because no matter what happens you'll end up with a delicious meal. Nawab also offers take-out which is awesome if you don't want to smell like Indian food for the rest of the day! Not that that's a bad thing..
(5)Kaitlyn R.
The best Indian food in the LV. Prices are good too. $10 buffet. Good service. I love this place.
(4)TJ G.
I passed through town briefly and stopped in time for the lunch buffet. The service was very friendly and the food was exactly what I wanted, standard buffet dishes, not amazing but still tasty and at an amazing price!
(4)Sarah O.
Nawab is some of the best Indian I've ever had. I almost always get the Malai Kofta, and it is unbeatable. The malai are soft and fluffy, but still full of recognizable chunks of vegetables. I usually get it medium spiciness, because I don't have a very high heat tolerance, and it is just right, spicy enough to be interesting but not enough to register as painful. The naan is always chewy and buttery. My boyfriend always gets the chana masala, and it is excellent here. They include some sort of unusual spice I can't put my finger on that gives it an almost smoky, savory taste. The service at Nawab is friendly enough and usually prompt, but we have a weird meal schedule so we are usually in there when no one else is in there. I cannot recommend this place highly enough!
(5)Teresa H.
I've eaten here twice and neither times met my standards. This maybe be the best Indian in the valley, which is sad! The dishes are just ehh the service is decent. The atmosphere just as expected.
(3)Oswald C.
Best Indian food I've had in America. Don't let the humble/non-renovated venue fool you: the food is excellent and for just $10, you can break your stomach at their lunch buffet.
(5)Hana L.
It was really empty when we went. I remember thinking that the food was good, but that it wasn't really worth it. (It could also be my personal taste - I don't particularly like Indian.) They also didn't have my favorite - butter chicken!! My curry dish was good (don't remember which - but it was a standard one), but my friend's lamb curry dish was subpar.
(4)Richard S.
This review is long overdue. We have been frequenting Nawab for over ten years. I am going to keep this simple... 1. Nawab is hands down the best Indian Food in the Lehigh Valley area 2. They have a limited but tasty lunch buffet that is a great value. 3. Dinner is expensive, but oh so good. 4. They make excellent Naan 5. Atmosphere in the restaurant is typical Indian Restaurant tacky. 6. Parking can be a bit of a challenge and is metered. We'll continue going back on a regular basis.
(4)Michael H.
This is our favorite Indian restaurant and has been for some time. We have dined here dozens of times and always have a great meal. I always start with a plate of bhojia, a crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, fritter type thing. The waiter knows I love this and puts the order in upon our arrival. Jen usually gets a veggie assortment starter. The condiments are always fresh and yummy and whatever that thin crisp bread is called that appears at right when you sit down is always fresh, flavorful, crispy and warm. The vegetarian entrees are very yummy but many feature paneer (dairy). The nav rattan korma is absolutely yummerific but contains dairy. Other thing I love about Nawab is that their rice is the best basmati you could ever hope for. - light, perfectly prepared and very flavorful. Service is always prompt. Interior is basic and I much approve of the ambience - many are college kids on a dinner out. . A friend of mine of Indian heritage looks down very much on Nawab as being inauthentic. I wouldn't be surprised if every Indian place I ever been to isn't true to the real Indian traditions, but I will say that Nawab's food tastes great. Why not 5 stars? Just wish they had more vegan options
(4)Kelsey M.
Perhaps I am just spoiled by the selection of Indian food available in my previous town of residence, but I found this food to be only okay and a little expensive. Admittedly, I ordered it to-go, so it was about ten minutes before I got to eat the food, but that should have had no real effect on the food on the overall taste of the food, especially since it was still really warm. I ordered the butter chicken with rice and naan. The chicken wasn't particularly flavorful and not as creamy as I am used to. The tomato acidic flavor was a little overpowering. The naan was a little burnt. It was a large portion of the food, so I had multiple meals out of it. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing?
(3)Anthony K.
I stopped in here for the first time after hearing mixed opinions. I had the chicken tikka masala and it was very delicious however I asked for it spicy And even my four hear old son agreed that it wasn't spicy. The service was quick but they were not friendly at all. The guy seemed kind of irritated that I was there as I was the only customer at the time. Also it's very pricey, sixteen dollars and some change for one order of tikka masala and naan is a little expensive. But overall it wasn't bad, they get three stars from me for the terrible hospitality and being over priced.
(3)Andres M.
Walked in, the waiter literally dropped the 4 menus in the middle of the table as he walked by. There was 1 couple sitting at a table with a To go box then we order and the food was terrible. As soon as we entered the waiter harassed us about how many people he would be serving, before we had a chance to even step both feet into the restaurant
(1)Raj N.
Below average Indian food. The restaurant was full with locals who probably don't know what good Indian food is . Servers are not friendly
(1)Haley G.
I do not go here much, but this is the place to go for Indian!!!! Doesn't matter if you don't know what anything means on the menu, they will explain it to you.
(3)Gia M.
My boyfriend and I visited Bethlehem for a Sunday evening concert and were unable to find a place on Yelp that was open, so we wandered around and happened upon Nawab. We walked in having decided to get take-out and tailgate in the parking lot (stop judging our unconventional tailgate food!). The service was quick: under 15 minutes, even though we didn't call ahead. They didn't seem used to people needing utensils or napkins, because we had to ask for both. I was definitely pleased with Nawab's offerings, food-wise. We got an order of naan, samosas, lamb masala, and chicken tikka masala. The meat sauces came in the usual sized containers and had big, tender pieces of meat. Very flavorful. They only gave us one container of rice, which ended up being enough (we were worried there wouldn't be). The samosas were the highlight of the night-- large pockets of the wonderful chickpea and potato combination that Indian places do so well. Definitely my favorite. The naan came as one large piece, sliced in half (which I though was a little skimpy). They did include the sweet and mint sauces with the order, as well as complimentary roti. While we ordered a lot of food, I was a little disappointed in the size of the naan order-- I would have expected more pieces. This is a great place to order take-out, though!
(4)Sherry S.
Very good, love the buffet and many delicious choices have been there a few times and it's always good, highly recommend it but at lunch go early to get the best variety and freshness for the buffet.
(5)Tyler L.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants anywhere. The lunch buffet is incredible and has a good range of choices. The food is always excellent and there is a good range of spice levels available. The staff is also excellent and very attentive.
(5)Drooling N.
I have been in the lehigh valley for 8 years now and this was the first restaurant I ate out at. Being of Indian origin, naturally I had a lot of expectations. However, I shall try to review Nawab without bias and attempt to base my critique purely on taste. Any good Indian restaurant should realize that it is representing the cuisine of a billion people of incredible culinary diversity. Which basically means it should in essence make an honest effort to represent at least a particular region of India properly. Since this is my first review of an Indian restauarant, I would like to mention here that there is nothing called "Indian cuisine". Every region of India has its own distinctive cuisine, flavor and use of spices. In that respect. Nawab showcases North Indian cuisine. Now for my actual review. Other people can comment on the ambience, decor and service. To me the main criteria is food and I am sorry to say Nawab misses the mark by a long way. I have had both the buffet lunch as well as the ala carte dinner there and the flavor was quite bad. I shall critique some trademark North Indian dishes that I tried here from their ala carte menu. 1) Samosas: How it should be: Spiced potatoes and peas, fried in a flour dough. Should be crispy on the outside with consistently cooked potatoes and peas inside. It should have a mild heat in the background. The spices should be a blend of rich savory and mildly sweet. What it was: Not bad, but the dough was inconsistent and the stuffing lacked freshness. The peas felt like they were frozen and the potatoes needed more seasoning. 2) Kebabs (chef's special appetizer platter): How it should be: Indian kebabs are richer in flavor than their middle eastern counterparts. They consist of marinated meat/seafood cooked through in a tandoor (clay oven). The meat evolves into a delectable bite of succulent flavor. How it was: The cook on the meat, both chicken and shrimp was inconsistent. The kebabs were very bland and insipid. The meat on most ocassions were dry and lacked seasoning. 3) Paneer Tikka masala: How it should be: Panner is a type of un-aged cottage cheese made by curdling milk with lemon or similat mild acidic foods. Properly cooked panner should be like soft cheese cubes in a smooth, fresh sauce. In case of Tikka masala, a tomato based sauce. What it was: The panner was leathery and the sauce felt reheated and old. 4) Lamb Biriyani: What it should be: Biriyani is a persian dish which India has made its own. Every part of India has their own style of biriyani. Biriyani, basically is spiced meat and rice cooked over a low flame. It should have fluffy, long grained rice, evenly spiced and juicy, succulent pieces of meat. What it was: Very bland. The lamb was dry, the rice was tough and flavorless. I tried their desserts from their lunch buffets and they were all out of a can, or readymade desserts you get in Indian groceries. So they do not warrant a comment. Verdict: The food was extremely disappointing. I am well aware of Nawab's reputation as an establishment that has survived over 15 years, but I think that is largely due to people not used to Indian food. From the standpoint of a restaurant showcasing "North Indian" food, Nawab is among the worst I have had in this country. Compared to the other Indian restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, Spice India (all three locations), Mayuri (whitehall), Brindhavan (Bethlehem) and Aromas of India(easton), it ranks the lowest.
(1)Rand H.
Fantastic lamb vindaloo and rogham josh. You can get a sweet naan with dates and raisins and nuts. Very attentive service and reasonably priced.
(4)John N.
Went to Nawab a couple weeks ago for dinner with friends as part of my search for some good Indian food in the Lehigh Valley. It was definitely way better than the place I tried a couple months ago In Whitehall (see my other reviews). The service was very good, and the food was all pretty decent, though I thought the flavor was dominated more by salt than Indian spices (in everything I tried- goat curry, shrimp curry (which my friend ordered "hot", and the saag paneer, and the pakoras). I liked the texture of the goat curry, and the meat seemed very fresh. The achar (spicy Indian pickle) had a really nice flavor, but I was puzzled why they left so much hard fruit and vegetable pits in it that I had to scrape away. It was good enough that I intend to go back and try again, and maybe ask for the "hot" level of spiciness. Not sure what was up with the salty flavor, or if they were trying to save money on the good spices. With a little adjustment, it seems they could really have something on par with restaurants in places like Pittsburgh (seriously, Pgh has Udipi, and People's Indian, to name just two excellent places which are very low cost as well). Seems like there should be enough Indians around here to get something good enough where they don't have to drive to New Jersey or Philly or NYC.
(3)Joe K.
Very friendly atmosphere. Great for families. Food was unique and very good. Please give this place a try. They are very helpful with explaining what everything is if you have never ate Indian food before.
(4)Alicia S.
I have eaten here several times now, the food has been consistently delicious. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food. The staff is not the boisterous welcoming staff you will find at other restaurants in the area, I don't mind the short and to the point interactions, but some people do. The prices are reasonable and I've never had a bad meal here, but sometimes I feel kind of rushed in and out, especially around lunch.
(3)Steven C.
I ordered Chicken Tikki Masala, regular Naan, and veggie Samosa to go and it was ready in 5-10 minutes when they initially told me it would be 15 minutes. Unfortunately the method in which I was to later consume this food wasn't ideal for the way it was packaged but that's just a situational misfortune. I could not find anything wrong with this food; it was all incredibly scrumptious and perfectly portioned where I was plenty full by the end of my meal. The Samosas were big so well done on not skimping on that, I only got a half circle of naan for one order when I expected more but no big deal, the rice was fluffy and basmati, and the chicken was well seasoned and tender enough to tear apart with just a fork in hand.
(4)Emily R.
New Years Eve, the perfect place to go! We decided to travel about an hour to try the dinner menu at Nawab since my friend had tried the lunch for the buffet and said it was delicious. We were seated promptly and had some time to look over the menu. I decided to have Masala Tea (hot) and my husband had a strawberry lassi. Both were great! We decided to try the Vegetarian Platter for an appetizer. Everything on it was crisp and fresh. After we were finished with that our main meals were served. I ordered the Chef's special Biryani which was wonderfully seasoned. The yogurt sauce was delicious too. My husband and our friend both tried the platters which both had a nice assortment. I would recommend this restaurant to folks passing through the Bethlehem area or even making the drive to try it! We will be going back again!
(5)Jill K.
"Really love the this place. Huge menu, reasonably priced. Evetything we have tried has been delicious. The vegetable samosa are fantastic. Yum!!"
(5)Anna C.
I have been to India and enjoyed food their. Wawab was the best Indian food restaurant in this area. The lunch buffet was good, I love the curry and chicken. Although is only few dishes in lunch. Also the staff is friendly.
(4)Sarah Z.
This place has the best Indian food around! My boyfriend and I go here every time I visit him at school (long distance holla). It's kind of "our place" because we ate here the first time I visited him at school, and we've returned ever since. The man who runs the restaurant even recognizes us now when we go there. For the record, I haven't had bad food here. Correction, I haven't even had satisfactory food here. It's all been DELICIOUS! My boyfriend and I usually get chicken tikka masala and chicken saag, respectively. Both are amazing. -The saag looks a little weird because it's cooked spinach with like brownish seasoned sauce, but again, it's delicious. I've tried other things, which are equally yummy, but I always go back. -I've also had the chicken chili, which has some sweet notes to it, so if you like the savory-with-a-little-sweet then I would highly recommend this one.. -Their rice is the best rice I've ever--ever--had. It's buttery, fluffy, and is always cooked perfectly. -The naan is another must-have. It's a blank but flavorful slate like the rice, and offers a different texture to the meal. -Both the mango and strawberry lassis are to die for. The thai iced tea is as well. -Finally, the desserts... I'm a huge fan of dessert, and I can confidently say that Indians just do it a different way. I'm glad that Nawab represents Indian dessert dishes because it's fun to try them, but you're not going to find cheesecake and apple crumbles here. The gulab jamun are little firm donuts soaked in a sweet sauce--so they're a little soggy. The "cottage cheese paddies" were interesting as well. Very different texture-wise. Both a good experience. This is a jewel of a place. The only complaint I have is that their waitstaff sometimes have a hard time understanding customer questions and conveying their answers in a clear way. Which, in a way, is okay with me because no matter what happens you'll end up with a delicious meal. Nawab also offers take-out which is awesome if you don't want to smell like Indian food for the rest of the day! Not that that's a bad thing..
(5)Kaitlyn R.
The best Indian food in the LV. Prices are good too. $10 buffet. Good service. I love this place.
(4)TJ G.
I passed through town briefly and stopped in time for the lunch buffet. The service was very friendly and the food was exactly what I wanted, standard buffet dishes, not amazing but still tasty and at an amazing price!
(4)Diane S.
The Chicken Tikki Masala had such a strong red sauce. Really overpowered the dish. Rice was very nice, but not very hot. Don't bother getting the mixed appetizer plate ($8.95) that includes 1 (ONE) dry tandoori shrimp. If the server sees that 2 people are sharing this appetizer, how difficult is it to put 2 shrimp on the barby? The onion salsa that comes with the appetizer cracker is to die for
(2)Scott G.
Nawab has tasty food, though certainly not the best Indian food in the Lehigh Valley: for that, try Spice India (Whitehall--not Easton). Is it just me or has the portion size really decreased lately? The plate of rice delivered last night for two persons was about the size one would expect for one person. We ordered Nan: ONE piece--sliced in half, I guess, because we were two people? The main courses themselves were alright, but they too seemed smaller than in the recent past.
(3)J P.
I didn't really enjoy the lunch buffet. Maybe I'm spoiled having friends who cook authentic Indian food, but the dishes were all bland and there was a terrible looking salad bar that I didn't even taste. Unfortunately there's not really other options in the area. This place has won "Best of Lehigh Valley" awards, but I didn't see it when I ate there and I won't be returning.
(2)Z C.
i would give 0 stars if i could... place is horrible. .. mixed grill showed up ready in 5 min and tasted like it was a week old. .. no basmati rice and exotic indian cuisine?? food tastes like its from cans....please avoid.
(1)Amber L.
It was okay, but far from the best Indian food I've ever had.
(3)Jess M.
Had wanted to check out this place for a long time because I love Indian food and finally had to go in solo this afternoon. I was immediately seated in the dimly lit room and served chapati and water. I ordered a Mango Malasa Iced Tea which was very tasty along with garlic naan and lamb biryani. The rice came with lots of veggies, spices and the lambs cooked into it with the biryani sauce in a separate dish - very tasty. I ate about half my meal and needed to take the rest home for lunch tomorrow. Pretty good considering the area. I'd still prefer King of Tandoor from my old neighborhood, but Nawab is cheap and tasty.
(4)Steve D.
Average quality food, fair variety. Definitely not impressive compared to other Indian restaurants that I've been to. I would explore other options before coming here not that it was bad just that there are so many better options The salad bar is joke I'd actually rate this place 2-1/2 Stars the restaurant seems loaded with Ton of starving Lehigh students anxious to eat there $10 worth of food
(3)Sul A.
This is one of the best Indian restaurant I have visited. I ordered lamp Bryani and butter chicken with garlic naan, it was so delicious food and has tons of spices that not really hot spicy.
(5)Yi H.
This place is amazing! My bf and I took a chance with this restaurant while strolling down the street one day. If i'm not mistaken, we had the garlic naan for starter; let me tell you, it was so good! I can probably eat 10 of those. As for our main courses, we had Tandoori shrimp and chicken curry. I like the shrimp better for some reason. It was probably because of the freshness of the herbs and spices. As for the curry chicken, it was very light for me. Keep in mind that I love my curry spicy and strong so I kind of had a preference engraved in my head. All in all, it was a good experience. The bf and I finished everything that was on our table and it left the waiter very happy. I still remember the emotionless face he had when we first stepped in. At the end, he gave us a huge smile when he saw that we licked our plates clean. =D
(4)Dave W.
This is the standard with which I hold all other Indian restaurants to. Very few measure up. The flavors are all spot on with the exception of not being spicy enough (capsaicin level I mean). The service also leaves a bit to be desired but I don't come here to be attended to I just want the bomb Indian food. Simply put, everything here is good. Samosas, all of their curry dishes, their fried rice dish was superb. Their condiments are also quite exceptional. The raita, the tamarind sauce, and the tomato/onion compote / salsa (I don't know what they call that condiment) are all dope.
(4)Brad S.
Bethlehem and Allentown are just like my college town, complete with their own amazing Indian place. Every Indian I eat is compared to my college town favorite, none compare. That is, until Nawab. The vegetable samosa were fantastic. For a main, I got the Bharta (I think they had a different name.. Beigan?) which was so creamy and perfectly spicy with plenty of sweat rice. But my eyes were larger than my stomach, and I took half of my plate home. I think the manager helped us pack up our meals, and he gave us a heaping of extra rice to go for free. I find Indian restaurants to always have friendly staff with sincere helpful gestures to guide you through menus or send you on your way. Nawab is a great example of this. All the staff were friendly and helpful to us and event he pack of vegetarian/vegan tweens who came in after us. I'll certainly try to pass through again.
(4)Jaime k.
Dinner is definitely better than the lunch buffet - the food is obviously fresher, cooked to your own taste (how spicy you like it) and there is a huge menu to choose from (lots of vegetarian options). I think the dinner is great! You can also get it as take-out, and I always have enough for a second meal. The lunch buffet is pretty good. Not as spicy as I'd like, and on some days the options they put out are better than others. I'd say the lunch buffet is about 50% vegetarian, 50% meat dishes so there is definitely enough for everyone. (I once overheard a woman at the table next to me scoffing that there were barely any dishes that didn't contain "dead carcass" - first of all, I hate these pretentious types, they make the rest of us look bad, and secondly I was already on my third plate of food, stuffing myself full because I wanted to try everything I could and it was all really good!) I guess some people are just complainers. For only $8 for a buffet that allows you to try many dishes, it's really worth a visit! If you know you like Indian food, try the dinner! If you do get dinner, spend the few dollars and try the coconut soup! Holy cow!!!
(4)Jugal K.
Very poor variety of dishes. They cut lot of corners with cheap appetizers and vegetables. Lot of potatoes. Overpriced for the selection and quality. Even the dal makhni was mixed with other lentils as it is one of the most expensive lentil in Indian food. Would not go again but this is the only place close by.
(1)Seana C.
Nawab is good if you're looking for basic Indian food, but it isn't anything out of this world. Indian cuisine usually has a lot of flavor, but the food at Nawab is a little bland. With more Indian restaurants popping up over the Valley, this wouldn't be my first choice, but if I'm in there area... this is where I'll go!
(3)Wade L.
The widely differing reviews, i think, speak exactly to one of the problems of evaluating cuisine from another culture: morons like me don't know a decent Indian meal from the warmed-over stuff sitting around at Nawab. That said, the food is neither awful slop nor "cooked to perfection": there is nothing perfect about food scooped out of a warming dish, that's just not true even a little bit. But yeah, if you've never spent months (or your formative years?) in India, then this food might be kinda good. That was exactly my reaction. Is the naan good? I can't really say. But it sure tasted good because i needed lunch and it was a nasty, rainy day out. Is the tandoori chicken awesome? Who the eff knows, but i'll probably go back for it later because i certainly enjoyed it. If there's one thing i can say with relative certainty, it's that the coffee always seems to be pretty good. Just don't flame me if it's good because it turns out to be Chock Full o Nuts...it's hot, tasty, relatively inexpensive and it ain't weak. That's all i'm really asking for.
(3)Ron B.
Customer service is top-notch, the food wasn't bad either especially for the area and locale.
(4)Randall B.
Nawab is our favorite Indian Restuarant in the LV. The service is exceptional and the food is authentic. It is vegetarian friendly and BYOB! We love it there....
(4)Charly J.
For the area, Nawab offers good Indian food. As for authenticity? Well... Indian food should be rich with different flavors (no two dishes should taste the same) & SPICY. I found flavors repeating themselves in dishes that really shouldn't taste similar. I thought the portions could have been better, plus where was the SPICE?!? My hubby & I told them to make our dishes SPICY, but we didn't get the sniffles or anything from their food. Still, it's not bad for the area. We'll have to try Spice India or Palace of India next.
(3)Chelsea S.
This place is great, the food is excellent! The mango chicken is my favorite =] And you get all you can eat mango chicken at the buffet on friday. The owners are very nice as well.
(5)Laura K.
I ate at an Indian restaurant in London and tried something so godawful I couldn't even walk into another Indian restaurant for years. Then I dipped my toe back into Indian food by going to the lunch buffet @ Nawab where I could try a little of everything. Turned me around! I am still learning about Indian food and finally went off the buffet line and met some friends and brought wine for dinner here. I had no idea what to order because you see the description of Paneer Pakora that says "cottage cheese fritters" and if you're white like me you may think , "ew." But OMG this was SO GOOD. As was everything else including the service. I love the glittery ceiling, too. Now I crave Nawab often!
(4)Vanessa W.
Some of the best Indian food in the area. They have an excellent, and reasonable, lunch buffet. Also a reasonable dinner prefixe menu for those who'd like to try a variety of things. Ok atmosphere. Definitely casual. UPDATE: Friend of mine said as far as true northern indian food standards go this place stinks. She should know, she's northern indian. I plan on still going since good indian food is few and far between here in the Valley. She said for really good indian to go to Edison, NJ. She also enjoyed Spice of India in Whitehall. Decide for yourself!
(4)Rob G.
Excellent, authentic, right on, great variety of naan. BYOB. I love it. But what is with the pink walls?
(4)Jen T.
DELICIOUS. Went for dinner and they were super attentive, and the food was great! I love that you can pick a spice level, mine was perfect for what I like. The garlic naan was excellent. The vegetarian dish selection was extensive and the rest of the menu was huge too. I don't even know what else to say because everyone on here covered it, but this is really great Indian food and you need to go here if you are anywhere nearby!
(5)Keith H.
Food was just OK and it tasted all the same. Would have been better if it didn't set me back so much cash.
(2)Demian F.
I am sorry that I almost never went to Nawab due to some poor reviews. Clearly, they were just written by people who like to complain. The service is amazing, my water glass never went empty and our food was well timed and hot. The dishes were delicious, the combo meal is a great deal with lots of choices with generous portions. I ordered spicy, which wasn't all that spicy, however, it might just be suited to the palates of the area. The coconut soup is the best ever, don't leave without trying it! If you are in the mood for Indian in the Lehigh Valley, make sure you don't skip Nawab!
(5)john r.
this is my least favorite indian restaurant in the entire world. bland, very poor service, pointless. dinner is barely better than the buffet which is not edible. i would seriously give this restaurant negative stars if i could, and considering i literally ate indian 3+ meals a day for a month straight while in india, i've got no lack of love for the cuisine in general. in fact, not only is this the most sad indian restaurant on the planet, but on my final visit to nawab they took prodding to give me chili powder to spice up their hopelessly bland food. the waiter suggested i use the table black pepper. wtf? one might reasonably ask, given this very negative review, why i even tried eating here more than once. well, it used to be there were only 1-2 indian games in town or that they were incredibly spread between Emmaus and Easton, so, depending on your location you just HAD to try nawab again sometimes and hope they'd improved (never did). but there's now that place on 7th St in Whitehall which is loads better. do the needful and skip this place.
(1)Jeff H.
Went for the lunch buffet since it was my first time there and I thought it would be a good way to try a few dishes. I'm guessing the positive reviews are from people who have gone for dinner. The food was okay, some items were good like the Tikki Masala and the carrots/peas. Others I never got to try because the buffet was barely refreshed in the hour we were there. Service was inattentive, it was a fairly long wait before we even got menus. I guess they expect people to go straight to the buffet when it's available and not really be interested in the menu. It was never clear who the server was, we were waited on by three different people. Water was topped off once. The price was right but they need to pick up the pace on the buffet before I'd go for lunch again. I'd still like to give it a shot for dinner.
(3)Jenny J.
Nawab is pretty much the only North Indian restaurant in the area, and luckily for us, it's very good! If you're vegetarian, you're good to go! If you're vegan, be careful, many dishes contain ghee and only one variety of naan does not contain either ghee, whey, or butter, double check with your server when you get there. My favorite dishes: Aloo Palak Chana Masala (ordered without ghee) The service is great, the wait staff is very attentive and speedy. The prices are also fantastic, you get a lot of food for under $10. Try the appetizers, they're all amazing!
(3)Charlie s.
Just go.
(4)Shane O.
Not many Indian places in Lehigh Valley to start, thankfully this place is good. Good food, good service and decent atmosphere... plus it's BYOB with a wine store and a 6-pack shop across the street. It doesn't get any better than that! We do take out mostly, if your going on the weekend think about a reservation. Lunch buffet is nothing too exciting, I'd stick with ordering off the menu if possible. Unless you want to drive to Philly this is one of your best Indian choices around...
(4)W D.
My first experience with Indian food was here, I absolutely fell in love with the cuisine because of my experience here. So far, nothing outside of major cities compares!
(4)diana f.
Nawab has ruined me for other Indian restaurants. I've been to a good amount of Indian restaurants and none of them come close to the food Nawab has. I could easily recommend ten to fifteen dishes on their menu. The lunch buffet is so inexpensive and a great way to try a variety of dishes. There was a time when my Nawab addiction was pretty bad. We're talking 3-4 times a week here. The decor is a little cheesy but it looks better since they remodeled everything in pink. If you're lucky, you'll hear the instrumental version of "the final countdown" playing while you're there. The owners are very nice and the waitstaff are all very friendly and accomodating. The food is seriously amazing and if you're in Bethlehem, you have to stop in.
(5)M. D.
I got sick (threw up) from the buffet last week, would dismiss it but it happened once before so.... The last piece of tandoori chicken i ate smelled like poop! Never again Nawab
(1)Sarah O.
Nawab is some of the best Indian I've ever had. I almost always get the Malai Kofta, and it is unbeatable. The malai are soft and fluffy, but still full of recognizable chunks of vegetables. I usually get it medium spiciness, because I don't have a very high heat tolerance, and it is just right, spicy enough to be interesting but not enough to register as painful. The naan is always chewy and buttery. My boyfriend always gets the chana masala, and it is excellent here. They include some sort of unusual spice I can't put my finger on that gives it an almost smoky, savory taste. The service at Nawab is friendly enough and usually prompt, but we have a weird meal schedule so we are usually in there when no one else is in there. I cannot recommend this place highly enough!
(5)Joe B.
The worst part about this place is that when the doors open for lunch, they never have the food ready. They say they open at 11:30, but if you really want to try all the food on the buffet you basically have to wait until 12.
(2)Shirley D.
This has been long over due. My husband's best friend introduce this place to him and he's got us hooked to this place when we go and visit him. It's near the new casinos in Bethlehem. It's the only Indian restaurant in the area. The service is great and even better is the food. It's not greasy like other Indian restaurants. This is the only place that we order saag paneer, because they're the only place that makes it that good. We're not big spinach people and especially paneer, but this dish is kickass - ask them to make it spicy. The chicken tandoori is great, no fat, cook right and not dry. They have peshwari naan (sweet naan) that taste like a desert naan. It goes well with any curry dishes. Their condiments are sweeter than the other Indian restaurants, they have to accommodate to the people that lives within the area. It's a BYOB restaurant, so we can spend hours eating there and catching up with life. What makes this place great is the check at the end of the night, it's cheap, but you will get quality food, service and ambiance.
(5)Teresa M.
Excellent Indian cuisine. I had the pleasure of having Nawab's lunch buffet. It was tasty, fresh, and authentic. I don't pretend to be an expert by any means, but it far surpassed my expectations. Friendly staff, nice clean restaurant with good music. Quiet, considering how many tables were occupied. I'll definitely frequent this respectable establishment.
(5)Yue X.
Curry curry
(3)Rebecca F.
Truly wonderful indian food!!!! The naan basket is off the chain. Highly recommend chicken tikka masala or chicken shahi korma. Huge portions, reasonable prices. We ate down to the very last drop! I could eat this every day!!! The decor is interesting and the staff are sometimes pushy but overall pretty nice. Nawab rocks!
(5)Gee K.
Best Indian Restaurant in the Valley. Food and service are both great. Prices are fair. The restaurant always fills up pretty quick for lunch and dinner. Would recommend.
(5)Alexandra L.
The Quick: BYOB, amazing authentic indian food, big portions, extremely reasonable prices, plus good service. The Details: I love this place. I've ordered almost everything on the appetizer menu and have devoured it all. The prices are so reasonable i recommend getting a few things to split. The Tiki Masala, the Vindaloo, a few other names I can't pronounce -- all delicious and made fresh to order. The Damage: We've ordered multiple apps and entrees to split, enjoyed a great bottle of wine, and spent about ~$25 per couple. Price cannot be beat.
(5)Dara C.
Haven't lived in the Valley in a while but since I used to go to high school just up the road in Bethlehem, I've visited Nawab innumerable times. It was impressive then, especially compared to the vending machines and diner food of which my diet consisted. However, having had Indian food elsewhere in both the Valley and the vast Eastern seaboard, and having recently revisited this restaurant, I can say that it's pretty bland and mediocre. The food has no heat, just the same vaguely Indian spices and not enough of them. I think the rice was okay--I judge Indian restaurants on the quality of their rice and naan-- but none of the entrees were particularly memorable. I remember the palak paneer was screaming for salt. Tastes a lot like Trader Joe's frozen Indian meals rather than the fresh, spicy Indian I love. Serviceable, I suppose, but Nawab, I don't love you like I used to. Spice India in A-Town has been better to me.
(3)Dennis C.
I've been a fan of this restaurant for years. I love the buffet, even though it is blandized for pedestrian consumption. It still tastes great. I have eaten dinners there and usually order spicy. Chicken Saag is awesome. And, the Cauliflower in the orange spices is also superb. I forget what the dish is called. It has been a while and I will return very soon. Perhaps by the end of the week.
(5)Jess M.
Had wanted to check out this place for a long time because I love Indian food and finally had to go in solo this afternoon. I was immediately seated in the dimly lit room and served chapati and water. I ordered a Mango Malasa Iced Tea which was very tasty along with garlic naan and lamb biryani. The rice came with lots of veggies, spices and the lambs cooked into it with the biryani sauce in a separate dish - very tasty. I ate about half my meal and needed to take the rest home for lunch tomorrow. Pretty good considering the area. I'd still prefer King of Tandoor from my old neighborhood, but Nawab is cheap and tasty.
(4)Steve D.
Average quality food, fair variety. Definitely not impressive compared to other Indian restaurants that I've been to. I would explore other options before coming here not that it was bad just that there are so many better options The salad bar is joke I'd actually rate this place 2-1/2 Stars the restaurant seems loaded with Ton of starving Lehigh students anxious to eat there $10 worth of food
(3)Sul A.
This is one of the best Indian restaurant I have visited. I ordered lamp Bryani and butter chicken with garlic naan, it was so delicious food and has tons of spices that not really hot spicy.
(5)Seana C.
Nawab is good if you're looking for basic Indian food, but it isn't anything out of this world. Indian cuisine usually has a lot of flavor, but the food at Nawab is a little bland. With more Indian restaurants popping up over the Valley, this wouldn't be my first choice, but if I'm in there area... this is where I'll go!
(3)Jugal K.
Very poor variety of dishes. They cut lot of corners with cheap appetizers and vegetables. Lot of potatoes. Overpriced for the selection and quality. Even the dal makhni was mixed with other lentils as it is one of the most expensive lentil in Indian food. Would not go again but this is the only place close by.
(1)Wade L.
The widely differing reviews, i think, speak exactly to one of the problems of evaluating cuisine from another culture: morons like me don't know a decent Indian meal from the warmed-over stuff sitting around at Nawab. That said, the food is neither awful slop nor "cooked to perfection": there is nothing perfect about food scooped out of a warming dish, that's just not true even a little bit. But yeah, if you've never spent months (or your formative years?) in India, then this food might be kinda good. That was exactly my reaction. Is the naan good? I can't really say. But it sure tasted good because i needed lunch and it was a nasty, rainy day out. Is the tandoori chicken awesome? Who the eff knows, but i'll probably go back for it later because i certainly enjoyed it. If there's one thing i can say with relative certainty, it's that the coffee always seems to be pretty good. Just don't flame me if it's good because it turns out to be Chock Full o Nuts...it's hot, tasty, relatively inexpensive and it ain't weak. That's all i'm really asking for.
(3)Ron B.
Customer service is top-notch, the food wasn't bad either especially for the area and locale.
(4)Amber L.
It was okay, but far from the best Indian food I've ever had.
(3)Charly J.
For the area, Nawab offers good Indian food. As for authenticity? Well... Indian food should be rich with different flavors (no two dishes should taste the same) & SPICY. I found flavors repeating themselves in dishes that really shouldn't taste similar. I thought the portions could have been better, plus where was the SPICE?!? My hubby & I told them to make our dishes SPICY, but we didn't get the sniffles or anything from their food. Still, it's not bad for the area. We'll have to try Spice India or Palace of India next.
(3)Laura K.
I ate at an Indian restaurant in London and tried something so godawful I couldn't even walk into another Indian restaurant for years. Then I dipped my toe back into Indian food by going to the lunch buffet @ Nawab where I could try a little of everything. Turned me around! I am still learning about Indian food and finally went off the buffet line and met some friends and brought wine for dinner here. I had no idea what to order because you see the description of Paneer Pakora that says "cottage cheese fritters" and if you're white like me you may think , "ew." But OMG this was SO GOOD. As was everything else including the service. I love the glittery ceiling, too. Now I crave Nawab often!
(4)Jeff H.
Went for the lunch buffet since it was my first time there and I thought it would be a good way to try a few dishes. I'm guessing the positive reviews are from people who have gone for dinner. The food was okay, some items were good like the Tikki Masala and the carrots/peas. Others I never got to try because the buffet was barely refreshed in the hour we were there. Service was inattentive, it was a fairly long wait before we even got menus. I guess they expect people to go straight to the buffet when it's available and not really be interested in the menu. It was never clear who the server was, we were waited on by three different people. Water was topped off once. The price was right but they need to pick up the pace on the buffet before I'd go for lunch again. I'd still like to give it a shot for dinner.
(3)Jenny J.
Nawab is pretty much the only North Indian restaurant in the area, and luckily for us, it's very good! If you're vegetarian, you're good to go! If you're vegan, be careful, many dishes contain ghee and only one variety of naan does not contain either ghee, whey, or butter, double check with your server when you get there. My favorite dishes: Aloo Palak Chana Masala (ordered without ghee) The service is great, the wait staff is very attentive and speedy. The prices are also fantastic, you get a lot of food for under $10. Try the appetizers, they're all amazing!
(3)Charlie s.
Just go.
(4)Shane O.
Not many Indian places in Lehigh Valley to start, thankfully this place is good. Good food, good service and decent atmosphere... plus it's BYOB with a wine store and a 6-pack shop across the street. It doesn't get any better than that! We do take out mostly, if your going on the weekend think about a reservation. Lunch buffet is nothing too exciting, I'd stick with ordering off the menu if possible. Unless you want to drive to Philly this is one of your best Indian choices around...
(4)W D.
My first experience with Indian food was here, I absolutely fell in love with the cuisine because of my experience here. So far, nothing outside of major cities compares!
(4)diana f.
Nawab has ruined me for other Indian restaurants. I've been to a good amount of Indian restaurants and none of them come close to the food Nawab has. I could easily recommend ten to fifteen dishes on their menu. The lunch buffet is so inexpensive and a great way to try a variety of dishes. There was a time when my Nawab addiction was pretty bad. We're talking 3-4 times a week here. The decor is a little cheesy but it looks better since they remodeled everything in pink. If you're lucky, you'll hear the instrumental version of "the final countdown" playing while you're there. The owners are very nice and the waitstaff are all very friendly and accomodating. The food is seriously amazing and if you're in Bethlehem, you have to stop in.
(5)M. D.
I got sick (threw up) from the buffet last week, would dismiss it but it happened once before so.... The last piece of tandoori chicken i ate smelled like poop! Never again Nawab
(1)Vanessa W.
Some of the best Indian food in the area. They have an excellent, and reasonable, lunch buffet. Also a reasonable dinner prefixe menu for those who'd like to try a variety of things. Ok atmosphere. Definitely casual. UPDATE: Friend of mine said as far as true northern indian food standards go this place stinks. She should know, she's northern indian. I plan on still going since good indian food is few and far between here in the Valley. She said for really good indian to go to Edison, NJ. She also enjoyed Spice of India in Whitehall. Decide for yourself!
(4)Rob G.
Excellent, authentic, right on, great variety of naan. BYOB. I love it. But what is with the pink walls?
(4)Jen T.
DELICIOUS. Went for dinner and they were super attentive, and the food was great! I love that you can pick a spice level, mine was perfect for what I like. The garlic naan was excellent. The vegetarian dish selection was extensive and the rest of the menu was huge too. I don't even know what else to say because everyone on here covered it, but this is really great Indian food and you need to go here if you are anywhere nearby!
(5)Keith H.
Food was just OK and it tasted all the same. Would have been better if it didn't set me back so much cash.
(2)Demian F.
I am sorry that I almost never went to Nawab due to some poor reviews. Clearly, they were just written by people who like to complain. The service is amazing, my water glass never went empty and our food was well timed and hot. The dishes were delicious, the combo meal is a great deal with lots of choices with generous portions. I ordered spicy, which wasn't all that spicy, however, it might just be suited to the palates of the area. The coconut soup is the best ever, don't leave without trying it! If you are in the mood for Indian in the Lehigh Valley, make sure you don't skip Nawab!
(5)john r.
this is my least favorite indian restaurant in the entire world. bland, very poor service, pointless. dinner is barely better than the buffet which is not edible. i would seriously give this restaurant negative stars if i could, and considering i literally ate indian 3+ meals a day for a month straight while in india, i've got no lack of love for the cuisine in general. in fact, not only is this the most sad indian restaurant on the planet, but on my final visit to nawab they took prodding to give me chili powder to spice up their hopelessly bland food. the waiter suggested i use the table black pepper. wtf? one might reasonably ask, given this very negative review, why i even tried eating here more than once. well, it used to be there were only 1-2 indian games in town or that they were incredibly spread between Emmaus and Easton, so, depending on your location you just HAD to try nawab again sometimes and hope they'd improved (never did). but there's now that place on 7th St in Whitehall which is loads better. do the needful and skip this place.
(1)Dara C.
Haven't lived in the Valley in a while but since I used to go to high school just up the road in Bethlehem, I've visited Nawab innumerable times. It was impressive then, especially compared to the vending machines and diner food of which my diet consisted. However, having had Indian food elsewhere in both the Valley and the vast Eastern seaboard, and having recently revisited this restaurant, I can say that it's pretty bland and mediocre. The food has no heat, just the same vaguely Indian spices and not enough of them. I think the rice was okay--I judge Indian restaurants on the quality of their rice and naan-- but none of the entrees were particularly memorable. I remember the palak paneer was screaming for salt. Tastes a lot like Trader Joe's frozen Indian meals rather than the fresh, spicy Indian I love. Serviceable, I suppose, but Nawab, I don't love you like I used to. Spice India in A-Town has been better to me.
(3)Dennis C.
I've been a fan of this restaurant for years. I love the buffet, even though it is blandized for pedestrian consumption. It still tastes great. I have eaten dinners there and usually order spicy. Chicken Saag is awesome. And, the Cauliflower in the orange spices is also superb. I forget what the dish is called. It has been a while and I will return very soon. Perhaps by the end of the week.
(5)Sarah O.
Nawab is some of the best Indian I've ever had. I almost always get the Malai Kofta, and it is unbeatable. The malai are soft and fluffy, but still full of recognizable chunks of vegetables. I usually get it medium spiciness, because I don't have a very high heat tolerance, and it is just right, spicy enough to be interesting but not enough to register as painful. The naan is always chewy and buttery. My boyfriend always gets the chana masala, and it is excellent here. They include some sort of unusual spice I can't put my finger on that gives it an almost smoky, savory taste. The service at Nawab is friendly enough and usually prompt, but we have a weird meal schedule so we are usually in there when no one else is in there. I cannot recommend this place highly enough!
(5)Joe B.
The worst part about this place is that when the doors open for lunch, they never have the food ready. They say they open at 11:30, but if you really want to try all the food on the buffet you basically have to wait until 12.
(2)Alexandra L.
The Quick: BYOB, amazing authentic indian food, big portions, extremely reasonable prices, plus good service. The Details: I love this place. I've ordered almost everything on the appetizer menu and have devoured it all. The prices are so reasonable i recommend getting a few things to split. The Tiki Masala, the Vindaloo, a few other names I can't pronounce -- all delicious and made fresh to order. The Damage: We've ordered multiple apps and entrees to split, enjoyed a great bottle of wine, and spent about ~$25 per couple. Price cannot be beat.
(5)Kristian J.
I went here for the first time the Sunday after an Indian wedding and thought I had already had my Indian food fix for the week, but boy was I surprised. This was real, authentic Indian food, and I know this because I went with people who were born and raised in India. They go there almost every week and I understand why. We all had a vegetarian bento box type of meal that came with a variety of different dishes and naan, highly recommended. The dessert options were also authentic and delish - the Rasmalai dessert, a sweet cottage cheese dessert was especially good, and I'm not usually a fan of cottage cheese!
(5)Oswald C.
Best Indian food I've had in America. Don't let the humble/non-renovated venue fool you: the food is excellent and for just $10, you can break your stomach at their lunch buffet.
(5)Hana L.
It was really empty when we went. I remember thinking that the food was good, but that it wasn't really worth it. (It could also be my personal taste - I don't particularly like Indian.) They also didn't have my favorite - butter chicken!! My curry dish was good (don't remember which - but it was a standard one), but my friend's lamb curry dish was subpar.
(4)Michael H.
This is our favorite Indian restaurant and has been for some time. We have dined here dozens of times and always have a great meal. I always start with a plate of bhojia, a crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, fritter type thing. The waiter knows I love this and puts the order in upon our arrival. Jen usually gets a veggie assortment starter. The condiments are always fresh and yummy and whatever that thin crisp bread is called that appears at right when you sit down is always fresh, flavorful, crispy and warm. The vegetarian entrees are very yummy but many feature paneer (dairy). The nav rattan korma is absolutely yummerific but contains dairy. Other thing I love about Nawab is that their rice is the best basmati you could ever hope for. - light, perfectly prepared and very flavorful. Service is always prompt. Interior is basic and I much approve of the ambience - many are college kids on a dinner out. . A friend of mine of Indian heritage looks down very much on Nawab as being inauthentic. I wouldn't be surprised if every Indian place I ever been to isn't true to the real Indian traditions, but I will say that Nawab's food tastes great. Why not 5 stars? Just wish they had more vegan options
(4)Joe K.
Very friendly atmosphere. Great for families. Food was unique and very good. Please give this place a try. They are very helpful with explaining what everything is if you have never ate Indian food before.
(4)Alicia S.
I have eaten here several times now, the food has been consistently delicious. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food. The staff is not the boisterous welcoming staff you will find at other restaurants in the area, I don't mind the short and to the point interactions, but some people do. The prices are reasonable and I've never had a bad meal here, but sometimes I feel kind of rushed in and out, especially around lunch.
(3)Drooling N.
I have been in the lehigh valley for 8 years now and this was the first restaurant I ate out at. Being of Indian origin, naturally I had a lot of expectations. However, I shall try to review Nawab without bias and attempt to base my critique purely on taste. Any good Indian restaurant should realize that it is representing the cuisine of a billion people of incredible culinary diversity. Which basically means it should in essence make an honest effort to represent at least a particular region of India properly. Since this is my first review of an Indian restauarant, I would like to mention here that there is nothing called "Indian cuisine". Every region of India has its own distinctive cuisine, flavor and use of spices. In that respect. Nawab showcases North Indian cuisine. Now for my actual review. Other people can comment on the ambience, decor and service. To me the main criteria is food and I am sorry to say Nawab misses the mark by a long way. I have had both the buffet lunch as well as the ala carte dinner there and the flavor was quite bad. I shall critique some trademark North Indian dishes that I tried here from their ala carte menu. 1) Samosas: How it should be: Spiced potatoes and peas, fried in a flour dough. Should be crispy on the outside with consistently cooked potatoes and peas inside. It should have a mild heat in the background. The spices should be a blend of rich savory and mildly sweet. What it was: Not bad, but the dough was inconsistent and the stuffing lacked freshness. The peas felt like they were frozen and the potatoes needed more seasoning. 2) Kebabs (chef's special appetizer platter): How it should be: Indian kebabs are richer in flavor than their middle eastern counterparts. They consist of marinated meat/seafood cooked through in a tandoor (clay oven). The meat evolves into a delectable bite of succulent flavor. How it was: The cook on the meat, both chicken and shrimp was inconsistent. The kebabs were very bland and insipid. The meat on most ocassions were dry and lacked seasoning. 3) Paneer Tikka masala: How it should be: Panner is a type of un-aged cottage cheese made by curdling milk with lemon or similat mild acidic foods. Properly cooked panner should be like soft cheese cubes in a smooth, fresh sauce. In case of Tikka masala, a tomato based sauce. What it was: The panner was leathery and the sauce felt reheated and old. 4) Lamb Biriyani: What it should be: Biriyani is a persian dish which India has made its own. Every part of India has their own style of biriyani. Biriyani, basically is spiced meat and rice cooked over a low flame. It should have fluffy, long grained rice, evenly spiced and juicy, succulent pieces of meat. What it was: Very bland. The lamb was dry, the rice was tough and flavorless. I tried their desserts from their lunch buffets and they were all out of a can, or readymade desserts you get in Indian groceries. So they do not warrant a comment. Verdict: The food was extremely disappointing. I am well aware of Nawab's reputation as an establishment that has survived over 15 years, but I think that is largely due to people not used to Indian food. From the standpoint of a restaurant showcasing "North Indian" food, Nawab is among the worst I have had in this country. Compared to the other Indian restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, Spice India (all three locations), Mayuri (whitehall), Brindhavan (Bethlehem) and Aromas of India(easton), it ranks the lowest.
(1)Kelsey M.
Perhaps I am just spoiled by the selection of Indian food available in my previous town of residence, but I found this food to be only okay and a little expensive. Admittedly, I ordered it to-go, so it was about ten minutes before I got to eat the food, but that should have had no real effect on the food on the overall taste of the food, especially since it was still really warm. I ordered the butter chicken with rice and naan. The chicken wasn't particularly flavorful and not as creamy as I am used to. The tomato acidic flavor was a little overpowering. The naan was a little burnt. It was a large portion of the food, so I had multiple meals out of it. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing?
(3)Anthony K.
I stopped in here for the first time after hearing mixed opinions. I had the chicken tikka masala and it was very delicious however I asked for it spicy And even my four hear old son agreed that it wasn't spicy. The service was quick but they were not friendly at all. The guy seemed kind of irritated that I was there as I was the only customer at the time. Also it's very pricey, sixteen dollars and some change for one order of tikka masala and naan is a little expensive. But overall it wasn't bad, they get three stars from me for the terrible hospitality and being over priced.
(3)Andres M.
Walked in, the waiter literally dropped the 4 menus in the middle of the table as he walked by. There was 1 couple sitting at a table with a To go box then we order and the food was terrible. As soon as we entered the waiter harassed us about how many people he would be serving, before we had a chance to even step both feet into the restaurant
(1)Raj N.
Below average Indian food. The restaurant was full with locals who probably don't know what good Indian food is . Servers are not friendly
(1)Haley G.
I do not go here much, but this is the place to go for Indian!!!! Doesn't matter if you don't know what anything means on the menu, they will explain it to you.
(3)Richard S.
This review is long overdue. We have been frequenting Nawab for over ten years. I am going to keep this simple... 1. Nawab is hands down the best Indian Food in the Lehigh Valley area 2. They have a limited but tasty lunch buffet that is a great value. 3. Dinner is expensive, but oh so good. 4. They make excellent Naan 5. Atmosphere in the restaurant is typical Indian Restaurant tacky. 6. Parking can be a bit of a challenge and is metered. We'll continue going back on a regular basis.
(4)Teresa H.
I've eaten here twice and neither times met my standards. This maybe be the best Indian in the valley, which is sad! The dishes are just ehh the service is decent. The atmosphere just as expected.
(3)Gia M.
My boyfriend and I visited Bethlehem for a Sunday evening concert and were unable to find a place on Yelp that was open, so we wandered around and happened upon Nawab. We walked in having decided to get take-out and tailgate in the parking lot (stop judging our unconventional tailgate food!). The service was quick: under 15 minutes, even though we didn't call ahead. They didn't seem used to people needing utensils or napkins, because we had to ask for both. I was definitely pleased with Nawab's offerings, food-wise. We got an order of naan, samosas, lamb masala, and chicken tikka masala. The meat sauces came in the usual sized containers and had big, tender pieces of meat. Very flavorful. They only gave us one container of rice, which ended up being enough (we were worried there wouldn't be). The samosas were the highlight of the night-- large pockets of the wonderful chickpea and potato combination that Indian places do so well. Definitely my favorite. The naan came as one large piece, sliced in half (which I though was a little skimpy). They did include the sweet and mint sauces with the order, as well as complimentary roti. While we ordered a lot of food, I was a little disappointed in the size of the naan order-- I would have expected more pieces. This is a great place to order take-out, though!
(4)Sherry S.
Very good, love the buffet and many delicious choices have been there a few times and it's always good, highly recommend it but at lunch go early to get the best variety and freshness for the buffet.
(5)Tyler L.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants anywhere. The lunch buffet is incredible and has a good range of choices. The food is always excellent and there is a good range of spice levels available. The staff is also excellent and very attentive.
(5)Rand H.
Fantastic lamb vindaloo and rogham josh. You can get a sweet naan with dates and raisins and nuts. Very attentive service and reasonably priced.
(4)John N.
Went to Nawab a couple weeks ago for dinner with friends as part of my search for some good Indian food in the Lehigh Valley. It was definitely way better than the place I tried a couple months ago In Whitehall (see my other reviews). The service was very good, and the food was all pretty decent, though I thought the flavor was dominated more by salt than Indian spices (in everything I tried- goat curry, shrimp curry (which my friend ordered "hot", and the saag paneer, and the pakoras). I liked the texture of the goat curry, and the meat seemed very fresh. The achar (spicy Indian pickle) had a really nice flavor, but I was puzzled why they left so much hard fruit and vegetable pits in it that I had to scrape away. It was good enough that I intend to go back and try again, and maybe ask for the "hot" level of spiciness. Not sure what was up with the salty flavor, or if they were trying to save money on the good spices. With a little adjustment, it seems they could really have something on par with restaurants in places like Pittsburgh (seriously, Pgh has Udipi, and People's Indian, to name just two excellent places which are very low cost as well). Seems like there should be enough Indians around here to get something good enough where they don't have to drive to New Jersey or Philly or NYC.
(3)Steven C.
I ordered Chicken Tikki Masala, regular Naan, and veggie Samosa to go and it was ready in 5-10 minutes when they initially told me it would be 15 minutes. Unfortunately the method in which I was to later consume this food wasn't ideal for the way it was packaged but that's just a situational misfortune. I could not find anything wrong with this food; it was all incredibly scrumptious and perfectly portioned where I was plenty full by the end of my meal. The Samosas were big so well done on not skimping on that, I only got a half circle of naan for one order when I expected more but no big deal, the rice was fluffy and basmati, and the chicken was well seasoned and tender enough to tear apart with just a fork in hand.
(4)Emily R.
New Years Eve, the perfect place to go! We decided to travel about an hour to try the dinner menu at Nawab since my friend had tried the lunch for the buffet and said it was delicious. We were seated promptly and had some time to look over the menu. I decided to have Masala Tea (hot) and my husband had a strawberry lassi. Both were great! We decided to try the Vegetarian Platter for an appetizer. Everything on it was crisp and fresh. After we were finished with that our main meals were served. I ordered the Chef's special Biryani which was wonderfully seasoned. The yogurt sauce was delicious too. My husband and our friend both tried the platters which both had a nice assortment. I would recommend this restaurant to folks passing through the Bethlehem area or even making the drive to try it! We will be going back again!
(5)J P.
I didn't really enjoy the lunch buffet. Maybe I'm spoiled having friends who cook authentic Indian food, but the dishes were all bland and there was a terrible looking salad bar that I didn't even taste. Unfortunately there's not really other options in the area. This place has won "Best of Lehigh Valley" awards, but I didn't see it when I ate there and I won't be returning.
(2)Z C.
i would give 0 stars if i could... place is horrible. .. mixed grill showed up ready in 5 min and tasted like it was a week old. .. no basmati rice and exotic indian cuisine?? food tastes like its from cans....please avoid.
(1)Sarah Z.
This place has the best Indian food around! My boyfriend and I go here every time I visit him at school (long distance holla). It's kind of "our place" because we ate here the first time I visited him at school, and we've returned ever since. The man who runs the restaurant even recognizes us now when we go there. For the record, I haven't had bad food here. Correction, I haven't even had satisfactory food here. It's all been DELICIOUS! My boyfriend and I usually get chicken tikka masala and chicken saag, respectively. Both are amazing. -The saag looks a little weird because it's cooked spinach with like brownish seasoned sauce, but again, it's delicious. I've tried other things, which are equally yummy, but I always go back. -I've also had the chicken chili, which has some sweet notes to it, so if you like the savory-with-a-little-sweet then I would highly recommend this one.. -Their rice is the best rice I've ever--ever--had. It's buttery, fluffy, and is always cooked perfectly. -The naan is another must-have. It's a blank but flavorful slate like the rice, and offers a different texture to the meal. -Both the mango and strawberry lassis are to die for. The thai iced tea is as well. -Finally, the desserts... I'm a huge fan of dessert, and I can confidently say that Indians just do it a different way. I'm glad that Nawab represents Indian dessert dishes because it's fun to try them, but you're not going to find cheesecake and apple crumbles here. The gulab jamun are little firm donuts soaked in a sweet sauce--so they're a little soggy. The "cottage cheese paddies" were interesting as well. Very different texture-wise. Both a good experience. This is a jewel of a place. The only complaint I have is that their waitstaff sometimes have a hard time understanding customer questions and conveying their answers in a clear way. Which, in a way, is okay with me because no matter what happens you'll end up with a delicious meal. Nawab also offers take-out which is awesome if you don't want to smell like Indian food for the rest of the day! Not that that's a bad thing..
(5)Kaitlyn R.
The best Indian food in the LV. Prices are good too. $10 buffet. Good service. I love this place.
(4)TJ G.
I passed through town briefly and stopped in time for the lunch buffet. The service was very friendly and the food was exactly what I wanted, standard buffet dishes, not amazing but still tasty and at an amazing price!
(4)Diane S.
The Chicken Tikki Masala had such a strong red sauce. Really overpowered the dish. Rice was very nice, but not very hot. Don't bother getting the mixed appetizer plate ($8.95) that includes 1 (ONE) dry tandoori shrimp. If the server sees that 2 people are sharing this appetizer, how difficult is it to put 2 shrimp on the barby? The onion salsa that comes with the appetizer cracker is to die for
(2)Shirley D.
This has been long over due. My husband's best friend introduce this place to him and he's got us hooked to this place when we go and visit him. It's near the new casinos in Bethlehem. It's the only Indian restaurant in the area. The service is great and even better is the food. It's not greasy like other Indian restaurants. This is the only place that we order saag paneer, because they're the only place that makes it that good. We're not big spinach people and especially paneer, but this dish is kickass - ask them to make it spicy. The chicken tandoori is great, no fat, cook right and not dry. They have peshwari naan (sweet naan) that taste like a desert naan. It goes well with any curry dishes. Their condiments are sweeter than the other Indian restaurants, they have to accommodate to the people that lives within the area. It's a BYOB restaurant, so we can spend hours eating there and catching up with life. What makes this place great is the check at the end of the night, it's cheap, but you will get quality food, service and ambiance.
(5)Teresa M.
Excellent Indian cuisine. I had the pleasure of having Nawab's lunch buffet. It was tasty, fresh, and authentic. I don't pretend to be an expert by any means, but it far surpassed my expectations. Friendly staff, nice clean restaurant with good music. Quiet, considering how many tables were occupied. I'll definitely frequent this respectable establishment.
(5)Yue X.
Curry curry
(3)Rebecca F.
Truly wonderful indian food!!!! The naan basket is off the chain. Highly recommend chicken tikka masala or chicken shahi korma. Huge portions, reasonable prices. We ate down to the very last drop! I could eat this every day!!! The decor is interesting and the staff are sometimes pushy but overall pretty nice. Nawab rocks!
(5)Gee K.
Best Indian Restaurant in the Valley. Food and service are both great. Prices are fair. The restaurant always fills up pretty quick for lunch and dinner. Would recommend.
(5)Jill K.
"Really love the this place. Huge menu, reasonably priced. Evetything we have tried has been delicious. The vegetable samosa are fantastic. Yum!!"
(5)Anna C.
I have been to India and enjoyed food their. Wawab was the best Indian food restaurant in this area. The lunch buffet was good, I love the curry and chicken. Although is only few dishes in lunch. Also the staff is friendly.
(4)Scott G.
Nawab has tasty food, though certainly not the best Indian food in the Lehigh Valley: for that, try Spice India (Whitehall--not Easton). Is it just me or has the portion size really decreased lately? The plate of rice delivered last night for two persons was about the size one would expect for one person. We ordered Nan: ONE piece--sliced in half, I guess, because we were two people? The main courses themselves were alright, but they too seemed smaller than in the recent past.
(3)Randall B.
Nawab is our favorite Indian Restuarant in the LV. The service is exceptional and the food is authentic. It is vegetarian friendly and BYOB! We love it there....
(4)Chelsea S.
This place is great, the food is excellent! The mango chicken is my favorite =] And you get all you can eat mango chicken at the buffet on friday. The owners are very nice as well.
(5)Dave W.
This is the standard with which I hold all other Indian restaurants to. Very few measure up. The flavors are all spot on with the exception of not being spicy enough (capsaicin level I mean). The service also leaves a bit to be desired but I don't come here to be attended to I just want the bomb Indian food. Simply put, everything here is good. Samosas, all of their curry dishes, their fried rice dish was superb. Their condiments are also quite exceptional. The raita, the tamarind sauce, and the tomato/onion compote / salsa (I don't know what they call that condiment) are all dope.
(4)Yi H.
This place is amazing! My bf and I took a chance with this restaurant while strolling down the street one day. If i'm not mistaken, we had the garlic naan for starter; let me tell you, it was so good! I can probably eat 10 of those. As for our main courses, we had Tandoori shrimp and chicken curry. I like the shrimp better for some reason. It was probably because of the freshness of the herbs and spices. As for the curry chicken, it was very light for me. Keep in mind that I love my curry spicy and strong so I kind of had a preference engraved in my head. All in all, it was a good experience. The bf and I finished everything that was on our table and it left the waiter very happy. I still remember the emotionless face he had when we first stepped in. At the end, he gave us a huge smile when he saw that we licked our plates clean. =D
(4)Brad S.
Bethlehem and Allentown are just like my college town, complete with their own amazing Indian place. Every Indian I eat is compared to my college town favorite, none compare. That is, until Nawab. The vegetable samosa were fantastic. For a main, I got the Bharta (I think they had a different name.. Beigan?) which was so creamy and perfectly spicy with plenty of sweat rice. But my eyes were larger than my stomach, and I took half of my plate home. I think the manager helped us pack up our meals, and he gave us a heaping of extra rice to go for free. I find Indian restaurants to always have friendly staff with sincere helpful gestures to guide you through menus or send you on your way. Nawab is a great example of this. All the staff were friendly and helpful to us and event he pack of vegetarian/vegan tweens who came in after us. I'll certainly try to pass through again.
(4)Jaime k.
Dinner is definitely better than the lunch buffet - the food is obviously fresher, cooked to your own taste (how spicy you like it) and there is a huge menu to choose from (lots of vegetarian options). I think the dinner is great! You can also get it as take-out, and I always have enough for a second meal. The lunch buffet is pretty good. Not as spicy as I'd like, and on some days the options they put out are better than others. I'd say the lunch buffet is about 50% vegetarian, 50% meat dishes so there is definitely enough for everyone. (I once overheard a woman at the table next to me scoffing that there were barely any dishes that didn't contain "dead carcass" - first of all, I hate these pretentious types, they make the rest of us look bad, and secondly I was already on my third plate of food, stuffing myself full because I wanted to try everything I could and it was all really good!) I guess some people are just complainers. For only $8 for a buffet that allows you to try many dishes, it's really worth a visit! If you know you like Indian food, try the dinner! If you do get dinner, spend the few dollars and try the coconut soup! Holy cow!!!
(4)Dara C.
Haven't lived in the Valley in a while but since I used to go to high school just up the road in Bethlehem, I've visited Nawab innumerable times. It was impressive then, especially compared to the vending machines and diner food of which my diet consisted. However, having had Indian food elsewhere in both the Valley and the vast Eastern seaboard, and having recently revisited this restaurant, I can say that it's pretty bland and mediocre. The food has no heat, just the same vaguely Indian spices and not enough of them. I think the rice was okay--I judge Indian restaurants on the quality of their rice and naan-- but none of the entrees were particularly memorable. I remember the palak paneer was screaming for salt. Tastes a lot like Trader Joe's frozen Indian meals rather than the fresh, spicy Indian I love. Serviceable, I suppose, but Nawab, I don't love you like I used to. Spice India in A-Town has been better to me.
(3)Dennis C.
I've been a fan of this restaurant for years. I love the buffet, even though it is blandized for pedestrian consumption. It still tastes great. I have eaten dinners there and usually order spicy. Chicken Saag is awesome. And, the Cauliflower in the orange spices is also superb. I forget what the dish is called. It has been a while and I will return very soon. Perhaps by the end of the week.
(5)Dave W.
This is the standard with which I hold all other Indian restaurants to. Very few measure up. The flavors are all spot on with the exception of not being spicy enough (capsaicin level I mean). The service also leaves a bit to be desired but I don't come here to be attended to I just want the bomb Indian food. Simply put, everything here is good. Samosas, all of their curry dishes, their fried rice dish was superb. Their condiments are also quite exceptional. The raita, the tamarind sauce, and the tomato/onion compote / salsa (I don't know what they call that condiment) are all dope.
(4)diana f.
Nawab has ruined me for other Indian restaurants. I've been to a good amount of Indian restaurants and none of them come close to the food Nawab has. I could easily recommend ten to fifteen dishes on their menu. The lunch buffet is so inexpensive and a great way to try a variety of dishes. There was a time when my Nawab addiction was pretty bad. We're talking 3-4 times a week here. The decor is a little cheesy but it looks better since they remodeled everything in pink. If you're lucky, you'll hear the instrumental version of "the final countdown" playing while you're there. The owners are very nice and the waitstaff are all very friendly and accomodating. The food is seriously amazing and if you're in Bethlehem, you have to stop in.
(5)Ron B.
Customer service is top-notch, the food wasn't bad either especially for the area and locale.
(4)Randall B.
Nawab is our favorite Indian Restuarant in the LV. The service is exceptional and the food is authentic. It is vegetarian friendly and BYOB! We love it there....
(4)Yi H.
This place is amazing! My bf and I took a chance with this restaurant while strolling down the street one day. If i'm not mistaken, we had the garlic naan for starter; let me tell you, it was so good! I can probably eat 10 of those. As for our main courses, we had Tandoori shrimp and chicken curry. I like the shrimp better for some reason. It was probably because of the freshness of the herbs and spices. As for the curry chicken, it was very light for me. Keep in mind that I love my curry spicy and strong so I kind of had a preference engraved in my head. All in all, it was a good experience. The bf and I finished everything that was on our table and it left the waiter very happy. I still remember the emotionless face he had when we first stepped in. At the end, he gave us a huge smile when he saw that we licked our plates clean. =D
(4)Brad S.
Bethlehem and Allentown are just like my college town, complete with their own amazing Indian place. Every Indian I eat is compared to my college town favorite, none compare. That is, until Nawab. The vegetable samosa were fantastic. For a main, I got the Bharta (I think they had a different name.. Beigan?) which was so creamy and perfectly spicy with plenty of sweat rice. But my eyes were larger than my stomach, and I took half of my plate home. I think the manager helped us pack up our meals, and he gave us a heaping of extra rice to go for free. I find Indian restaurants to always have friendly staff with sincere helpful gestures to guide you through menus or send you on your way. Nawab is a great example of this. All the staff were friendly and helpful to us and event he pack of vegetarian/vegan tweens who came in after us. I'll certainly try to pass through again.
(4)Jaime k.
Dinner is definitely better than the lunch buffet - the food is obviously fresher, cooked to your own taste (how spicy you like it) and there is a huge menu to choose from (lots of vegetarian options). I think the dinner is great! You can also get it as take-out, and I always have enough for a second meal. The lunch buffet is pretty good. Not as spicy as I'd like, and on some days the options they put out are better than others. I'd say the lunch buffet is about 50% vegetarian, 50% meat dishes so there is definitely enough for everyone. (I once overheard a woman at the table next to me scoffing that there were barely any dishes that didn't contain "dead carcass" - first of all, I hate these pretentious types, they make the rest of us look bad, and secondly I was already on my third plate of food, stuffing myself full because I wanted to try everything I could and it was all really good!) I guess some people are just complainers. For only $8 for a buffet that allows you to try many dishes, it's really worth a visit! If you know you like Indian food, try the dinner! If you do get dinner, spend the few dollars and try the coconut soup! Holy cow!!!
(4)Charly J.
For the area, Nawab offers good Indian food. As for authenticity? Well... Indian food should be rich with different flavors (no two dishes should taste the same) & SPICY. I found flavors repeating themselves in dishes that really shouldn't taste similar. I thought the portions could have been better, plus where was the SPICE?!? My hubby & I told them to make our dishes SPICY, but we didn't get the sniffles or anything from their food. Still, it's not bad for the area. We'll have to try Spice India or Palace of India next.
(3)Chelsea S.
This place is great, the food is excellent! The mango chicken is my favorite =] And you get all you can eat mango chicken at the buffet on friday. The owners are very nice as well.
(5)Laura K.
I ate at an Indian restaurant in London and tried something so godawful I couldn't even walk into another Indian restaurant for years. Then I dipped my toe back into Indian food by going to the lunch buffet @ Nawab where I could try a little of everything. Turned me around! I am still learning about Indian food and finally went off the buffet line and met some friends and brought wine for dinner here. I had no idea what to order because you see the description of Paneer Pakora that says "cottage cheese fritters" and if you're white like me you may think , "ew." But OMG this was SO GOOD. As was everything else including the service. I love the glittery ceiling, too. Now I crave Nawab often!
(4)Jeff H.
Went for the lunch buffet since it was my first time there and I thought it would be a good way to try a few dishes. I'm guessing the positive reviews are from people who have gone for dinner. The food was okay, some items were good like the Tikki Masala and the carrots/peas. Others I never got to try because the buffet was barely refreshed in the hour we were there. Service was inattentive, it was a fairly long wait before we even got menus. I guess they expect people to go straight to the buffet when it's available and not really be interested in the menu. It was never clear who the server was, we were waited on by three different people. Water was topped off once. The price was right but they need to pick up the pace on the buffet before I'd go for lunch again. I'd still like to give it a shot for dinner.
(3)Jenny J.
Nawab is pretty much the only North Indian restaurant in the area, and luckily for us, it's very good! If you're vegetarian, you're good to go! If you're vegan, be careful, many dishes contain ghee and only one variety of naan does not contain either ghee, whey, or butter, double check with your server when you get there. My favorite dishes: Aloo Palak Chana Masala (ordered without ghee) The service is great, the wait staff is very attentive and speedy. The prices are also fantastic, you get a lot of food for under $10. Try the appetizers, they're all amazing!
(3)Charlie s.
Just go.
(4)Shane O.
Not many Indian places in Lehigh Valley to start, thankfully this place is good. Good food, good service and decent atmosphere... plus it's BYOB with a wine store and a 6-pack shop across the street. It doesn't get any better than that! We do take out mostly, if your going on the weekend think about a reservation. Lunch buffet is nothing too exciting, I'd stick with ordering off the menu if possible. Unless you want to drive to Philly this is one of your best Indian choices around...
(4)W D.
My first experience with Indian food was here, I absolutely fell in love with the cuisine because of my experience here. So far, nothing outside of major cities compares!
(4)M. D.
I got sick (threw up) from the buffet last week, would dismiss it but it happened once before so.... The last piece of tandoori chicken i ate smelled like poop! Never again Nawab
(1)Vanessa W.
Some of the best Indian food in the area. They have an excellent, and reasonable, lunch buffet. Also a reasonable dinner prefixe menu for those who'd like to try a variety of things. Ok atmosphere. Definitely casual. UPDATE: Friend of mine said as far as true northern indian food standards go this place stinks. She should know, she's northern indian. I plan on still going since good indian food is few and far between here in the Valley. She said for really good indian to go to Edison, NJ. She also enjoyed Spice of India in Whitehall. Decide for yourself!
(4)Rob G.
Excellent, authentic, right on, great variety of naan. BYOB. I love it. But what is with the pink walls?
(4)Jen T.
DELICIOUS. Went for dinner and they were super attentive, and the food was great! I love that you can pick a spice level, mine was perfect for what I like. The garlic naan was excellent. The vegetarian dish selection was extensive and the rest of the menu was huge too. I don't even know what else to say because everyone on here covered it, but this is really great Indian food and you need to go here if you are anywhere nearby!
(5)Keith H.
Food was just OK and it tasted all the same. Would have been better if it didn't set me back so much cash.
(2)Demian F.
I am sorry that I almost never went to Nawab due to some poor reviews. Clearly, they were just written by people who like to complain. The service is amazing, my water glass never went empty and our food was well timed and hot. The dishes were delicious, the combo meal is a great deal with lots of choices with generous portions. I ordered spicy, which wasn't all that spicy, however, it might just be suited to the palates of the area. The coconut soup is the best ever, don't leave without trying it! If you are in the mood for Indian in the Lehigh Valley, make sure you don't skip Nawab!
(5)john r.
this is my least favorite indian restaurant in the entire world. bland, very poor service, pointless. dinner is barely better than the buffet which is not edible. i would seriously give this restaurant negative stars if i could, and considering i literally ate indian 3+ meals a day for a month straight while in india, i've got no lack of love for the cuisine in general. in fact, not only is this the most sad indian restaurant on the planet, but on my final visit to nawab they took prodding to give me chili powder to spice up their hopelessly bland food. the waiter suggested i use the table black pepper. wtf? one might reasonably ask, given this very negative review, why i even tried eating here more than once. well, it used to be there were only 1-2 indian games in town or that they were incredibly spread between Emmaus and Easton, so, depending on your location you just HAD to try nawab again sometimes and hope they'd improved (never did). but there's now that place on 7th St in Whitehall which is loads better. do the needful and skip this place.
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