Shalimar Restaurant
3711 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37215
Shalimar Restaurant Menu
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Address :
3711 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN, 37215 - Phone (615) 269-8577
- Website https://www.shalimarfinedining.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
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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Kelly B.
Great, friendly service - my friend and I received wonderful recommendations from our waiter, including the "Indian Pico de Gallo" The food was fresh and delicious, although when I ordered "Indian Hot" I expected a lot more kick.
(4)Stephen G.
My favorite Indian restaurant in Nashville, hands down. The staff here is always very friendly and fast. The food is awesome. My favorite is the Lamb Saag. Think curried lamb with spinach. Their chicken tikka masala is also a step above the rest. BYOB! No corking fee. Any questions? Parking is very limited but they have a small lot behind the restaurant as well. If you haven't stopped in Shalimar yet, you're missing out.
(4)Jesse S.
Came for the lunch buffet - not great. Tikka has no depth of flavor, lentils were undercooked, tandoori chicken didn't taste like it came from a tandoor. Drive the extra 2 miles to go to Woodland, which is quite good even for non-vegetarian diners.
(2)Sara S.
I've gotten really into Indian food lately and this place does not disappoint. The flavors are rich, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is nice, but not pretentious. I love hot food, so I usually order the hottest I can get and am always pleased with my decision. The portions are quite large here, so I always have enough for lunch the next day- which is great! I ordered the Tikka Masala (no idea if that's the correct spelling) and it was absolutely delicious. We shared some okra and all had hot chai tea. So yummy!! Definitely check them out when you're in Green Hills.
(4)Carolyn M.
We went on a Saturday during the buffet. It was a big lunch date for me and a 3 year old. My tot loved the naan, rice, and cheesy spinach. Also, the staff of dozens that fawned all over her (and didnt charge for her bird lunch). I loved the lentil soup, chicken masala, and that cilantro dressing. And the super sweet and friendly staff. It's the best Indian I've had in Nashville.
(4)Heather H.
Enthusiastic service is about all I can say that was positive. The buffet is small, and the dinner menu overpriced. My malai kofta was exactly as spicy as I wanted it, but it was also salty as hell and not at all creamy. Husband's chana masala was good, but watery. Bombay Palace has ruined me for any other Indian restaurant. :/
(2)Buckley M.
We were the only three people in the restaurant & service was painfully slow - servers were non-existent. Food was bland - even the spicy version of my dish was watery & tasteless. My companions felt the same with their selections. Maybe they were once good but I'll give this a pass. Icing on the proverbial cake was watching one of the kitchen staff exit the restroom without hand washing - hoisting up his pants. EW!
(1)Mac G.
For years I have heard people rave about this place. I finally went recently... EPIC FOOD TRAGEDY!!! This place looked really cool inside. The people who run it were extremely friendly and accommodating. I dig the BYOB with no cork fee. But... - Hair in the food (they adjusted the bill) - Pathetic naan (frozen pizza microwaved???) - Doughy lifeless undercooked aloo paratha - Bland sauces in the saag and masala dishes - Worst post-Indian heartburn EVER... If you want great Indian food in Nashville, hit Woodlands or Tamarind.
(1)Elizabeth S.
I visited Shalimar last night for the second time and was very impressed with the food & the service. I'm one of those people who like Indian food "ok" but after eating there last night I'm already craving their Chicken Korma, which by the way I didn't order but stole multiple bites from others at the table that did...smart people. I was equally pleased with my selection of the chicken jalfrezi and garlic naan to start. Aside from the food, the staff did an excellent job of serving our large party of eleven. Our waiter was quick to give recommendations and my water glass was constantly refilled (is this weird to note...perhaps...but the restaurant is BYOW so let's just say I was doing a fine job of pouring that on my own)..... Also, separating checks was no problem. While the food may be a bit more expensive than I would like to pay on a regular basis, I think it is absolutely worth it. Also, the restaurant provides free delivery to the Green Hills/Belmont/Belle Meade area in case you get a sudden craving for Chicken Tikka Masala but can't drag yourself off your couch.
(4)Courtney C.
The service was great and the food is fine, but it is considerably more expensive than the other Indian restaurants in Nashville, while the portions are smaller. I am assuming that this has something to do with location (the rent might be higher in Green Hills area). The parking lot in front is very small. We went with a groupon, which excluded the lunch specials. The lunch specials seem to be a good price, but I'm not sure if the portions are small. In sum, great service, good food, small portions for price.
(3)Krash T.
I began going to Shalimar when I started visiting Nashville. They had just opened, in a tiny place where Rajij's (sp?) smoke shop is now. The food was pricey, but fantastic - everything cooked to order, great attention to detail. And if they were the first Indian restaurant I'd seen that didn't provide any condiments free with the meal, that was okay, because all the chutneys were homemade, and delicious. They moved to a larger location a few years back, and for a while they were still excellent. But I would not recommend them any longer. My wife and I tried them three times over the past year, each time hoping for the best, and each time it was terrible. AND when I presented a coupon at one of the visits, I was told it couldn't be honored on that date, even though the coupon said nothing about it. AND on another visit we were "accidentally" overcharged by almost 10%. Outside of the food, which is now about as bland as Applebee's, the consistent mistakes with coupons, checks, and orders (on one visit we suddenly had ordered more food than we had ordered - we thought they were being nice and giving us an extra side, until the bill came) is very disturbing.
(1)Robert T.
If you're deciding which Indian place to eat dinner, I would recommend Tamarind or Bombay Palace. Shalimar is a distant third. The waiter was very pushy and would not accept the idea that we would need more than two entrees to share (two of us who are big eaters, especially when it comes to Indian food) and gave us one order of naan to start when we asked for two. We ended up ordering the second order after we devoured the first. In sum, the service was poor. The food seemed half-hearted. It's not that it was necessarily bad or offensive in its quality, but I just expect so much more from an Indian restaurant. Especially when we have been to two other restaurants nearby that I feel are superior in quality.
(2)Art Q.
Tandoori Chicken. It's that reddish-orange pile of chicken wings at the end of the buffet most places - but not here. At Shalimar, it's the star of the show, and there can be no substitute. Seeing it at any other Indian restaurant just makes me dream of the next time I can get to Shalimar. It's a little pricey, so it's more of a treat than a regular destination, but the food is worth it and the service is as friendly as it gets.
(5)Robin W.
I've been here quite a few times and have had fairly pleasant experiences. I'm a vegetarian, so my meals have been limited to sag paneer, vegetable korma, and another veggie dish the name of which I can't recall. I will agree with some of the other reviews that the naan isn't the best. I have a Nepalese friend who makes the best naan I've ever tasted, so maybe I'm spoiled. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant if you like Indian food, but you're not an Indian food snob. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is comfortable, albeit a bit close.
(4)Ilene E.
Shalimar has very authentic food. Their chicken tikka masala was excellent. My only criticism is that it could be a little spicier if you are into spicey food. Otherwise it's fresh and fabulous. I will be back!
(5)Nathan K.
Legit. They cater. (I'm giving them a 4 instead of a 3 because the food was probably a 3.75 to 3.8 and it was a probably a 200+ person affair). My limited experience is that Sitar which is located off West End near Vanderbilt is better.
(4)Declan G.
Shalimar has some of the best Indian food in Nashville. Both of the dishes I tried were distinctly, expertly spiced, the mint yogurt was fresh and flavorful, and the rice was perfectly cooked, garnished with peas, carrots and fried onions. On the mneu, the vegetarian entrees didn't have descriptions, and since we weren't able to get an intelligible explanation from the waiter (his English was fairly limited), we went with two "Side Dishes" we were familiar with - lentils and saag paneer. Along with rice and yogurt, this was plenty of food for the two of us. The lentils were nice and spicy (we ordered medium-hot), and the saag paneer was delicately spiced, with delicious strips of chewy goat cheese. If you go to Shalimar, be prepared for an unusual experience in terms of service. The waiter was really nice, and did fine with the basic customer-server dialogue. But you may have some trouble getting your questions answered, or special specifications understood. The woman who seated us and brought us the check talked like a native English speaker, so maybe she'd be able to help out. I thought the atmosphere at Shalimar was a little awkward, a strange mix of formal and rustic. But I actually kind of enjoyed Shalimar's quirks, and the food is so tasty that I'm sure I'll be back. They also offer free delivery to most areas of the city.
(4)Kiran G.
It is located in very commercial location, close to green hills mall. Very pricey to start with. Decent food but the atmosphere is very dark and congested. There are better restaurants than this but if u are in the area and want a decent food, this is the place for u. Parking is difficult here but ok.
(3)Paul H.
We had a really good dinner at Shalimar last weekend, and I would have given it more stars were it not for the level of service that we received. I would definitely avoid Shalimar if you're looking for a quick meal - give yourself at least an hour. But, the confusion/speed of the servers was more than made up for by the quality of the food. I ordered the Lamb Biryani, which while small in the quantity of lamb provided, was quite tasty. It was delicately seasoned - they offered it hot or medium (I went with medium) - and as such, I could really pick up a lot of the flavors in the spice blends. My partner had the chicken Vindaloo, which was equally as good. The spinach and cheese side dish didn't last too long either. All in all, a solid meal that's not too expensive.
(4)sharad v.
let me cut to the chase, the food is downright bad. I am an Indian and know Indian food and preparation. this place is overpriced for it's portions and service and my chicken masala gravy was too thin and too sour. saag chicken had very little saag in it and looked yellow!!! since there were only whites in this restaurant (no Indian would try this place twice), I should have guessed better.
(1)Peter B.
This is 1 of the 2 Indian restaurants in the Nashville area that have a great-tasting dinner menu. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and vegetable samosas, and the service and food both were terrific. The servers were friendly and polite and our water was always full. I will return ASAP.
(4)Alicia M.
The people who wrote bad reviews are INSAAANE! Me and my buddy ate here tonight, his recommendation, and the food was DELICIOUS! He had the Chicken Tikki Masala and I had the Lamb Tiki Masala with extra naan. Fresh, the rice was good and fluffy, everything was seasoned very well. Daewood was my server tonight and I can't recall the other gentleman's name. The entire staff was friendly! The restaurant however is quite small but I didn't care. Thr service and food made up well! I will definitely return!
(4)Natalie L.
Food is WAY to SALTY. I don't want to pay to eat salt with my food. I want to add salt to taste TO my food. VERY EXPENSIVE! We wouldn't mind paying for a quality meal, but paying so much money for such low quality food is obscene. I have had better Indian food in fast food places. Service was curious. Well, better be courteous - to make up for the bad food served. Parking sucks. Will not go there again.
(2)Safian M.
I didn't find Food as tasty as it should be, I order the chicken tandoori that came with boiled white rice. Which I would tell from the taste were not fresh. I paid more than what I received.
(2)Carey James B.
THE WORST INDIAN IN 100 MILES! dry chicken. I gave them another chance after staying away for about 5 years and yep, still sucks!
(1)Deepak B.
Being Indian-One star because my son sat peacefully here. Buffet was expensive compared to others. The rice was crunchy, and selection was limited. The soup was too salty and the food on buffet was oily.
(1)Kevin And LaRae C.
Located in the Heart of Green Hills, Shalimar offers outstanding service and excellent food. During our latest visit, we ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Saag. Both were savory and left us feeling very satisfied. In addition to the inherently quaint ambiance, there is now live music on Sunday nights. Much to our surprise, the accordion and mandolin blend quite well and generate a festive sound. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Nazanin R.
Food is always delicious although a bit overpriced! Also I don't get the point of bringing a tiny plate of salad with yogurt dressing as a complimentary appetizer! Quite honestly garden salad is not an "Indian" appetizer by any mean!!! Love their lunch combo special! Overall 4/5 just because of that salad! ( I don't get it) SMH
(4)S W.
The Best Indian food in Nashville!! So fresh tasting and not too buttery. The flavors are amazing. Great service and great on to go orders.
(5)Hannah N.
I can't properly express how much love I have for Shalimar. When I was still a Belmont student I would go here with a friend at least twice a month. The host always remembered/recognized us and was so friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, I haven't been here in at least a year since I live in Murfreesboro now and don't make it out to Nashville as much as I'd like. The naan is always a must. It was always fresh and hot. I ordered the chicken korma the first few times I went and loved it. However, after seeing my friend order the chicken tikka masala and gushing over it, I finally ordered that and was blown away. So. Freaking. Good. From then on it was all I would order there every time we went. You can order it mild, medium, or hot which is nice for those who can't handle a lot of spice. I always went for medium, which definitely has a substantial kick, but was still easy for me to eat. The prices are a bit high, but I would always leave with a to-go box full of left overs that was more than enough for a second meal. As you leave, they give you little sesame seed candies. My friend and I brought along another friend once to show them what they'd been missing, and he accidentally lost/dropped his candy. He told the host and asked for another. The host said, "Oh would you like more? Here!!" and handed my friend an enormous handful of the candy haha. I think he thought my friend had lied about losing his candy and was just wanting more. Sweet of him nonetheless lol.
(5)Hall W.
The good: The food here is decently good. I say this understanding that A: this is Nashville and B: there isn't exactly a huge Indian population here. I had the chicken Masala and naan. The chicken was slightly dry, but the masala was seasoned to perfection. The service was super quick, from order to food on the table was about 10 min or so. Service was okay - they were prompt, but weren't exactly the friendliest bunch. I liked how everything was super clean. However, they the decor here was just plain scary. It looked like a mausoleum of sorts. Basically eat here if you live here... or want to relive old memories... but if you are visiting and hoping for a world class Indian experience... uhhh go somewhere else!
(3)Tim G.
We love Indian food so much so we have it at least twice a week. We recently moved from Franklin and decided to find a new spot for Indian food. I have to say this i the worst Indian food I've had in the state of Tennessee. Service was very poor and the food was worse. Tandoori Chicken dry and without taste (ordered medium). Vegetarian Korma very bland, no real taste. Naan tasted just like the samples at Costco. We ended up taking most of the food home for the dogs.
(1)Justin L.
THANK YOU SHALIMAR!!! If you haven't eaten at Shalimar you have to make it a priority...seriously best in the nation!!! I have been on a search for years all of the nation on someone who has better quality and taste of food and I am telling you it does not exist. SHALIMAR IS THE BEST BY A LONG SHOT!!! I highly recommend eating it any way you can either in the restaurant, to go, or even catered for a large party. My wife and kids love it. I had 30 executives in twin from all different walks of life and locations and everyone was blown away. Again make it a priority!
(5)Chris A.
In all my years living here I have never eaten here. I was feeling adventurous and thought I'd stop in for lunch as I was in the neighborhood. The location is very dicey because of the insane lunchtime (and anytime) traffic on Hillsboro Pike. I managed to squeeze in and park in one of the three available parking spots up front. I was greeted by the friendly staff. The interior is extremely dark - coming in from the bright sun of mid day. The service was quick and attentive. I ordered the Lunch combo special which consisted of a beverage, a salad, and one entree, which came with naan, and basmati. The entree I chose was Chicken Tikka Masala, and basmati rice. I chose the "medium" heat option as I was unfamiliar if the hot selection would be too hot. The salad was plain but the green yogurt sauce made up for it! Delicious ! The order came out quick and the presentation was a nice touch. The taste was great. I am not one of those sticklers comparing this place to other Indian restaurants I've eaten. To me, the taste was good, and the price for a non buffet was reasonable. The lunch came out to be 15$ in total. They do have a lunch buffet but only on Saturdays apparently. Overall satisfied with the deliciousness.
(4)Todd B.
For the most part, the food at Shalimar is excellent. The vegetable samosa was one of the best I've had, and the lamb in red curry sauce with rice was outstanding. The rice seemed to be basanti or jasmine rice, and it had some raisins and seasoning that made it particularly delicious combined with the chicken or lamb dishes. It is a very basic Indian menu with all of the expected offerings but not much beyond. A couple of things disappoint here. First, the garlic naan bread tasted like it was pre-prepared, or perhaps they just smeared some red garlic sauce on Mr. Gatti's pizza bread sticks. Whatever the case, it was tasty but sure to disappoint those familiar with naan at other restaurants. Secondly, the service -- and thus the reason for my 3 stars. I hate to say it, but I have yet to go to one Indian restaurant where the service is attentive and friendly -- and this one is no exception. We were greeted, but then basically had to ask for everything else -- for our order to be taken, for the check, etc, and there was no interaction once items were delivered to the table. There were 10-15 minute waits between dishes on a very slow night for them. Shalimar is just fine -- but compared to other restaurants with the same cuisine, three stars is all I can give.
(3)Nancy T.
What a lovely dining experience Friday night!! The food is delightful and healthy!! My tandoori chicken was perfect and my husband had the lamb!! We love the BYOB .....brought an excellent Merlot and dark beer! Not even a cork fee. I love Shalimar!
(5)Lauren W.
When we go for Indian food, I normally only hit up two places: Woodlands and Bombay Palace. I'm very much ok with staying in a food rut when what I get is usually so good. But sometimes we decide to be adventurous and try a new place. Shalimar was a place I had never been to, and since it's located in Green Hills, it was convenient to have dinner there before seeing a movie at the Regal 16. The inside of Shalimar itself is fairly small. The building appears to have gone through many additions, making the dining rooms look haphazardly cobbled together. It appears that they added on to the front of the building at some point, but left the original store doors inside the restaurant- which is just totally bizarre. They have the hotel ballroom style banquet chairs that Indian restaurants seem to favor, and of which I am not a fan. But the large built in green cabinet in the back of the dining room is beautiful and worthy of admiration. We ordered garlic naan, which we thought would come with our meal, but it turns out that Shalimar's version is an appetizer served before the main dish. This naan was a lot more like pizza dough than traditional naan, and the fact that it was sliced into little strips and served with a dipping sauce didn't help the matter. I'll be honest, the garlic naan tasted good and the green-yogurt sauce for dipping was lovely, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It was more like an Italian garlic knot than anything, and very Americanized. For dinner we ordered lamb korma and saag paneer. I was pretty disappointed by the saag paneer as there was only four little bits of cheese in the whole dish. The cheese is the best part and I was sad to see it used so sparingly. The saag itself wasn't much to write home about. It was good, but I've had way better at other places. Perhaps one of the reasons I wasn't blown away was that there was so much cream sauce and not a lot of green in the dish. I would prefer a better sauce to spinach ratio. The lamb korma was the better dish. The lamb was very tender and melted in your mouth. Once again the sauce was good, but not amazing. The portion was also really tiny and after eating the korma and the saag paneer Steve and I were still hungry. Which brings me to the issue of price. For what we got at Shalimar, it seemed way more expensive than it needed to be. I thought it was just in my mind until I compared it with some of my favorite places. Lamb Korma Shalimar: $16.99 Bombay Palace: $13.95 Tamarind: $13.00 Sitar: $14.95 See, it wasn't just in my mind! For what you get there, the price just doesn't make sense. For meat and rice, $17 is absurd. I can buy a whole leg of lamb for less than that. Shalimar was a little cheaper for the saag paneer than the other places (by about $1) but still, I would pay more for better food and more cheese. For dessert we ordered gulab jaman; it was standard. The balls were a little dryer than I prefer normally, but it's always good to end the meal on a nice sweet note. I also have to mention the service, which I unfortunately found pretty poor. We were one of two couples in the restaurant at the time, and it took the waiter forever to come and take our order. While he did come and check in once while we were eating, we had to wait a while after we finished our food for anyone to come back in. During this time, the other couple had to walk to the front to ask for their check. Finally a waiter came and asked if we wanted dessert, which we ordered, but he did not clear the dirty entree plates from our table. We sat there, waiting, while looking at our empty, dirty dishes. The plates were cleared at the same time we got dessert, which is a big no-no. When we were finally ready to leave, we also had to go and ask for our check from the front desk. 'Cause we had a movie to catch! Unfortunately, I think I would have to recommend skipping Shalimar. They might be the only Indian restaurant in Green Hills (which might explain their crazy prices) but just a short drive away you can eat something better at Woodlands or Bombay Palace, that's sensibly priced and comes with better service. Shalimar, you best step up your game.
(2)Sarah P.
I grew up coming to Shalimar and since moved away and coming back after 7 years it still remains my favorite Indian food! Love the veggie lentil soup, veggie samosa, aloo gobi, chicken tikka masala.....yes it's a little more expensive but it's worth the price!
(5)Darby N.
I don't know what these other fools are talking about but this place is the best Indian food in the United States of A!
(5)Corey W.
I like this place but it does have a few short comings. Bottom line I will be coming back for dinner but probably not lunch. After eating here a few times it seems you get their best foot forward when ordering individual meals for dinner. The buffet is a pretty good deal but the quality just doesn't seem to measure up to their dinner performance and I would say the Indian buffet at Bombay palace across town is a better place for lunch. As for dinner however I think they do a great job. The people who are claiming their sauces are bland either burnt off their own taste buds prior to eating or caught the chef on the worst day of his life. As for their case of heartburn, if your weak digestive system can't handle Indian food why would you go to an Indian restaurant? Take some Tums and shut-up. Service is great. These guys are always extremely friendly and attentive. Try it for dinner sometime and I think you will enjoy the experience.
(3)Elizabeth R.
Chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh are delicious (albeit more expensive than other Indian restaurants in the city). Service is quick, fun, and excellent, and the BYOB is great.
(4)Trilce M.
This place was my first Indian experience and they are the ones who introduced me to something amazing called Chicken Tikka Masala. I really like this place, the service is very good and the food is delicious. They are always answering all our questions about the food and they get to recommend new things for us. I used to work really close to this place which was not good because I spend too much time eating here but it was worth it. It is a little overpriced but it is green hills everything is overpriced in this area so you cant complain. I totally recommend this place and their tikka masala which I can eat it over and over again.
(5)Adhiraj B.
I'm an Indian-American male, and this is the worst Indian restaurant in Nashville. I ordered the malai kofta while I was there and instead of the creamy flavor I usually get, Shalimar gives you one that tastes like ketchup.
(1)Priya C.
Worst food and worst service. Price is too expensive and taste is awful. Food was bland(we ordered spicy). Only mango and yogurt lassi tastes good. Service was very slow. Will not be back.
(1)Annie A.
The food was delicious. I had a vegetarian paneer dish that was very tasty. I had it medium spiced and it was perfect. The service was fast and very friendly.
(4)Morgan P.
I'm not Indian. I've never been to India. I don't know the first thing about Indian food. All I know is that Shalimar satisfies my palate just fine. Their food is good. Their sauces are flavorful and perfectly spiced. The meat is tender and juicy. I'm a big baby when it comes to spicy food so we don't order very hot dishes and the flavor is still wonderful. Their rice has raisins and other chunkums of goodness mixed into it that compliment the dishes nicely. We usually order a couple of dishes and split them. Last time we visited we ordered two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes and we had leftovers. They are BYOB but do not have a corking fee. BYOB can be a pain but I love it in this situation because they are so close to Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. The wine shop is off of Abbot Martin Road, right across from the Nordstrom's entrance of the mall. If aren't sure what to look for ask for a slightly sweet, white wine, it will offset the spiciness. Going here will ensure that you get a good bottle of wine to complement your delicious meal at less than what a restaurant would normally charge- winning!
(4)Tristan T.
For the price(too expensive for what you get) and taste fall far from their competitors. We went on Friday night and was expecting hot (of what we ordered) chicken curry and all we got was watered down tomato soup not spicey...and $14.99 for six small pieces of chicken in a cereal bowl. There are much better Indian Restaurants out there that will get more bang for your buck and BETTER taste too. This place really need to visit the Patal Brothers spice rack.
(1)Joe F.
Chicken Tikka Masala is great! Small place, almost too quite during lunch hours on a Friday so you can hear other peoples conversations and vice versa, but otherwise, a nice place with fast service.
(4)JLY J.
I am Indian and am a foodie who loves to cook so I know Indian food. This is the worst place for Indian food in Nashville. The rice was undercooked, the selection on the buffet was very limited (only one chicken and the rest very oily tasteless vegetarian dishes). The bread was not even an Indian bread but whole wheat pita bread. I came here years ago and it was bad then, I was hoping they had improved but I was sadly disappointed. It's very expensive and not even 10% the quality of the other Indian buffets in Nashville. I will never return again.
(1)Morgan B.
My most favorite Indian restaurant I've ever been to - and I tend to go to Indian restaurants a lot. I live in L.A. now and I am SUFFERING bc the Indian food here is lame when I was used to Shalimar's Chicken Tikka Masala. The India chai tea is bliss. The people who run the place are wonderful - so attentive and thankful that you're there. I have never been disappointed once. You should try it! It's reasonably priced and it's delicious!
(5)Gabe F.
Saturday lunch buffet. Small selection, food is cold by the time it reaches the table, chicken was dry, naan was gross, and it was pretty pricey (about 50% higher than their competitors in Nashville). The rooms were very dark but the staff was friendly. I've made better indian food at home from recipes online. I won't be eating here again.
(2)Stephanie R.
Way overpriced bad renditions of Indian food. Never trust "ethnic" food at a green hills location.
(1)Raz A.
Wow, the food is awesome, and great atmosphere. Prices are not that bad. My only complain if you want beer or wine, it is BYOB: disappointing to have that rule for such a nice place. Service is good and would go again. Nann and rice pudding during and after meal were great.
(4)Alice H.
I rarely write a review based off of a first experience, but fell as though I need to warn others about my experience last night. Craving some spicy indian, I had heard that Shalimar was excellent and knew that they delivered for free. I decided to go with the place, even though it was pricier than other indian places around, because the food was supposed to be so tasty. So, I ordered some staples: saag paneer, curry chicken, garlic naan and a side of raita (because i like it with my hot curry). $31 (+ delivery tip). I still cannot believe how much they ripped me off. It was only 1 cup of the chicken and 1 cup of the saag paneer. They brought me a half-pint of each of my orders. I cannot believe that 10 peices of small-diced chicken was $14.99! I felt terrible for my poor friend that was splitting the meal with me. The most bizzare aspect of the tiny, tiny portions (besides the absurd price) was that they gave me MORE of my side of raita ($2.99) than the acutal dinner I had ordered: 1 cup in a half-pint container AND two 2 oz. ramakins. And then there was the naan which actually was pizza dough. I had seen other's posts about it, but thought it must have been a bad night and had been assured that the food was good. No- it is pizza dough, soaked in grease and covered with random spices. Is there someone in the kitchen that doesn't understand how much food to put into a to-go container? I'm truly flabergasted at paying $31 for 1c. (8oz) chopped chicken, 1c. (8 oz) saag paneer, 12 oz's of side sauce and a half of a personal pan pizza dough. I simply do not understand what kind of business this is, or who thinks that they can charge $15 dollars for 8 oz. of chicken? Also, nothing is very spicy (we ordered both hot and were disappointed), but that is the least of my concern. Definitely one-star. I will not be going back.
(1)Grant W.
The food is pretty good here, but very pricey. However the the thing I would like to focus my review on here is the tea... I had about a 30 minute conversation with a guy who worked there about their chai tea... See I had to try it after hearing that Robert Plant claimed it was the best chai tea he has ever had. Now... When someone like Robert Plant says that... A guy who has traveled the world many times over... I am going to give it a listen. Especially when the restaurant happened to be a 5 minute walk from my house at the time. So my friend Brien and I went there specifically for the Chai Tea... We asked the guy about the tea and he explained that they took great pride in it. They source the tea leaves from a remote part of india and have them specifically shipped to them. Also the process of making it requires specific temperatures and precise timing. It takes close to 20 minutes to make a batch of it. The tea is truly delicious and is the best chai I have ever had. It comes unsweetened so you can sweeten it to taste. We also asked him about the Robert Plant rumors and he said it was true. Robert plant once paid 100 dollars for them to fill up his thermos with the tea on a couple of occasions. This is pretty generous as it only costs a few dollars for a cup with free refills. The only food I have tried here was the chicken marsala and it was delicious... VERY spicy, but I love spicy food. My only complaint is that the restaurant has little parking, is small, and very pricey.
(4)Marilee S.
This is my second visit. First visit wasn't so good. Ordered the buffet and the food tasted a little funky. Funky and buffet don't sit well in anyone's stomach. Yesterday, I went back for lunch and ordered Chicken Tikka Masala (hot and spicy, not mild) off the menu. Came with a choice of beverages, basmati rice, a little salad and naan bread for $12.99 each. Not bad. Everything was tasty and the restaurant was clean, although seriously dated. Service was decent. Would I go back? Yes, if I was craving Indian food and in Green Hills? Would I drive past Bombay Palace or another better Indian restaurant to go here, probably not.
(3)Peter C.
Respectable find! Tangy curry chicken and SUCCULENT lamb korma, all with basmati rice-a-plenty. Sure beats the Whole Foods meal we were planning to have. Intimate setting with great service. Will be back for sure.
(5)Gordon M.
I need and crave Indian food alot, being British and having travelled in India. I have been to Shalimar before when I have been in Nashville on business, and know it is not the best, or a little bit far from the best, but when in Nashville...............it is probably the best you can get. But last night really took the piss. I ordered Lamb Biryani (nowhere near authentic, but didn't taste too bad, as just random Indian food). But what really pissed me off, was the naan. I am almost 100% sure that they have a big stack of pizza bases, and just toss them under the grill for a few minutes. It was circular, looked like a pizza base, and tasted like a pizza base (and I think they charged $2.99 or $3.99 for it). They even have the F$#%&*$ ordacity to slice it up like a pizza pie. I have never seen that before in an Indian restaurant. It was plain nasty. It really was a pizza base. Learn how to make some proper naans. It is just rude and offensive to offer that excuse for a naan. The owners should drive to Atlanta, go anywhere in Decatur, perhaps, Tava grill in Cherians to see what a proper naan should look like!
(1)Mazen H.
I come to Nashville frequently on business and I was craving some indian food, and being in the neighborhood thought I'd check out shalimar. I've been to many Indian restaurants in my travels around the country and world, and I definately have my preferences for what type of Indian food I prefer. The menu options seemed fairly limited, but it's not about the options here it's about the flavors, and here is where the disappointment began. The vegetable samosas were adequate, but the sauce was a bizarre mix of a yogurt like mint chutney and tamarind chutney, different, but not bad. The meal itself was the low point. As noted in other reviews the spicy was not so spicy, and the two vegetarian sides I ordered were again adequate. The dal was the better if the two with the vindaloo being very watery and very disappointing. The flavors weren't bad, just not at all what I've come to expect. Now as to what earns the one star rating was the naan. This bread can not be called naan. Naan is prepared in a special clay oven and is flaky and soft. This product was (quoting another review) pizza dough with bizarre spices. This bread product was nothing resembling any naan I have ever had, even given the variation in the different dishes in different restaurants, there has always been a consistency in what is presented as naan. This is not it. I agree with some of the other reviews that for the meal given it is pricey. I will not be back
(1)Esther S.
The atmosphere is quaint and romantic. It's BYOB and they do not serve alcohol here so make sure you bring along your favorite bottle of wine if you intend on drinking - i wish we knew that! The food is pretty tasty and since we're huge fans of spicy food, the level of hotness was to our liking. Thier garlic naan bread is unique, more bready like cheese bread but really flavourful with the sauce. The curry dish was great but the chicken marsala was a tad boring with not much going on except the thin sauce and chicken. The portions are fair, with only one serving of samosa instead of 2.
(3)John D.
Favorite indian food in town. Always a treat for Date Night. The people are super friendly and make the experience worth while (*****).
(4)shipps S.
Being an Indian, and having tried so many different Indian restaurants , I would say that this is an OK ( .....if I stretch it) restaurant. People there are nice which makes it a nice place. But they can really work on their food!!!
(2)Kim U.
My favorite non-vegetarian Indian restaurant in Nashville! To me, the only place in town that comes close to the quality of Shalimar is Woodlands. Since Woodlands is vegetarian-only, I come to Shalimar when I want meat-based Indian dishes. I usually order chicken tikka masala here, and it's never failed me. The rice they serve with all of the dishes is nicely seasoned, with some interesting add-ins (caramelized onions, raisins). Their plain naan is quite tasty, especially good for dipping up sauces. We've also tried several of the lamb dishes (all tasty), the samosas (probably the best in town), and other chicken dishes. Their mango lassi is also really good. The service, as several people have pointed out, can be on the slow side. I think they generally have a "hands off" approach - if you need something, you may need to flag a waiter down, but it's also so nice not to have a waiter hovering over you during your whole meal. My main service criteria in Indian restaurants is if they keep my water glass full - and they definitely do here. This isn't a fast food place, don't come here if you want to be in and out in 30 minutes. Also, takeout is always an option here and their delivery area is fairly wide. I'm surprised by the people complaining about portion sizes being too small. I've never ever left here hungry and, in fact, usually have leftovers to take home or split my entree with someone else. It's not huge portions of food, but it's more than enough and not a wasteful amount of food like many of the other restaurants in this area. Most importantly, it's quality food - worth every penny. This is one of very few restaurants in Green Hills that I would bother driving across town to get to. NOTE: in addition to the few parking spots in front (which can be a bear to get into if traffic is busy), there is a parking lot out back. Turn right on the road immediately after Shalimar & then look for the lot entrance to the right.
(5)Caitlin D.
I have only been here once, and tried the buffet. It was great! It wasn't a huge selection, but every dish was fantastic. The mango chutney drizzles deliciously on fried balls that are similar to donuts (dont know the proper name), the chickpeas and potatoes were perfect, there was chicken and eggplant and lentil soup..... mmmmmmm. The chai was a nice compliment to my feast. I will definitely be back to try the menu.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Probably the most expensive "indian" restaurant in Nashville, but my friends' favorite. We meet there regularly to catch up. You can sign the menu's (I think I've written on everyone lol). The meat samosas (off-menu) are great and I love the chicken tikka masala. Dr. Ahmed, the owner is a nice guy. BYOB is great. We always take a few bottles of wine with us; helps offset the cost of the meal.
(4)Katherine M.
I wish people would give Shalimar a break. It is good food. It might not be be as fancy as some of the other spots around town, but you will get a good meal. The Chicken Biryani is excellent. The Chicken Tikka Massala is another good choice. Of course they have a ton of vegetarian entrees. They also offer just about any kind of chicken, lamb, or shrimp dish you can think of (Korma, Curry, Vindaloo). Lots of good traditional beverages such as mango lassi. One good thing about this place is that they deliver to the the Green Hills or Belle Meade area. So on a cold, rainy night order in and enjoy!
(4)kimbe m.
When it first opened, in the location across from what was formerly Green Hills Grille, Shalimar was amazing - brilliant food, and totally different from anything Nashville had seen before. Admittedly, I wasn't happy that evey single thing on the menu was a la carte - everywhere else I'd lived, Indian food came with a chutney tray, raita, etc. But the food was, admittedly, amazing. I've tried to like Shalimar these past four or five years, truly I have. Worked to like the mango lhassi. Hoped for better tandoori chicken. Wished the tikka masala tasted like anything other than bland nothingness. Most of all, I've wanted the Saturday buffet to be worthwhile. Alas. How is it possibe that the tikka, tandoori, and vindaloo all taste exactly the same? or that the tandoori has no sliced onions, let alone lemon? or that, no matter how much money we spend, everything tastes bland bland bland? I can't imagine that the original Shalimar owner - who seemed to be simultaneously owner, chef, and waiter - would let it go this far... but I now go to Cuisine of India for my buffets, and for my tandoori. It's sad, because Shalimar is in my neighborhood, but the old grey mare ain't what she used to be. Too bad. In its prime, it was as fine an Indian restaurant as I've seen in the US!
(1)moore t.
Excellent food. Panek Paneer is my personal favorite. very affordable cuisine and very nice staff.
(5)Douglas B.
Service is slow but the food is usually good. The chicken tikka is excellent and the biryani is terrific. The breads are so-so. Over the years we have dined there the portions have gotten much smaller. ( An order of aloo gobi is about four bites!) A good, if not great, Indian restaurant.
(3)Peter M.
The service indeed was frustrating but I have to give it 4 stars because I really was happy to discover top-notch Indian food here in Nashville. And while the service was slow and confused, they all were at least really friendly about it. I would give it 5 stars if it was a little cheaper. This place really kicks it up a notch from places like Sitar and Taste of India, where corners are cut in terms of ingredients and flavors are compromised for the American palate. The spices they use at Shalimar are very fresh and expertly deployed.
(4)Aly S.
So I lived in India for 4 months and tend to be picky about my Indian food. Not to mention come from San Fran where for the most part all food is good. This place was not impressive. We went for the lunch 'special' which means you get rice and naan with your meal--big deal--it's still really over priced, especially for lunch. My chicken tikka masasala was decent (really, you can't go wrong on that one or you are in big trouble since it's pretty much a staple). But my vegetarian friend ordered saag paneer and it was nasty--waaay more cream than spinach (I expect saag paneer to be green, this was a creamy yellowy color--eew). They were also very stingy with the naan--one order is half a loaf--that's the whole fun of Indian food, sopping up the gravy with the naan. Sorry friends, Not ideal.
(2)Hannah N.
I can't properly express how much love I have for Shalimar. When I was still a Belmont student I would go here with a friend at least twice a month. The host always remembered/recognized us and was so friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, I haven't been here in at least a year since I live in Murfreesboro now and don't make it out to Nashville as much as I'd like. The naan is always a must. It was always fresh and hot. I ordered the chicken korma the first few times I went and loved it. However, after seeing my friend order the chicken tikka masala and gushing over it, I finally ordered that and was blown away. So. Freaking. Good. From then on it was all I would order there every time we went. You can order it mild, medium, or hot which is nice for those who can't handle a lot of spice. I always went for medium, which definitely has a substantial kick, but was still easy for me to eat. The prices are a bit high, but I would always leave with a to-go box full of left overs that was more than enough for a second meal. As you leave, they give you little sesame seed candies. My friend and I brought along another friend once to show them what they'd been missing, and he accidentally lost/dropped his candy. He told the host and asked for another. The host said, "Oh would you like more? Here!!" and handed my friend an enormous handful of the candy haha. I think he thought my friend had lied about losing his candy and was just wanting more. Sweet of him nonetheless lol.
(5)Hall W.
The good: The food here is decently good. I say this understanding that A: this is Nashville and B: there isn't exactly a huge Indian population here. I had the chicken Masala and naan. The chicken was slightly dry, but the masala was seasoned to perfection. The service was super quick, from order to food on the table was about 10 min or so. Service was okay - they were prompt, but weren't exactly the friendliest bunch. I liked how everything was super clean. However, they the decor here was just plain scary. It looked like a mausoleum of sorts. Basically eat here if you live here... or want to relive old memories... but if you are visiting and hoping for a world class Indian experience... uhhh go somewhere else!
(3)Tim G.
We love Indian food so much so we have it at least twice a week. We recently moved from Franklin and decided to find a new spot for Indian food. I have to say this i the worst Indian food I've had in the state of Tennessee. Service was very poor and the food was worse. Tandoori Chicken dry and without taste (ordered medium). Vegetarian Korma very bland, no real taste. Naan tasted just like the samples at Costco. We ended up taking most of the food home for the dogs.
(1)Chris A.
In all my years living here I have never eaten here. I was feeling adventurous and thought I'd stop in for lunch as I was in the neighborhood. The location is very dicey because of the insane lunchtime (and anytime) traffic on Hillsboro Pike. I managed to squeeze in and park in one of the three available parking spots up front. I was greeted by the friendly staff. The interior is extremely dark - coming in from the bright sun of mid day. The service was quick and attentive. I ordered the Lunch combo special which consisted of a beverage, a salad, and one entree, which came with naan, and basmati. The entree I chose was Chicken Tikka Masala, and basmati rice. I chose the "medium" heat option as I was unfamiliar if the hot selection would be too hot. The salad was plain but the green yogurt sauce made up for it! Delicious ! The order came out quick and the presentation was a nice touch. The taste was great. I am not one of those sticklers comparing this place to other Indian restaurants I've eaten. To me, the taste was good, and the price for a non buffet was reasonable. The lunch came out to be 15$ in total. They do have a lunch buffet but only on Saturdays apparently. Overall satisfied with the deliciousness.
(4)Todd B.
For the most part, the food at Shalimar is excellent. The vegetable samosa was one of the best I've had, and the lamb in red curry sauce with rice was outstanding. The rice seemed to be basanti or jasmine rice, and it had some raisins and seasoning that made it particularly delicious combined with the chicken or lamb dishes. It is a very basic Indian menu with all of the expected offerings but not much beyond. A couple of things disappoint here. First, the garlic naan bread tasted like it was pre-prepared, or perhaps they just smeared some red garlic sauce on Mr. Gatti's pizza bread sticks. Whatever the case, it was tasty but sure to disappoint those familiar with naan at other restaurants. Secondly, the service -- and thus the reason for my 3 stars. I hate to say it, but I have yet to go to one Indian restaurant where the service is attentive and friendly -- and this one is no exception. We were greeted, but then basically had to ask for everything else -- for our order to be taken, for the check, etc, and there was no interaction once items were delivered to the table. There were 10-15 minute waits between dishes on a very slow night for them. Shalimar is just fine -- but compared to other restaurants with the same cuisine, three stars is all I can give.
(3)Nancy T.
What a lovely dining experience Friday night!! The food is delightful and healthy!! My tandoori chicken was perfect and my husband had the lamb!! We love the BYOB .....brought an excellent Merlot and dark beer! Not even a cork fee. I love Shalimar!
(5)Lauren W.
When we go for Indian food, I normally only hit up two places: Woodlands and Bombay Palace. I'm very much ok with staying in a food rut when what I get is usually so good. But sometimes we decide to be adventurous and try a new place. Shalimar was a place I had never been to, and since it's located in Green Hills, it was convenient to have dinner there before seeing a movie at the Regal 16. The inside of Shalimar itself is fairly small. The building appears to have gone through many additions, making the dining rooms look haphazardly cobbled together. It appears that they added on to the front of the building at some point, but left the original store doors inside the restaurant- which is just totally bizarre. They have the hotel ballroom style banquet chairs that Indian restaurants seem to favor, and of which I am not a fan. But the large built in green cabinet in the back of the dining room is beautiful and worthy of admiration. We ordered garlic naan, which we thought would come with our meal, but it turns out that Shalimar's version is an appetizer served before the main dish. This naan was a lot more like pizza dough than traditional naan, and the fact that it was sliced into little strips and served with a dipping sauce didn't help the matter. I'll be honest, the garlic naan tasted good and the green-yogurt sauce for dipping was lovely, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It was more like an Italian garlic knot than anything, and very Americanized. For dinner we ordered lamb korma and saag paneer. I was pretty disappointed by the saag paneer as there was only four little bits of cheese in the whole dish. The cheese is the best part and I was sad to see it used so sparingly. The saag itself wasn't much to write home about. It was good, but I've had way better at other places. Perhaps one of the reasons I wasn't blown away was that there was so much cream sauce and not a lot of green in the dish. I would prefer a better sauce to spinach ratio. The lamb korma was the better dish. The lamb was very tender and melted in your mouth. Once again the sauce was good, but not amazing. The portion was also really tiny and after eating the korma and the saag paneer Steve and I were still hungry. Which brings me to the issue of price. For what we got at Shalimar, it seemed way more expensive than it needed to be. I thought it was just in my mind until I compared it with some of my favorite places. Lamb Korma Shalimar: $16.99 Bombay Palace: $13.95 Tamarind: $13.00 Sitar: $14.95 See, it wasn't just in my mind! For what you get there, the price just doesn't make sense. For meat and rice, $17 is absurd. I can buy a whole leg of lamb for less than that. Shalimar was a little cheaper for the saag paneer than the other places (by about $1) but still, I would pay more for better food and more cheese. For dessert we ordered gulab jaman; it was standard. The balls were a little dryer than I prefer normally, but it's always good to end the meal on a nice sweet note. I also have to mention the service, which I unfortunately found pretty poor. We were one of two couples in the restaurant at the time, and it took the waiter forever to come and take our order. While he did come and check in once while we were eating, we had to wait a while after we finished our food for anyone to come back in. During this time, the other couple had to walk to the front to ask for their check. Finally a waiter came and asked if we wanted dessert, which we ordered, but he did not clear the dirty entree plates from our table. We sat there, waiting, while looking at our empty, dirty dishes. The plates were cleared at the same time we got dessert, which is a big no-no. When we were finally ready to leave, we also had to go and ask for our check from the front desk. 'Cause we had a movie to catch! Unfortunately, I think I would have to recommend skipping Shalimar. They might be the only Indian restaurant in Green Hills (which might explain their crazy prices) but just a short drive away you can eat something better at Woodlands or Bombay Palace, that's sensibly priced and comes with better service. Shalimar, you best step up your game.
(2)Sarah P.
I grew up coming to Shalimar and since moved away and coming back after 7 years it still remains my favorite Indian food! Love the veggie lentil soup, veggie samosa, aloo gobi, chicken tikka masala.....yes it's a little more expensive but it's worth the price!
(5)Darby N.
I don't know what these other fools are talking about but this place is the best Indian food in the United States of A!
(5)Corey W.
I like this place but it does have a few short comings. Bottom line I will be coming back for dinner but probably not lunch. After eating here a few times it seems you get their best foot forward when ordering individual meals for dinner. The buffet is a pretty good deal but the quality just doesn't seem to measure up to their dinner performance and I would say the Indian buffet at Bombay palace across town is a better place for lunch. As for dinner however I think they do a great job. The people who are claiming their sauces are bland either burnt off their own taste buds prior to eating or caught the chef on the worst day of his life. As for their case of heartburn, if your weak digestive system can't handle Indian food why would you go to an Indian restaurant? Take some Tums and shut-up. Service is great. These guys are always extremely friendly and attentive. Try it for dinner sometime and I think you will enjoy the experience.
(3)Elizabeth R.
Chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh are delicious (albeit more expensive than other Indian restaurants in the city). Service is quick, fun, and excellent, and the BYOB is great.
(4)Nazanin R.
Food is always delicious although a bit overpriced! Also I don't get the point of bringing a tiny plate of salad with yogurt dressing as a complimentary appetizer! Quite honestly garden salad is not an "Indian" appetizer by any mean!!! Love their lunch combo special! Overall 4/5 just because of that salad! ( I don't get it) SMH
(4)S W.
The Best Indian food in Nashville!! So fresh tasting and not too buttery. The flavors are amazing. Great service and great on to go orders.
(5)Peter B.
This is 1 of the 2 Indian restaurants in the Nashville area that have a great-tasting dinner menu. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and vegetable samosas, and the service and food both were terrific. The servers were friendly and polite and our water was always full. I will return ASAP.
(4)Alicia M.
The people who wrote bad reviews are INSAAANE! Me and my buddy ate here tonight, his recommendation, and the food was DELICIOUS! He had the Chicken Tikki Masala and I had the Lamb Tiki Masala with extra naan. Fresh, the rice was good and fluffy, everything was seasoned very well. Daewood was my server tonight and I can't recall the other gentleman's name. The entire staff was friendly! The restaurant however is quite small but I didn't care. Thr service and food made up well! I will definitely return!
(4)Natalie L.
Food is WAY to SALTY. I don't want to pay to eat salt with my food. I want to add salt to taste TO my food. VERY EXPENSIVE! We wouldn't mind paying for a quality meal, but paying so much money for such low quality food is obscene. I have had better Indian food in fast food places. Service was curious. Well, better be courteous - to make up for the bad food served. Parking sucks. Will not go there again.
(2)Carey James B.
THE WORST INDIAN IN 100 MILES! dry chicken. I gave them another chance after staying away for about 5 years and yep, still sucks!
(1)Justin L.
THANK YOU SHALIMAR!!! If you haven't eaten at Shalimar you have to make it a priority...seriously best in the nation!!! I have been on a search for years all of the nation on someone who has better quality and taste of food and I am telling you it does not exist. SHALIMAR IS THE BEST BY A LONG SHOT!!! I highly recommend eating it any way you can either in the restaurant, to go, or even catered for a large party. My wife and kids love it. I had 30 executives in twin from all different walks of life and locations and everyone was blown away. Again make it a priority!
(5)Safian M.
I didn't find Food as tasty as it should be, I order the chicken tandoori that came with boiled white rice. Which I would tell from the taste were not fresh. I paid more than what I received.
(2)Mac G.
For years I have heard people rave about this place. I finally went recently... EPIC FOOD TRAGEDY!!! This place looked really cool inside. The people who run it were extremely friendly and accommodating. I dig the BYOB with no cork fee. But... - Hair in the food (they adjusted the bill) - Pathetic naan (frozen pizza microwaved???) - Doughy lifeless undercooked aloo paratha - Bland sauces in the saag and masala dishes - Worst post-Indian heartburn EVER... If you want great Indian food in Nashville, hit Woodlands or Tamarind.
(1)Deepak B.
Being Indian-One star because my son sat peacefully here. Buffet was expensive compared to others. The rice was crunchy, and selection was limited. The soup was too salty and the food on buffet was oily.
(1)Kevin And LaRae C.
Located in the Heart of Green Hills, Shalimar offers outstanding service and excellent food. During our latest visit, we ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Saag. Both were savory and left us feeling very satisfied. In addition to the inherently quaint ambiance, there is now live music on Sunday nights. Much to our surprise, the accordion and mandolin blend quite well and generate a festive sound. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Trilce M.
This place was my first Indian experience and they are the ones who introduced me to something amazing called Chicken Tikka Masala. I really like this place, the service is very good and the food is delicious. They are always answering all our questions about the food and they get to recommend new things for us. I used to work really close to this place which was not good because I spend too much time eating here but it was worth it. It is a little overpriced but it is green hills everything is overpriced in this area so you cant complain. I totally recommend this place and their tikka masala which I can eat it over and over again.
(5)Adhiraj B.
I'm an Indian-American male, and this is the worst Indian restaurant in Nashville. I ordered the malai kofta while I was there and instead of the creamy flavor I usually get, Shalimar gives you one that tastes like ketchup.
(1)Priya C.
Worst food and worst service. Price is too expensive and taste is awful. Food was bland(we ordered spicy). Only mango and yogurt lassi tastes good. Service was very slow. Will not be back.
(1)Annie A.
The food was delicious. I had a vegetarian paneer dish that was very tasty. I had it medium spiced and it was perfect. The service was fast and very friendly.
(4)Raz A.
Wow, the food is awesome, and great atmosphere. Prices are not that bad. My only complain if you want beer or wine, it is BYOB: disappointing to have that rule for such a nice place. Service is good and would go again. Nann and rice pudding during and after meal were great.
(4)Kelly B.
Great, friendly service - my friend and I received wonderful recommendations from our waiter, including the "Indian Pico de Gallo" The food was fresh and delicious, although when I ordered "Indian Hot" I expected a lot more kick.
(4)Morgan P.
I'm not Indian. I've never been to India. I don't know the first thing about Indian food. All I know is that Shalimar satisfies my palate just fine. Their food is good. Their sauces are flavorful and perfectly spiced. The meat is tender and juicy. I'm a big baby when it comes to spicy food so we don't order very hot dishes and the flavor is still wonderful. Their rice has raisins and other chunkums of goodness mixed into it that compliment the dishes nicely. We usually order a couple of dishes and split them. Last time we visited we ordered two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes and we had leftovers. They are BYOB but do not have a corking fee. BYOB can be a pain but I love it in this situation because they are so close to Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. The wine shop is off of Abbot Martin Road, right across from the Nordstrom's entrance of the mall. If aren't sure what to look for ask for a slightly sweet, white wine, it will offset the spiciness. Going here will ensure that you get a good bottle of wine to complement your delicious meal at less than what a restaurant would normally charge- winning!
(4)Tristan T.
For the price(too expensive for what you get) and taste fall far from their competitors. We went on Friday night and was expecting hot (of what we ordered) chicken curry and all we got was watered down tomato soup not spicey...and $14.99 for six small pieces of chicken in a cereal bowl. There are much better Indian Restaurants out there that will get more bang for your buck and BETTER taste too. This place really need to visit the Patal Brothers spice rack.
(1)Joe F.
Chicken Tikka Masala is great! Small place, almost too quite during lunch hours on a Friday so you can hear other peoples conversations and vice versa, but otherwise, a nice place with fast service.
(4)JLY J.
I am Indian and am a foodie who loves to cook so I know Indian food. This is the worst place for Indian food in Nashville. The rice was undercooked, the selection on the buffet was very limited (only one chicken and the rest very oily tasteless vegetarian dishes). The bread was not even an Indian bread but whole wheat pita bread. I came here years ago and it was bad then, I was hoping they had improved but I was sadly disappointed. It's very expensive and not even 10% the quality of the other Indian buffets in Nashville. I will never return again.
(1)Morgan B.
My most favorite Indian restaurant I've ever been to - and I tend to go to Indian restaurants a lot. I live in L.A. now and I am SUFFERING bc the Indian food here is lame when I was used to Shalimar's Chicken Tikka Masala. The India chai tea is bliss. The people who run the place are wonderful - so attentive and thankful that you're there. I have never been disappointed once. You should try it! It's reasonably priced and it's delicious!
(5)Gabe F.
Saturday lunch buffet. Small selection, food is cold by the time it reaches the table, chicken was dry, naan was gross, and it was pretty pricey (about 50% higher than their competitors in Nashville). The rooms were very dark but the staff was friendly. I've made better indian food at home from recipes online. I won't be eating here again.
(2)Stephen G.
My favorite Indian restaurant in Nashville, hands down. The staff here is always very friendly and fast. The food is awesome. My favorite is the Lamb Saag. Think curried lamb with spinach. Their chicken tikka masala is also a step above the rest. BYOB! No corking fee. Any questions? Parking is very limited but they have a small lot behind the restaurant as well. If you haven't stopped in Shalimar yet, you're missing out.
(4)Jesse S.
Came for the lunch buffet - not great. Tikka has no depth of flavor, lentils were undercooked, tandoori chicken didn't taste like it came from a tandoor. Drive the extra 2 miles to go to Woodland, which is quite good even for non-vegetarian diners.
(2)Sara S.
I've gotten really into Indian food lately and this place does not disappoint. The flavors are rich, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is nice, but not pretentious. I love hot food, so I usually order the hottest I can get and am always pleased with my decision. The portions are quite large here, so I always have enough for lunch the next day- which is great! I ordered the Tikka Masala (no idea if that's the correct spelling) and it was absolutely delicious. We shared some okra and all had hot chai tea. So yummy!! Definitely check them out when you're in Green Hills.
(4)Carolyn M.
We went on a Saturday during the buffet. It was a big lunch date for me and a 3 year old. My tot loved the naan, rice, and cheesy spinach. Also, the staff of dozens that fawned all over her (and didnt charge for her bird lunch). I loved the lentil soup, chicken masala, and that cilantro dressing. And the super sweet and friendly staff. It's the best Indian I've had in Nashville.
(4)Heather H.
Enthusiastic service is about all I can say that was positive. The buffet is small, and the dinner menu overpriced. My malai kofta was exactly as spicy as I wanted it, but it was also salty as hell and not at all creamy. Husband's chana masala was good, but watery. Bombay Palace has ruined me for any other Indian restaurant. :/
(2)Buckley M.
We were the only three people in the restaurant & service was painfully slow - servers were non-existent. Food was bland - even the spicy version of my dish was watery & tasteless. My companions felt the same with their selections. Maybe they were once good but I'll give this a pass. Icing on the proverbial cake was watching one of the kitchen staff exit the restroom without hand washing - hoisting up his pants. EW!
(1)Elizabeth S.
I visited Shalimar last night for the second time and was very impressed with the food & the service. I'm one of those people who like Indian food "ok" but after eating there last night I'm already craving their Chicken Korma, which by the way I didn't order but stole multiple bites from others at the table that did...smart people. I was equally pleased with my selection of the chicken jalfrezi and garlic naan to start. Aside from the food, the staff did an excellent job of serving our large party of eleven. Our waiter was quick to give recommendations and my water glass was constantly refilled (is this weird to note...perhaps...but the restaurant is BYOW so let's just say I was doing a fine job of pouring that on my own)..... Also, separating checks was no problem. While the food may be a bit more expensive than I would like to pay on a regular basis, I think it is absolutely worth it. Also, the restaurant provides free delivery to the Green Hills/Belmont/Belle Meade area in case you get a sudden craving for Chicken Tikka Masala but can't drag yourself off your couch.
(4)Courtney C.
The service was great and the food is fine, but it is considerably more expensive than the other Indian restaurants in Nashville, while the portions are smaller. I am assuming that this has something to do with location (the rent might be higher in Green Hills area). The parking lot in front is very small. We went with a groupon, which excluded the lunch specials. The lunch specials seem to be a good price, but I'm not sure if the portions are small. In sum, great service, good food, small portions for price.
(3)Krash T.
I began going to Shalimar when I started visiting Nashville. They had just opened, in a tiny place where Rajij's (sp?) smoke shop is now. The food was pricey, but fantastic - everything cooked to order, great attention to detail. And if they were the first Indian restaurant I'd seen that didn't provide any condiments free with the meal, that was okay, because all the chutneys were homemade, and delicious. They moved to a larger location a few years back, and for a while they were still excellent. But I would not recommend them any longer. My wife and I tried them three times over the past year, each time hoping for the best, and each time it was terrible. AND when I presented a coupon at one of the visits, I was told it couldn't be honored on that date, even though the coupon said nothing about it. AND on another visit we were "accidentally" overcharged by almost 10%. Outside of the food, which is now about as bland as Applebee's, the consistent mistakes with coupons, checks, and orders (on one visit we suddenly had ordered more food than we had ordered - we thought they were being nice and giving us an extra side, until the bill came) is very disturbing.
(1)Nathan K.
Legit. They cater. (I'm giving them a 4 instead of a 3 because the food was probably a 3.75 to 3.8 and it was a probably a 200+ person affair). My limited experience is that Sitar which is located off West End near Vanderbilt is better.
(4)Robert T.
If you're deciding which Indian place to eat dinner, I would recommend Tamarind or Bombay Palace. Shalimar is a distant third. The waiter was very pushy and would not accept the idea that we would need more than two entrees to share (two of us who are big eaters, especially when it comes to Indian food) and gave us one order of naan to start when we asked for two. We ended up ordering the second order after we devoured the first. In sum, the service was poor. The food seemed half-hearted. It's not that it was necessarily bad or offensive in its quality, but I just expect so much more from an Indian restaurant. Especially when we have been to two other restaurants nearby that I feel are superior in quality.
(2)Art Q.
Tandoori Chicken. It's that reddish-orange pile of chicken wings at the end of the buffet most places - but not here. At Shalimar, it's the star of the show, and there can be no substitute. Seeing it at any other Indian restaurant just makes me dream of the next time I can get to Shalimar. It's a little pricey, so it's more of a treat than a regular destination, but the food is worth it and the service is as friendly as it gets.
(5)Alice H.
I rarely write a review based off of a first experience, but fell as though I need to warn others about my experience last night. Craving some spicy indian, I had heard that Shalimar was excellent and knew that they delivered for free. I decided to go with the place, even though it was pricier than other indian places around, because the food was supposed to be so tasty. So, I ordered some staples: saag paneer, curry chicken, garlic naan and a side of raita (because i like it with my hot curry). $31 (+ delivery tip). I still cannot believe how much they ripped me off. It was only 1 cup of the chicken and 1 cup of the saag paneer. They brought me a half-pint of each of my orders. I cannot believe that 10 peices of small-diced chicken was $14.99! I felt terrible for my poor friend that was splitting the meal with me. The most bizzare aspect of the tiny, tiny portions (besides the absurd price) was that they gave me MORE of my side of raita ($2.99) than the acutal dinner I had ordered: 1 cup in a half-pint container AND two 2 oz. ramakins. And then there was the naan which actually was pizza dough. I had seen other's posts about it, but thought it must have been a bad night and had been assured that the food was good. No- it is pizza dough, soaked in grease and covered with random spices. Is there someone in the kitchen that doesn't understand how much food to put into a to-go container? I'm truly flabergasted at paying $31 for 1c. (8oz) chopped chicken, 1c. (8 oz) saag paneer, 12 oz's of side sauce and a half of a personal pan pizza dough. I simply do not understand what kind of business this is, or who thinks that they can charge $15 dollars for 8 oz. of chicken? Also, nothing is very spicy (we ordered both hot and were disappointed), but that is the least of my concern. Definitely one-star. I will not be going back.
(1)Grant W.
The food is pretty good here, but very pricey. However the the thing I would like to focus my review on here is the tea... I had about a 30 minute conversation with a guy who worked there about their chai tea... See I had to try it after hearing that Robert Plant claimed it was the best chai tea he has ever had. Now... When someone like Robert Plant says that... A guy who has traveled the world many times over... I am going to give it a listen. Especially when the restaurant happened to be a 5 minute walk from my house at the time. So my friend Brien and I went there specifically for the Chai Tea... We asked the guy about the tea and he explained that they took great pride in it. They source the tea leaves from a remote part of india and have them specifically shipped to them. Also the process of making it requires specific temperatures and precise timing. It takes close to 20 minutes to make a batch of it. The tea is truly delicious and is the best chai I have ever had. It comes unsweetened so you can sweeten it to taste. We also asked him about the Robert Plant rumors and he said it was true. Robert plant once paid 100 dollars for them to fill up his thermos with the tea on a couple of occasions. This is pretty generous as it only costs a few dollars for a cup with free refills. The only food I have tried here was the chicken marsala and it was delicious... VERY spicy, but I love spicy food. My only complaint is that the restaurant has little parking, is small, and very pricey.
(4)Marilee S.
This is my second visit. First visit wasn't so good. Ordered the buffet and the food tasted a little funky. Funky and buffet don't sit well in anyone's stomach. Yesterday, I went back for lunch and ordered Chicken Tikka Masala (hot and spicy, not mild) off the menu. Came with a choice of beverages, basmati rice, a little salad and naan bread for $12.99 each. Not bad. Everything was tasty and the restaurant was clean, although seriously dated. Service was decent. Would I go back? Yes, if I was craving Indian food and in Green Hills? Would I drive past Bombay Palace or another better Indian restaurant to go here, probably not.
(3)Robin W.
I've been here quite a few times and have had fairly pleasant experiences. I'm a vegetarian, so my meals have been limited to sag paneer, vegetable korma, and another veggie dish the name of which I can't recall. I will agree with some of the other reviews that the naan isn't the best. I have a Nepalese friend who makes the best naan I've ever tasted, so maybe I'm spoiled. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant if you like Indian food, but you're not an Indian food snob. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is comfortable, albeit a bit close.
(4)Ilene E.
Shalimar has very authentic food. Their chicken tikka masala was excellent. My only criticism is that it could be a little spicier if you are into spicey food. Otherwise it's fresh and fabulous. I will be back!
(5)Peter C.
Respectable find! Tangy curry chicken and SUCCULENT lamb korma, all with basmati rice-a-plenty. Sure beats the Whole Foods meal we were planning to have. Intimate setting with great service. Will be back for sure.
(5)Gordon M.
I need and crave Indian food alot, being British and having travelled in India. I have been to Shalimar before when I have been in Nashville on business, and know it is not the best, or a little bit far from the best, but when in Nashville...............it is probably the best you can get. But last night really took the piss. I ordered Lamb Biryani (nowhere near authentic, but didn't taste too bad, as just random Indian food). But what really pissed me off, was the naan. I am almost 100% sure that they have a big stack of pizza bases, and just toss them under the grill for a few minutes. It was circular, looked like a pizza base, and tasted like a pizza base (and I think they charged $2.99 or $3.99 for it). They even have the F$#%&*$ ordacity to slice it up like a pizza pie. I have never seen that before in an Indian restaurant. It was plain nasty. It really was a pizza base. Learn how to make some proper naans. It is just rude and offensive to offer that excuse for a naan. The owners should drive to Atlanta, go anywhere in Decatur, perhaps, Tava grill in Cherians to see what a proper naan should look like!
(1)Kim U.
My favorite non-vegetarian Indian restaurant in Nashville! To me, the only place in town that comes close to the quality of Shalimar is Woodlands. Since Woodlands is vegetarian-only, I come to Shalimar when I want meat-based Indian dishes. I usually order chicken tikka masala here, and it's never failed me. The rice they serve with all of the dishes is nicely seasoned, with some interesting add-ins (caramelized onions, raisins). Their plain naan is quite tasty, especially good for dipping up sauces. We've also tried several of the lamb dishes (all tasty), the samosas (probably the best in town), and other chicken dishes. Their mango lassi is also really good. The service, as several people have pointed out, can be on the slow side. I think they generally have a "hands off" approach - if you need something, you may need to flag a waiter down, but it's also so nice not to have a waiter hovering over you during your whole meal. My main service criteria in Indian restaurants is if they keep my water glass full - and they definitely do here. This isn't a fast food place, don't come here if you want to be in and out in 30 minutes. Also, takeout is always an option here and their delivery area is fairly wide. I'm surprised by the people complaining about portion sizes being too small. I've never ever left here hungry and, in fact, usually have leftovers to take home or split my entree with someone else. It's not huge portions of food, but it's more than enough and not a wasteful amount of food like many of the other restaurants in this area. Most importantly, it's quality food - worth every penny. This is one of very few restaurants in Green Hills that I would bother driving across town to get to. NOTE: in addition to the few parking spots in front (which can be a bear to get into if traffic is busy), there is a parking lot out back. Turn right on the road immediately after Shalimar & then look for the lot entrance to the right.
(5)Caitlin D.
I have only been here once, and tried the buffet. It was great! It wasn't a huge selection, but every dish was fantastic. The mango chutney drizzles deliciously on fried balls that are similar to donuts (dont know the proper name), the chickpeas and potatoes were perfect, there was chicken and eggplant and lentil soup..... mmmmmmm. The chai was a nice compliment to my feast. I will definitely be back to try the menu.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Probably the most expensive "indian" restaurant in Nashville, but my friends' favorite. We meet there regularly to catch up. You can sign the menu's (I think I've written on everyone lol). The meat samosas (off-menu) are great and I love the chicken tikka masala. Dr. Ahmed, the owner is a nice guy. BYOB is great. We always take a few bottles of wine with us; helps offset the cost of the meal.
(4)Katherine M.
I wish people would give Shalimar a break. It is good food. It might not be be as fancy as some of the other spots around town, but you will get a good meal. The Chicken Biryani is excellent. The Chicken Tikka Massala is another good choice. Of course they have a ton of vegetarian entrees. They also offer just about any kind of chicken, lamb, or shrimp dish you can think of (Korma, Curry, Vindaloo). Lots of good traditional beverages such as mango lassi. One good thing about this place is that they deliver to the the Green Hills or Belle Meade area. So on a cold, rainy night order in and enjoy!
(4)Aly S.
So I lived in India for 4 months and tend to be picky about my Indian food. Not to mention come from San Fran where for the most part all food is good. This place was not impressive. We went for the lunch 'special' which means you get rice and naan with your meal--big deal--it's still really over priced, especially for lunch. My chicken tikka masasala was decent (really, you can't go wrong on that one or you are in big trouble since it's pretty much a staple). But my vegetarian friend ordered saag paneer and it was nasty--waaay more cream than spinach (I expect saag paneer to be green, this was a creamy yellowy color--eew). They were also very stingy with the naan--one order is half a loaf--that's the whole fun of Indian food, sopping up the gravy with the naan. Sorry friends, Not ideal.
(2)Declan G.
Shalimar has some of the best Indian food in Nashville. Both of the dishes I tried were distinctly, expertly spiced, the mint yogurt was fresh and flavorful, and the rice was perfectly cooked, garnished with peas, carrots and fried onions. On the mneu, the vegetarian entrees didn't have descriptions, and since we weren't able to get an intelligible explanation from the waiter (his English was fairly limited), we went with two "Side Dishes" we were familiar with - lentils and saag paneer. Along with rice and yogurt, this was plenty of food for the two of us. The lentils were nice and spicy (we ordered medium-hot), and the saag paneer was delicately spiced, with delicious strips of chewy goat cheese. If you go to Shalimar, be prepared for an unusual experience in terms of service. The waiter was really nice, and did fine with the basic customer-server dialogue. But you may have some trouble getting your questions answered, or special specifications understood. The woman who seated us and brought us the check talked like a native English speaker, so maybe she'd be able to help out. I thought the atmosphere at Shalimar was a little awkward, a strange mix of formal and rustic. But I actually kind of enjoyed Shalimar's quirks, and the food is so tasty that I'm sure I'll be back. They also offer free delivery to most areas of the city.
(4)Kiran G.
It is located in very commercial location, close to green hills mall. Very pricey to start with. Decent food but the atmosphere is very dark and congested. There are better restaurants than this but if u are in the area and want a decent food, this is the place for u. Parking is difficult here but ok.
(3)Paul H.
We had a really good dinner at Shalimar last weekend, and I would have given it more stars were it not for the level of service that we received. I would definitely avoid Shalimar if you're looking for a quick meal - give yourself at least an hour. But, the confusion/speed of the servers was more than made up for by the quality of the food. I ordered the Lamb Biryani, which while small in the quantity of lamb provided, was quite tasty. It was delicately seasoned - they offered it hot or medium (I went with medium) - and as such, I could really pick up a lot of the flavors in the spice blends. My partner had the chicken Vindaloo, which was equally as good. The spinach and cheese side dish didn't last too long either. All in all, a solid meal that's not too expensive.
(4)sharad v.
let me cut to the chase, the food is downright bad. I am an Indian and know Indian food and preparation. this place is overpriced for it's portions and service and my chicken masala gravy was too thin and too sour. saag chicken had very little saag in it and looked yellow!!! since there were only whites in this restaurant (no Indian would try this place twice), I should have guessed better.
(1)shipps S.
Being an Indian, and having tried so many different Indian restaurants , I would say that this is an OK ( .....if I stretch it) restaurant. People there are nice which makes it a nice place. But they can really work on their food!!!
(2)Peter M.
The service indeed was frustrating but I have to give it 4 stars because I really was happy to discover top-notch Indian food here in Nashville. And while the service was slow and confused, they all were at least really friendly about it. I would give it 5 stars if it was a little cheaper. This place really kicks it up a notch from places like Sitar and Taste of India, where corners are cut in terms of ingredients and flavors are compromised for the American palate. The spices they use at Shalimar are very fresh and expertly deployed.
(4)kimbe m.
When it first opened, in the location across from what was formerly Green Hills Grille, Shalimar was amazing - brilliant food, and totally different from anything Nashville had seen before. Admittedly, I wasn't happy that evey single thing on the menu was a la carte - everywhere else I'd lived, Indian food came with a chutney tray, raita, etc. But the food was, admittedly, amazing. I've tried to like Shalimar these past four or five years, truly I have. Worked to like the mango lhassi. Hoped for better tandoori chicken. Wished the tikka masala tasted like anything other than bland nothingness. Most of all, I've wanted the Saturday buffet to be worthwhile. Alas. How is it possibe that the tikka, tandoori, and vindaloo all taste exactly the same? or that the tandoori has no sliced onions, let alone lemon? or that, no matter how much money we spend, everything tastes bland bland bland? I can't imagine that the original Shalimar owner - who seemed to be simultaneously owner, chef, and waiter - would let it go this far... but I now go to Cuisine of India for my buffets, and for my tandoori. It's sad, because Shalimar is in my neighborhood, but the old grey mare ain't what she used to be. Too bad. In its prime, it was as fine an Indian restaurant as I've seen in the US!
(1)moore t.
Excellent food. Panek Paneer is my personal favorite. very affordable cuisine and very nice staff.
(5)Douglas B.
Service is slow but the food is usually good. The chicken tikka is excellent and the biryani is terrific. The breads are so-so. Over the years we have dined there the portions have gotten much smaller. ( An order of aloo gobi is about four bites!) A good, if not great, Indian restaurant.
(3)Stephanie R.
Way overpriced bad renditions of Indian food. Never trust "ethnic" food at a green hills location.
(1)Mazen H.
I come to Nashville frequently on business and I was craving some indian food, and being in the neighborhood thought I'd check out shalimar. I've been to many Indian restaurants in my travels around the country and world, and I definately have my preferences for what type of Indian food I prefer. The menu options seemed fairly limited, but it's not about the options here it's about the flavors, and here is where the disappointment began. The vegetable samosas were adequate, but the sauce was a bizarre mix of a yogurt like mint chutney and tamarind chutney, different, but not bad. The meal itself was the low point. As noted in other reviews the spicy was not so spicy, and the two vegetarian sides I ordered were again adequate. The dal was the better if the two with the vindaloo being very watery and very disappointing. The flavors weren't bad, just not at all what I've come to expect. Now as to what earns the one star rating was the naan. This bread can not be called naan. Naan is prepared in a special clay oven and is flaky and soft. This product was (quoting another review) pizza dough with bizarre spices. This bread product was nothing resembling any naan I have ever had, even given the variation in the different dishes in different restaurants, there has always been a consistency in what is presented as naan. This is not it. I agree with some of the other reviews that for the meal given it is pricey. I will not be back
(1)Esther S.
The atmosphere is quaint and romantic. It's BYOB and they do not serve alcohol here so make sure you bring along your favorite bottle of wine if you intend on drinking - i wish we knew that! The food is pretty tasty and since we're huge fans of spicy food, the level of hotness was to our liking. Thier garlic naan bread is unique, more bready like cheese bread but really flavourful with the sauce. The curry dish was great but the chicken marsala was a tad boring with not much going on except the thin sauce and chicken. The portions are fair, with only one serving of samosa instead of 2.
(3)John D.
Favorite indian food in town. Always a treat for Date Night. The people are super friendly and make the experience worth while (*****).
(4)Raz A.
Wow, the food is awesome, and great atmosphere. Prices are not that bad. My only complain if you want beer or wine, it is BYOB: disappointing to have that rule for such a nice place. Service is good and would go again. Nann and rice pudding during and after meal were great.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I visited Shalimar last night for the second time and was very impressed with the food & the service. I'm one of those people who like Indian food "ok" but after eating there last night I'm already craving their Chicken Korma, which by the way I didn't order but stole multiple bites from others at the table that did...smart people. I was equally pleased with my selection of the chicken jalfrezi and garlic naan to start. Aside from the food, the staff did an excellent job of serving our large party of eleven. Our waiter was quick to give recommendations and my water glass was constantly refilled (is this weird to note...perhaps...but the restaurant is BYOW so let's just say I was doing a fine job of pouring that on my own)..... Also, separating checks was no problem. While the food may be a bit more expensive than I would like to pay on a regular basis, I think it is absolutely worth it. Also, the restaurant provides free delivery to the Green Hills/Belmont/Belle Meade area in case you get a sudden craving for Chicken Tikka Masala but can't drag yourself off your couch.
(4)Courtney C.
The service was great and the food is fine, but it is considerably more expensive than the other Indian restaurants in Nashville, while the portions are smaller. I am assuming that this has something to do with location (the rent might be higher in Green Hills area). The parking lot in front is very small. We went with a groupon, which excluded the lunch specials. The lunch specials seem to be a good price, but I'm not sure if the portions are small. In sum, great service, good food, small portions for price.
(3)Krash T.
I began going to Shalimar when I started visiting Nashville. They had just opened, in a tiny place where Rajij's (sp?) smoke shop is now. The food was pricey, but fantastic - everything cooked to order, great attention to detail. And if they were the first Indian restaurant I'd seen that didn't provide any condiments free with the meal, that was okay, because all the chutneys were homemade, and delicious. They moved to a larger location a few years back, and for a while they were still excellent. But I would not recommend them any longer. My wife and I tried them three times over the past year, each time hoping for the best, and each time it was terrible. AND when I presented a coupon at one of the visits, I was told it couldn't be honored on that date, even though the coupon said nothing about it. AND on another visit we were "accidentally" overcharged by almost 10%. Outside of the food, which is now about as bland as Applebee's, the consistent mistakes with coupons, checks, and orders (on one visit we suddenly had ordered more food than we had ordered - we thought they were being nice and giving us an extra side, until the bill came) is very disturbing.
(1)Todd B.
For the most part, the food at Shalimar is excellent. The vegetable samosa was one of the best I've had, and the lamb in red curry sauce with rice was outstanding. The rice seemed to be basanti or jasmine rice, and it had some raisins and seasoning that made it particularly delicious combined with the chicken or lamb dishes. It is a very basic Indian menu with all of the expected offerings but not much beyond. A couple of things disappoint here. First, the garlic naan bread tasted like it was pre-prepared, or perhaps they just smeared some red garlic sauce on Mr. Gatti's pizza bread sticks. Whatever the case, it was tasty but sure to disappoint those familiar with naan at other restaurants. Secondly, the service -- and thus the reason for my 3 stars. I hate to say it, but I have yet to go to one Indian restaurant where the service is attentive and friendly -- and this one is no exception. We were greeted, but then basically had to ask for everything else -- for our order to be taken, for the check, etc, and there was no interaction once items were delivered to the table. There were 10-15 minute waits between dishes on a very slow night for them. Shalimar is just fine -- but compared to other restaurants with the same cuisine, three stars is all I can give.
(3)Nancy T.
What a lovely dining experience Friday night!! The food is delightful and healthy!! My tandoori chicken was perfect and my husband had the lamb!! We love the BYOB .....brought an excellent Merlot and dark beer! Not even a cork fee. I love Shalimar!
(5)Lauren W.
When we go for Indian food, I normally only hit up two places: Woodlands and Bombay Palace. I'm very much ok with staying in a food rut when what I get is usually so good. But sometimes we decide to be adventurous and try a new place. Shalimar was a place I had never been to, and since it's located in Green Hills, it was convenient to have dinner there before seeing a movie at the Regal 16. The inside of Shalimar itself is fairly small. The building appears to have gone through many additions, making the dining rooms look haphazardly cobbled together. It appears that they added on to the front of the building at some point, but left the original store doors inside the restaurant- which is just totally bizarre. They have the hotel ballroom style banquet chairs that Indian restaurants seem to favor, and of which I am not a fan. But the large built in green cabinet in the back of the dining room is beautiful and worthy of admiration. We ordered garlic naan, which we thought would come with our meal, but it turns out that Shalimar's version is an appetizer served before the main dish. This naan was a lot more like pizza dough than traditional naan, and the fact that it was sliced into little strips and served with a dipping sauce didn't help the matter. I'll be honest, the garlic naan tasted good and the green-yogurt sauce for dipping was lovely, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It was more like an Italian garlic knot than anything, and very Americanized. For dinner we ordered lamb korma and saag paneer. I was pretty disappointed by the saag paneer as there was only four little bits of cheese in the whole dish. The cheese is the best part and I was sad to see it used so sparingly. The saag itself wasn't much to write home about. It was good, but I've had way better at other places. Perhaps one of the reasons I wasn't blown away was that there was so much cream sauce and not a lot of green in the dish. I would prefer a better sauce to spinach ratio. The lamb korma was the better dish. The lamb was very tender and melted in your mouth. Once again the sauce was good, but not amazing. The portion was also really tiny and after eating the korma and the saag paneer Steve and I were still hungry. Which brings me to the issue of price. For what we got at Shalimar, it seemed way more expensive than it needed to be. I thought it was just in my mind until I compared it with some of my favorite places. Lamb Korma Shalimar: $16.99 Bombay Palace: $13.95 Tamarind: $13.00 Sitar: $14.95 See, it wasn't just in my mind! For what you get there, the price just doesn't make sense. For meat and rice, $17 is absurd. I can buy a whole leg of lamb for less than that. Shalimar was a little cheaper for the saag paneer than the other places (by about $1) but still, I would pay more for better food and more cheese. For dessert we ordered gulab jaman; it was standard. The balls were a little dryer than I prefer normally, but it's always good to end the meal on a nice sweet note. I also have to mention the service, which I unfortunately found pretty poor. We were one of two couples in the restaurant at the time, and it took the waiter forever to come and take our order. While he did come and check in once while we were eating, we had to wait a while after we finished our food for anyone to come back in. During this time, the other couple had to walk to the front to ask for their check. Finally a waiter came and asked if we wanted dessert, which we ordered, but he did not clear the dirty entree plates from our table. We sat there, waiting, while looking at our empty, dirty dishes. The plates were cleared at the same time we got dessert, which is a big no-no. When we were finally ready to leave, we also had to go and ask for our check from the front desk. 'Cause we had a movie to catch! Unfortunately, I think I would have to recommend skipping Shalimar. They might be the only Indian restaurant in Green Hills (which might explain their crazy prices) but just a short drive away you can eat something better at Woodlands or Bombay Palace, that's sensibly priced and comes with better service. Shalimar, you best step up your game.
(2)Sarah P.
I grew up coming to Shalimar and since moved away and coming back after 7 years it still remains my favorite Indian food! Love the veggie lentil soup, veggie samosa, aloo gobi, chicken tikka masala.....yes it's a little more expensive but it's worth the price!
(5)Darby N.
I don't know what these other fools are talking about but this place is the best Indian food in the United States of A!
(5)Corey W.
I like this place but it does have a few short comings. Bottom line I will be coming back for dinner but probably not lunch. After eating here a few times it seems you get their best foot forward when ordering individual meals for dinner. The buffet is a pretty good deal but the quality just doesn't seem to measure up to their dinner performance and I would say the Indian buffet at Bombay palace across town is a better place for lunch. As for dinner however I think they do a great job. The people who are claiming their sauces are bland either burnt off their own taste buds prior to eating or caught the chef on the worst day of his life. As for their case of heartburn, if your weak digestive system can't handle Indian food why would you go to an Indian restaurant? Take some Tums and shut-up. Service is great. These guys are always extremely friendly and attentive. Try it for dinner sometime and I think you will enjoy the experience.
(3)Elizabeth R.
Chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh are delicious (albeit more expensive than other Indian restaurants in the city). Service is quick, fun, and excellent, and the BYOB is great.
(4)Hannah N.
I can't properly express how much love I have for Shalimar. When I was still a Belmont student I would go here with a friend at least twice a month. The host always remembered/recognized us and was so friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, I haven't been here in at least a year since I live in Murfreesboro now and don't make it out to Nashville as much as I'd like. The naan is always a must. It was always fresh and hot. I ordered the chicken korma the first few times I went and loved it. However, after seeing my friend order the chicken tikka masala and gushing over it, I finally ordered that and was blown away. So. Freaking. Good. From then on it was all I would order there every time we went. You can order it mild, medium, or hot which is nice for those who can't handle a lot of spice. I always went for medium, which definitely has a substantial kick, but was still easy for me to eat. The prices are a bit high, but I would always leave with a to-go box full of left overs that was more than enough for a second meal. As you leave, they give you little sesame seed candies. My friend and I brought along another friend once to show them what they'd been missing, and he accidentally lost/dropped his candy. He told the host and asked for another. The host said, "Oh would you like more? Here!!" and handed my friend an enormous handful of the candy haha. I think he thought my friend had lied about losing his candy and was just wanting more. Sweet of him nonetheless lol.
(5)Hall W.
The good: The food here is decently good. I say this understanding that A: this is Nashville and B: there isn't exactly a huge Indian population here. I had the chicken Masala and naan. The chicken was slightly dry, but the masala was seasoned to perfection. The service was super quick, from order to food on the table was about 10 min or so. Service was okay - they were prompt, but weren't exactly the friendliest bunch. I liked how everything was super clean. However, they the decor here was just plain scary. It looked like a mausoleum of sorts. Basically eat here if you live here... or want to relive old memories... but if you are visiting and hoping for a world class Indian experience... uhhh go somewhere else!
(3)Tim G.
We love Indian food so much so we have it at least twice a week. We recently moved from Franklin and decided to find a new spot for Indian food. I have to say this i the worst Indian food I've had in the state of Tennessee. Service was very poor and the food was worse. Tandoori Chicken dry and without taste (ordered medium). Vegetarian Korma very bland, no real taste. Naan tasted just like the samples at Costco. We ended up taking most of the food home for the dogs.
(1)Justin L.
THANK YOU SHALIMAR!!! If you haven't eaten at Shalimar you have to make it a priority...seriously best in the nation!!! I have been on a search for years all of the nation on someone who has better quality and taste of food and I am telling you it does not exist. SHALIMAR IS THE BEST BY A LONG SHOT!!! I highly recommend eating it any way you can either in the restaurant, to go, or even catered for a large party. My wife and kids love it. I had 30 executives in twin from all different walks of life and locations and everyone was blown away. Again make it a priority!
(5)Chris A.
In all my years living here I have never eaten here. I was feeling adventurous and thought I'd stop in for lunch as I was in the neighborhood. The location is very dicey because of the insane lunchtime (and anytime) traffic on Hillsboro Pike. I managed to squeeze in and park in one of the three available parking spots up front. I was greeted by the friendly staff. The interior is extremely dark - coming in from the bright sun of mid day. The service was quick and attentive. I ordered the Lunch combo special which consisted of a beverage, a salad, and one entree, which came with naan, and basmati. The entree I chose was Chicken Tikka Masala, and basmati rice. I chose the "medium" heat option as I was unfamiliar if the hot selection would be too hot. The salad was plain but the green yogurt sauce made up for it! Delicious ! The order came out quick and the presentation was a nice touch. The taste was great. I am not one of those sticklers comparing this place to other Indian restaurants I've eaten. To me, the taste was good, and the price for a non buffet was reasonable. The lunch came out to be 15$ in total. They do have a lunch buffet but only on Saturdays apparently. Overall satisfied with the deliciousness.
(4)Nazanin R.
Food is always delicious although a bit overpriced! Also I don't get the point of bringing a tiny plate of salad with yogurt dressing as a complimentary appetizer! Quite honestly garden salad is not an "Indian" appetizer by any mean!!! Love their lunch combo special! Overall 4/5 just because of that salad! ( I don't get it) SMH
(4)S W.
The Best Indian food in Nashville!! So fresh tasting and not too buttery. The flavors are amazing. Great service and great on to go orders.
(5)Peter B.
This is 1 of the 2 Indian restaurants in the Nashville area that have a great-tasting dinner menu. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and vegetable samosas, and the service and food both were terrific. The servers were friendly and polite and our water was always full. I will return ASAP.
(4)Alicia M.
The people who wrote bad reviews are INSAAANE! Me and my buddy ate here tonight, his recommendation, and the food was DELICIOUS! He had the Chicken Tikki Masala and I had the Lamb Tiki Masala with extra naan. Fresh, the rice was good and fluffy, everything was seasoned very well. Daewood was my server tonight and I can't recall the other gentleman's name. The entire staff was friendly! The restaurant however is quite small but I didn't care. Thr service and food made up well! I will definitely return!
(4)Natalie L.
Food is WAY to SALTY. I don't want to pay to eat salt with my food. I want to add salt to taste TO my food. VERY EXPENSIVE! We wouldn't mind paying for a quality meal, but paying so much money for such low quality food is obscene. I have had better Indian food in fast food places. Service was curious. Well, better be courteous - to make up for the bad food served. Parking sucks. Will not go there again.
(2)Safian M.
I didn't find Food as tasty as it should be, I order the chicken tandoori that came with boiled white rice. Which I would tell from the taste were not fresh. I paid more than what I received.
(2)Mac G.
For years I have heard people rave about this place. I finally went recently... EPIC FOOD TRAGEDY!!! This place looked really cool inside. The people who run it were extremely friendly and accommodating. I dig the BYOB with no cork fee. But... - Hair in the food (they adjusted the bill) - Pathetic naan (frozen pizza microwaved???) - Doughy lifeless undercooked aloo paratha - Bland sauces in the saag and masala dishes - Worst post-Indian heartburn EVER... If you want great Indian food in Nashville, hit Woodlands or Tamarind.
(1)Carey James B.
THE WORST INDIAN IN 100 MILES! dry chicken. I gave them another chance after staying away for about 5 years and yep, still sucks!
(1)Deepak B.
Being Indian-One star because my son sat peacefully here. Buffet was expensive compared to others. The rice was crunchy, and selection was limited. The soup was too salty and the food on buffet was oily.
(1)Kevin And LaRae C.
Located in the Heart of Green Hills, Shalimar offers outstanding service and excellent food. During our latest visit, we ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Saag. Both were savory and left us feeling very satisfied. In addition to the inherently quaint ambiance, there is now live music on Sunday nights. Much to our surprise, the accordion and mandolin blend quite well and generate a festive sound. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Trilce M.
This place was my first Indian experience and they are the ones who introduced me to something amazing called Chicken Tikka Masala. I really like this place, the service is very good and the food is delicious. They are always answering all our questions about the food and they get to recommend new things for us. I used to work really close to this place which was not good because I spend too much time eating here but it was worth it. It is a little overpriced but it is green hills everything is overpriced in this area so you cant complain. I totally recommend this place and their tikka masala which I can eat it over and over again.
(5)Adhiraj B.
I'm an Indian-American male, and this is the worst Indian restaurant in Nashville. I ordered the malai kofta while I was there and instead of the creamy flavor I usually get, Shalimar gives you one that tastes like ketchup.
(1)Priya C.
Worst food and worst service. Price is too expensive and taste is awful. Food was bland(we ordered spicy). Only mango and yogurt lassi tastes good. Service was very slow. Will not be back.
(1)Annie A.
The food was delicious. I had a vegetarian paneer dish that was very tasty. I had it medium spiced and it was perfect. The service was fast and very friendly.
(4)Morgan P.
I'm not Indian. I've never been to India. I don't know the first thing about Indian food. All I know is that Shalimar satisfies my palate just fine. Their food is good. Their sauces are flavorful and perfectly spiced. The meat is tender and juicy. I'm a big baby when it comes to spicy food so we don't order very hot dishes and the flavor is still wonderful. Their rice has raisins and other chunkums of goodness mixed into it that compliment the dishes nicely. We usually order a couple of dishes and split them. Last time we visited we ordered two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes and we had leftovers. They are BYOB but do not have a corking fee. BYOB can be a pain but I love it in this situation because they are so close to Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. The wine shop is off of Abbot Martin Road, right across from the Nordstrom's entrance of the mall. If aren't sure what to look for ask for a slightly sweet, white wine, it will offset the spiciness. Going here will ensure that you get a good bottle of wine to complement your delicious meal at less than what a restaurant would normally charge- winning!
(4)Tristan T.
For the price(too expensive for what you get) and taste fall far from their competitors. We went on Friday night and was expecting hot (of what we ordered) chicken curry and all we got was watered down tomato soup not spicey...and $14.99 for six small pieces of chicken in a cereal bowl. There are much better Indian Restaurants out there that will get more bang for your buck and BETTER taste too. This place really need to visit the Patal Brothers spice rack.
(1)Joe F.
Chicken Tikka Masala is great! Small place, almost too quite during lunch hours on a Friday so you can hear other peoples conversations and vice versa, but otherwise, a nice place with fast service.
(4)JLY J.
I am Indian and am a foodie who loves to cook so I know Indian food. This is the worst place for Indian food in Nashville. The rice was undercooked, the selection on the buffet was very limited (only one chicken and the rest very oily tasteless vegetarian dishes). The bread was not even an Indian bread but whole wheat pita bread. I came here years ago and it was bad then, I was hoping they had improved but I was sadly disappointed. It's very expensive and not even 10% the quality of the other Indian buffets in Nashville. I will never return again.
(1)Morgan B.
My most favorite Indian restaurant I've ever been to - and I tend to go to Indian restaurants a lot. I live in L.A. now and I am SUFFERING bc the Indian food here is lame when I was used to Shalimar's Chicken Tikka Masala. The India chai tea is bliss. The people who run the place are wonderful - so attentive and thankful that you're there. I have never been disappointed once. You should try it! It's reasonably priced and it's delicious!
(5)Gabe F.
Saturday lunch buffet. Small selection, food is cold by the time it reaches the table, chicken was dry, naan was gross, and it was pretty pricey (about 50% higher than their competitors in Nashville). The rooms were very dark but the staff was friendly. I've made better indian food at home from recipes online. I won't be eating here again.
(2)Kelly B.
Great, friendly service - my friend and I received wonderful recommendations from our waiter, including the "Indian Pico de Gallo" The food was fresh and delicious, although when I ordered "Indian Hot" I expected a lot more kick.
(4)Stephen G.
My favorite Indian restaurant in Nashville, hands down. The staff here is always very friendly and fast. The food is awesome. My favorite is the Lamb Saag. Think curried lamb with spinach. Their chicken tikka masala is also a step above the rest. BYOB! No corking fee. Any questions? Parking is very limited but they have a small lot behind the restaurant as well. If you haven't stopped in Shalimar yet, you're missing out.
(4)Buckley M.
We were the only three people in the restaurant & service was painfully slow - servers were non-existent. Food was bland - even the spicy version of my dish was watery & tasteless. My companions felt the same with their selections. Maybe they were once good but I'll give this a pass. Icing on the proverbial cake was watching one of the kitchen staff exit the restroom without hand washing - hoisting up his pants. EW!
(1)Jesse S.
Came for the lunch buffet - not great. Tikka has no depth of flavor, lentils were undercooked, tandoori chicken didn't taste like it came from a tandoor. Drive the extra 2 miles to go to Woodland, which is quite good even for non-vegetarian diners.
(2)Sara S.
I've gotten really into Indian food lately and this place does not disappoint. The flavors are rich, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is nice, but not pretentious. I love hot food, so I usually order the hottest I can get and am always pleased with my decision. The portions are quite large here, so I always have enough for lunch the next day- which is great! I ordered the Tikka Masala (no idea if that's the correct spelling) and it was absolutely delicious. We shared some okra and all had hot chai tea. So yummy!! Definitely check them out when you're in Green Hills.
(4)Carolyn M.
We went on a Saturday during the buffet. It was a big lunch date for me and a 3 year old. My tot loved the naan, rice, and cheesy spinach. Also, the staff of dozens that fawned all over her (and didnt charge for her bird lunch). I loved the lentil soup, chicken masala, and that cilantro dressing. And the super sweet and friendly staff. It's the best Indian I've had in Nashville.
(4)Heather H.
Enthusiastic service is about all I can say that was positive. The buffet is small, and the dinner menu overpriced. My malai kofta was exactly as spicy as I wanted it, but it was also salty as hell and not at all creamy. Husband's chana masala was good, but watery. Bombay Palace has ruined me for any other Indian restaurant. :/
(2)Alice H.
I rarely write a review based off of a first experience, but fell as though I need to warn others about my experience last night. Craving some spicy indian, I had heard that Shalimar was excellent and knew that they delivered for free. I decided to go with the place, even though it was pricier than other indian places around, because the food was supposed to be so tasty. So, I ordered some staples: saag paneer, curry chicken, garlic naan and a side of raita (because i like it with my hot curry). $31 (+ delivery tip). I still cannot believe how much they ripped me off. It was only 1 cup of the chicken and 1 cup of the saag paneer. They brought me a half-pint of each of my orders. I cannot believe that 10 peices of small-diced chicken was $14.99! I felt terrible for my poor friend that was splitting the meal with me. The most bizzare aspect of the tiny, tiny portions (besides the absurd price) was that they gave me MORE of my side of raita ($2.99) than the acutal dinner I had ordered: 1 cup in a half-pint container AND two 2 oz. ramakins. And then there was the naan which actually was pizza dough. I had seen other's posts about it, but thought it must have been a bad night and had been assured that the food was good. No- it is pizza dough, soaked in grease and covered with random spices. Is there someone in the kitchen that doesn't understand how much food to put into a to-go container? I'm truly flabergasted at paying $31 for 1c. (8oz) chopped chicken, 1c. (8 oz) saag paneer, 12 oz's of side sauce and a half of a personal pan pizza dough. I simply do not understand what kind of business this is, or who thinks that they can charge $15 dollars for 8 oz. of chicken? Also, nothing is very spicy (we ordered both hot and were disappointed), but that is the least of my concern. Definitely one-star. I will not be going back.
(1)Aly S.
So I lived in India for 4 months and tend to be picky about my Indian food. Not to mention come from San Fran where for the most part all food is good. This place was not impressive. We went for the lunch 'special' which means you get rice and naan with your meal--big deal--it's still really over priced, especially for lunch. My chicken tikka masasala was decent (really, you can't go wrong on that one or you are in big trouble since it's pretty much a staple). But my vegetarian friend ordered saag paneer and it was nasty--waaay more cream than spinach (I expect saag paneer to be green, this was a creamy yellowy color--eew). They were also very stingy with the naan--one order is half a loaf--that's the whole fun of Indian food, sopping up the gravy with the naan. Sorry friends, Not ideal.
(2)Declan G.
Shalimar has some of the best Indian food in Nashville. Both of the dishes I tried were distinctly, expertly spiced, the mint yogurt was fresh and flavorful, and the rice was perfectly cooked, garnished with peas, carrots and fried onions. On the mneu, the vegetarian entrees didn't have descriptions, and since we weren't able to get an intelligible explanation from the waiter (his English was fairly limited), we went with two "Side Dishes" we were familiar with - lentils and saag paneer. Along with rice and yogurt, this was plenty of food for the two of us. The lentils were nice and spicy (we ordered medium-hot), and the saag paneer was delicately spiced, with delicious strips of chewy goat cheese. If you go to Shalimar, be prepared for an unusual experience in terms of service. The waiter was really nice, and did fine with the basic customer-server dialogue. But you may have some trouble getting your questions answered, or special specifications understood. The woman who seated us and brought us the check talked like a native English speaker, so maybe she'd be able to help out. I thought the atmosphere at Shalimar was a little awkward, a strange mix of formal and rustic. But I actually kind of enjoyed Shalimar's quirks, and the food is so tasty that I'm sure I'll be back. They also offer free delivery to most areas of the city.
(4)Kiran G.
It is located in very commercial location, close to green hills mall. Very pricey to start with. Decent food but the atmosphere is very dark and congested. There are better restaurants than this but if u are in the area and want a decent food, this is the place for u. Parking is difficult here but ok.
(3)Paul H.
We had a really good dinner at Shalimar last weekend, and I would have given it more stars were it not for the level of service that we received. I would definitely avoid Shalimar if you're looking for a quick meal - give yourself at least an hour. But, the confusion/speed of the servers was more than made up for by the quality of the food. I ordered the Lamb Biryani, which while small in the quantity of lamb provided, was quite tasty. It was delicately seasoned - they offered it hot or medium (I went with medium) - and as such, I could really pick up a lot of the flavors in the spice blends. My partner had the chicken Vindaloo, which was equally as good. The spinach and cheese side dish didn't last too long either. All in all, a solid meal that's not too expensive.
(4)Robert T.
If you're deciding which Indian place to eat dinner, I would recommend Tamarind or Bombay Palace. Shalimar is a distant third. The waiter was very pushy and would not accept the idea that we would need more than two entrees to share (two of us who are big eaters, especially when it comes to Indian food) and gave us one order of naan to start when we asked for two. We ended up ordering the second order after we devoured the first. In sum, the service was poor. The food seemed half-hearted. It's not that it was necessarily bad or offensive in its quality, but I just expect so much more from an Indian restaurant. Especially when we have been to two other restaurants nearby that I feel are superior in quality.
(2)Art Q.
Tandoori Chicken. It's that reddish-orange pile of chicken wings at the end of the buffet most places - but not here. At Shalimar, it's the star of the show, and there can be no substitute. Seeing it at any other Indian restaurant just makes me dream of the next time I can get to Shalimar. It's a little pricey, so it's more of a treat than a regular destination, but the food is worth it and the service is as friendly as it gets.
(5)Marilee S.
This is my second visit. First visit wasn't so good. Ordered the buffet and the food tasted a little funky. Funky and buffet don't sit well in anyone's stomach. Yesterday, I went back for lunch and ordered Chicken Tikka Masala (hot and spicy, not mild) off the menu. Came with a choice of beverages, basmati rice, a little salad and naan bread for $12.99 each. Not bad. Everything was tasty and the restaurant was clean, although seriously dated. Service was decent. Would I go back? Yes, if I was craving Indian food and in Green Hills? Would I drive past Bombay Palace or another better Indian restaurant to go here, probably not.
(3)Robin W.
I've been here quite a few times and have had fairly pleasant experiences. I'm a vegetarian, so my meals have been limited to sag paneer, vegetable korma, and another veggie dish the name of which I can't recall. I will agree with some of the other reviews that the naan isn't the best. I have a Nepalese friend who makes the best naan I've ever tasted, so maybe I'm spoiled. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant if you like Indian food, but you're not an Indian food snob. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is comfortable, albeit a bit close.
(4)Ilene E.
Shalimar has very authentic food. Their chicken tikka masala was excellent. My only criticism is that it could be a little spicier if you are into spicey food. Otherwise it's fresh and fabulous. I will be back!
(5)Gordon M.
I need and crave Indian food alot, being British and having travelled in India. I have been to Shalimar before when I have been in Nashville on business, and know it is not the best, or a little bit far from the best, but when in Nashville...............it is probably the best you can get. But last night really took the piss. I ordered Lamb Biryani (nowhere near authentic, but didn't taste too bad, as just random Indian food). But what really pissed me off, was the naan. I am almost 100% sure that they have a big stack of pizza bases, and just toss them under the grill for a few minutes. It was circular, looked like a pizza base, and tasted like a pizza base (and I think they charged $2.99 or $3.99 for it). They even have the F$#%&*$ ordacity to slice it up like a pizza pie. I have never seen that before in an Indian restaurant. It was plain nasty. It really was a pizza base. Learn how to make some proper naans. It is just rude and offensive to offer that excuse for a naan. The owners should drive to Atlanta, go anywhere in Decatur, perhaps, Tava grill in Cherians to see what a proper naan should look like!
(1)Kim U.
My favorite non-vegetarian Indian restaurant in Nashville! To me, the only place in town that comes close to the quality of Shalimar is Woodlands. Since Woodlands is vegetarian-only, I come to Shalimar when I want meat-based Indian dishes. I usually order chicken tikka masala here, and it's never failed me. The rice they serve with all of the dishes is nicely seasoned, with some interesting add-ins (caramelized onions, raisins). Their plain naan is quite tasty, especially good for dipping up sauces. We've also tried several of the lamb dishes (all tasty), the samosas (probably the best in town), and other chicken dishes. Their mango lassi is also really good. The service, as several people have pointed out, can be on the slow side. I think they generally have a "hands off" approach - if you need something, you may need to flag a waiter down, but it's also so nice not to have a waiter hovering over you during your whole meal. My main service criteria in Indian restaurants is if they keep my water glass full - and they definitely do here. This isn't a fast food place, don't come here if you want to be in and out in 30 minutes. Also, takeout is always an option here and their delivery area is fairly wide. I'm surprised by the people complaining about portion sizes being too small. I've never ever left here hungry and, in fact, usually have leftovers to take home or split my entree with someone else. It's not huge portions of food, but it's more than enough and not a wasteful amount of food like many of the other restaurants in this area. Most importantly, it's quality food - worth every penny. This is one of very few restaurants in Green Hills that I would bother driving across town to get to. NOTE: in addition to the few parking spots in front (which can be a bear to get into if traffic is busy), there is a parking lot out back. Turn right on the road immediately after Shalimar & then look for the lot entrance to the right.
(5)Caitlin D.
I have only been here once, and tried the buffet. It was great! It wasn't a huge selection, but every dish was fantastic. The mango chutney drizzles deliciously on fried balls that are similar to donuts (dont know the proper name), the chickpeas and potatoes were perfect, there was chicken and eggplant and lentil soup..... mmmmmmm. The chai was a nice compliment to my feast. I will definitely be back to try the menu.
(4)Peter C.
Respectable find! Tangy curry chicken and SUCCULENT lamb korma, all with basmati rice-a-plenty. Sure beats the Whole Foods meal we were planning to have. Intimate setting with great service. Will be back for sure.
(5)Nathan K.
Legit. They cater. (I'm giving them a 4 instead of a 3 because the food was probably a 3.75 to 3.8 and it was a probably a 200+ person affair). My limited experience is that Sitar which is located off West End near Vanderbilt is better.
(4)Grant W.
The food is pretty good here, but very pricey. However the the thing I would like to focus my review on here is the tea... I had about a 30 minute conversation with a guy who worked there about their chai tea... See I had to try it after hearing that Robert Plant claimed it was the best chai tea he has ever had. Now... When someone like Robert Plant says that... A guy who has traveled the world many times over... I am going to give it a listen. Especially when the restaurant happened to be a 5 minute walk from my house at the time. So my friend Brien and I went there specifically for the Chai Tea... We asked the guy about the tea and he explained that they took great pride in it. They source the tea leaves from a remote part of india and have them specifically shipped to them. Also the process of making it requires specific temperatures and precise timing. It takes close to 20 minutes to make a batch of it. The tea is truly delicious and is the best chai I have ever had. It comes unsweetened so you can sweeten it to taste. We also asked him about the Robert Plant rumors and he said it was true. Robert plant once paid 100 dollars for them to fill up his thermos with the tea on a couple of occasions. This is pretty generous as it only costs a few dollars for a cup with free refills. The only food I have tried here was the chicken marsala and it was delicious... VERY spicy, but I love spicy food. My only complaint is that the restaurant has little parking, is small, and very pricey.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Probably the most expensive "indian" restaurant in Nashville, but my friends' favorite. We meet there regularly to catch up. You can sign the menu's (I think I've written on everyone lol). The meat samosas (off-menu) are great and I love the chicken tikka masala. Dr. Ahmed, the owner is a nice guy. BYOB is great. We always take a few bottles of wine with us; helps offset the cost of the meal.
(4)Katherine M.
I wish people would give Shalimar a break. It is good food. It might not be be as fancy as some of the other spots around town, but you will get a good meal. The Chicken Biryani is excellent. The Chicken Tikka Massala is another good choice. Of course they have a ton of vegetarian entrees. They also offer just about any kind of chicken, lamb, or shrimp dish you can think of (Korma, Curry, Vindaloo). Lots of good traditional beverages such as mango lassi. One good thing about this place is that they deliver to the the Green Hills or Belle Meade area. So on a cold, rainy night order in and enjoy!
(4)sharad v.
let me cut to the chase, the food is downright bad. I am an Indian and know Indian food and preparation. this place is overpriced for it's portions and service and my chicken masala gravy was too thin and too sour. saag chicken had very little saag in it and looked yellow!!! since there were only whites in this restaurant (no Indian would try this place twice), I should have guessed better.
(1)Stephanie R.
Way overpriced bad renditions of Indian food. Never trust "ethnic" food at a green hills location.
(1)Mazen H.
I come to Nashville frequently on business and I was craving some indian food, and being in the neighborhood thought I'd check out shalimar. I've been to many Indian restaurants in my travels around the country and world, and I definately have my preferences for what type of Indian food I prefer. The menu options seemed fairly limited, but it's not about the options here it's about the flavors, and here is where the disappointment began. The vegetable samosas were adequate, but the sauce was a bizarre mix of a yogurt like mint chutney and tamarind chutney, different, but not bad. The meal itself was the low point. As noted in other reviews the spicy was not so spicy, and the two vegetarian sides I ordered were again adequate. The dal was the better if the two with the vindaloo being very watery and very disappointing. The flavors weren't bad, just not at all what I've come to expect. Now as to what earns the one star rating was the naan. This bread can not be called naan. Naan is prepared in a special clay oven and is flaky and soft. This product was (quoting another review) pizza dough with bizarre spices. This bread product was nothing resembling any naan I have ever had, even given the variation in the different dishes in different restaurants, there has always been a consistency in what is presented as naan. This is not it. I agree with some of the other reviews that for the meal given it is pricey. I will not be back
(1)Esther S.
The atmosphere is quaint and romantic. It's BYOB and they do not serve alcohol here so make sure you bring along your favorite bottle of wine if you intend on drinking - i wish we knew that! The food is pretty tasty and since we're huge fans of spicy food, the level of hotness was to our liking. Thier garlic naan bread is unique, more bready like cheese bread but really flavourful with the sauce. The curry dish was great but the chicken marsala was a tad boring with not much going on except the thin sauce and chicken. The portions are fair, with only one serving of samosa instead of 2.
(3)John D.
Favorite indian food in town. Always a treat for Date Night. The people are super friendly and make the experience worth while (*****).
(4)shipps S.
Being an Indian, and having tried so many different Indian restaurants , I would say that this is an OK ( .....if I stretch it) restaurant. People there are nice which makes it a nice place. But they can really work on their food!!!
(2)kimbe m.
When it first opened, in the location across from what was formerly Green Hills Grille, Shalimar was amazing - brilliant food, and totally different from anything Nashville had seen before. Admittedly, I wasn't happy that evey single thing on the menu was a la carte - everywhere else I'd lived, Indian food came with a chutney tray, raita, etc. But the food was, admittedly, amazing. I've tried to like Shalimar these past four or five years, truly I have. Worked to like the mango lhassi. Hoped for better tandoori chicken. Wished the tikka masala tasted like anything other than bland nothingness. Most of all, I've wanted the Saturday buffet to be worthwhile. Alas. How is it possibe that the tikka, tandoori, and vindaloo all taste exactly the same? or that the tandoori has no sliced onions, let alone lemon? or that, no matter how much money we spend, everything tastes bland bland bland? I can't imagine that the original Shalimar owner - who seemed to be simultaneously owner, chef, and waiter - would let it go this far... but I now go to Cuisine of India for my buffets, and for my tandoori. It's sad, because Shalimar is in my neighborhood, but the old grey mare ain't what she used to be. Too bad. In its prime, it was as fine an Indian restaurant as I've seen in the US!
(1)moore t.
Excellent food. Panek Paneer is my personal favorite. very affordable cuisine and very nice staff.
(5)Douglas B.
Service is slow but the food is usually good. The chicken tikka is excellent and the biryani is terrific. The breads are so-so. Over the years we have dined there the portions have gotten much smaller. ( An order of aloo gobi is about four bites!) A good, if not great, Indian restaurant.
(3)Peter M.
The service indeed was frustrating but I have to give it 4 stars because I really was happy to discover top-notch Indian food here in Nashville. And while the service was slow and confused, they all were at least really friendly about it. I would give it 5 stars if it was a little cheaper. This place really kicks it up a notch from places like Sitar and Taste of India, where corners are cut in terms of ingredients and flavors are compromised for the American palate. The spices they use at Shalimar are very fresh and expertly deployed.
(4)