Indian Garden: A sublime strip mall surprise
There are so many strip malls in the Chicago suburbs that most of the time it’s hard to keep track of which is which. Countless great restaurants can go relatively unnoticed, and The Indian Garden is just one such gem.
Tucked in a busy corner in the northwest suburb of Schaumburg, Indian Garden serves up an impressive array of menu items — 144 to be exact — to appeal to any appetite. Scrumptious appetizers like paneer pakora, deep fried cottage cheese fritters, start off a meal right. Salads like raita, chilled seasoned yogurt with cucumber and tomato, and lentil soups are also available.
If the starter options are broad, then making an entrée selection from the dozens of vegetarian, meat, chicken and seafood dishes will be a tough one, indeed. There are classics like chicken tikka masala, a delicate blend of tomato, cream and spices served best with one of seven varieties of warm naan flatbread.
If in the mood for a rice dish, there’s the tasty lamb dum biryani with hints of saffron. Looking for spicy, then the curries has you covered with chicken, fish, even crab. Indian Garden also offers tandoori, kabob, vindaloo, all in nearly endless varieties. But be sure to save room for dessert, where the kheer, rice with milk, raisins and almonds, is possibly the biggest standout of all.
With a spacious dining area, the wait should never be long at Indian Garden, and the staff makes you feel at home with big smiles and great service. Daily drink specials like imported Indian beers are a deal, and the weekday lunch buffet at $7.99, including soda, is a downright steal.
While it may be tucked away, The Indian Garden definitely shouldn’t stay that way. Fans of Indian cuisine will be amazed by the options and impressed with the flavors. And the more than reasonable final bill will keep you coming back for more.
Posted on Apr 18, 2011 by D.J. Siegel
