EVANSVILLE of A TASTE

Monthly Food Review With Brian Buxton

Flavors Of India

In recent years, the landscape of Evansville restaurants and the variety of cuisine they serve has noticeably evolved. We have always enjoyed a large variety of pizza shops, Chinese restaurants that represent most of the 8 regions of China, and a variety of Mexican restaurants, ranging from Northern, Jalisco, Baja, Sinaloan, Cali-Mex, and TexMex. What has always been lacking are choices for Indian cuisine (don’t get me started on having no Cuban spots). Local Indian options have come and gone, but only two have lasted: Taj Mahal, open 16 years, and the Indian-Nepalese-Himalayan fusion Yak & Yeti, which opened in 2019.

However, in the last year we have seen two others open, the newest being our October Taste of Evansville feature— Flavors of India. This East Side restaurant is the definition of a hidden gem. Not only do they serve an extremely authentic menu influenced by southern and western Indian regions (the south state of Tamil Nadu and the west state of Gujarat), but it is located in a spot that you probably won’t find unless you know where to look. If you’re familiar with the Swagat Market at 105 Green River Rd., then you have a good start. This is the same complex where Domo Japanese restaurant, CiCi’s Pizza, Sky Zone, and Donut Bank are located. The restaurant can be found behind (east of) Swagat, but you can’t access it from the market. You will need to park in the back lot, accessed from East Division, and enter through a door on the north side of the building. Division is the access road that runs in front of Village Commons shopping center. You’ll drive past Hobby Lobby and Dairy Queen on the south end, and Genesis Health Club (formerly Tri-State Athletic) and Parlor Donuts on the west end.

Indian food isn’t just about eating, it’s an experience. The vibrant colors and the presentation are paired with delicious aromas from the spices and seasonings. Every dish tells a story: crispy samosas from the busy streets, buttery naan that complements every meal, and fragrant biryani and creamy butter chicken that are wonderful comfort foods (try them spicy when you have a stuffed-up nose!). Since many diners have limited experience with Indian dishes, I would encourage you to study the menu, ask your server a lot of questions before ordering! The staff at Flavors of India were very helpful in explaining the various spices, seasonings, and curries.

The fact that this restaurant serves southern and western Indian cuisine means that customers are able to try several dishes that aren’t available anywhere else in town—their dosa and uttapam entrées being two. Dosa is a long savory crêpe made from rice flour and lentils, usually stuffed with a spiced potato filling (masala dosa) or a lentil-based vegetable stew (sambar), and served with various condiments (chutneys). Uttapam is more similar to a pancake but is thicker, softer, and topped with vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and chiles before cooking. It is made from a fermented batter of rice and black lentils (urad dal).

Two unique appetizers are the Pani Puri, which is a popular Indian street food consisting of a small, crispy, hollow fried bread “bowl” (puri) filled with a mixture of spiced potatoes, chickpeas, and onions. You dunk these in a tangy, sweet, and spicy-flavored water (pani) and then eat them whole. Pav Bhaji is a spiced mixture of mashed vegetables in a thick curry gravy served with bread. Common vegetables in the curry are potatoes, onions, carrots, chiles, peas, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and tomatoes.

During our visit we sampled the Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri, Paper Masala Dosa (served with coconut garlic and lentil soup for dipping), Onion Chili Uttapam, Tandoori Paneer (cubes of marinated paneer cheese grilled in a tandoor oven), Goat Keema (minced goat meat cooked with spices—this was one of my favorites!), and Chili Garlic Naan bread. We also sampled the Mango Lassi and Buttermilk Lassi drinks. These are creamy Indian beverages made by blending ripe mangoes with yogurt curd, and sometimes milk or cream, along with spices like cardamom.

They’re thick and creamy like a milkshake and delicious—the decisive winner for our table was the mango! The menu is quite large so everyone should be able to find something that interests them. If you aren’t a fan of spicy heat, be sure to specify a 1–2 spice level. If you’re brave, go for 5–6!

As of now they don't have social media, and their exterior signage was not on the building at the time of our visit. However, the front of the building is painted bright orange, so it does stand out. And during your visit be sure to check out the Swagat Market, which specializes in Indian foods but also has a large variety of South Asian grocery items, as well as meats, seafood, fresh produce, vegetables, nuts, grains, dry goods, and spices at very reasonable prices. They also have a nice selection of dairy, desserts, and frozen foods.

Large parking lots are available for both the restaurant and market. Business hours are Tues–Thurs: 11:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m. and Fri–Sun: 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. They are closed on Mondays.

My food and dining page can be found at facebook.com/FFKSEvansville

Now Go, Explore, and Eat, Evansville!