Gateway to India in Sarasota, FL

The Southside District in Sarasota has many restaurants and this season suddenly there are two new Indian restaurants open.

One that I heard from Frilly Goose that is very good and another one that I haven't heard anything yet. The name is Gateway to India on Hillview Street next to Chutney's (Middle Eastern/Indian restaurant), New York, New York, 5 O'Clock Club and The Hillview Grill.

This is good for the street, more variety. We heard from Frilly Goose and Gator Goose that the food is amazing, that they are open 7 days a week and they have buffet at lunch time. However, my body doesn't feel Indian food for lunch.

We go in on a lazy Sunday afternoon for dinner. The moment we enter, the decoration and the light of the restaurant was very nice and very relaxing. The entrance has a nice water fountain.The restaurant is decorated with elephants, bright colors, tunics, chandeliers, sequenes, etc. The walls are painted a dark red and the lamps give a cozy feeling, however; it was so hard to read the menu since the color of the text on the menu was orange and it blended with the white paper.

15 minutes has pass and finally we get water and Chapati. Then after 55 minutes of waiting, we get our food. I was a bit annoyed that I need to wait that much, but after all I was with good company.

We order:
Daal Ka Shorba - it is a lentil soup flavored with garlic, curry leaves, cumin, cilantro and it has a little of a spice kick. - it was very good start and a very small cup.


Naram garam Kofta - Dumplings of homemade cheese and vegetables flavored with cashew and cumins, raisins and nuts, cooked in cashew -cream sauce, served on a bed of rich and delicious creamy sauce. - this was so good, but in my opinion it should not be choosen as main dish. It is a bit sweet for my taste.


Chicken Biryani - is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually basmati) and meat/egg/vegetables. To learn more click here.

Raita - A cool n'refreshing accompaniment made from grated cucumber and salty yogurt. (this was the best thing ever, it totally mixed very well with the Chicken Biryani spicy flavors - it helps you cool down. :) Great option to have.

When the dishes came out we had a lot of food. Yes, a lot of white rice came but all the flavors were unique. You can tell that it takes time to get these flavors. The owners came to check with us after we were done eating and asked us for feedback about the food and services. The owners explained to us why the long wait and the reason is because of the time that needs the spices to cook correctly. That way all the spices will blend and accentuate the flavors more.

With that said, we suggested they warn customers about the long wait so they don't feel annoyed at why they are not getting their food. It was worth the wait.

They have lunch buffet 7 days a week and on Tuesday they have specials 1/2 off from all curries.

Enjoy! - Thumbs up! All the way up!



Gateway to India
1960 Hillview St.
Sarasota, FL 34239

www.gatewaytoindiasrq.com


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