India Oven Authentic Cuisine of India

 

0

8

Stacy M.

Portland, OR

If I could give 3.5 stars, that would be a fairer assessment.  My husband and I happened in there on a whim, and while I am an Indian food aficionado, he is quite the novice, so we had different perspectives. Yes, the service is a little slow, but our server was visibly working hard and did pretty well.  Despite how busy he got, he was always friendly and helpful.  We don't enjoy rushing through our meals, so taking our time and enjoying each others company was not considered a bad thing. Once the food was ordered, it actually came out very quickly, even though we were there at peak dinner hours.  
I'm a little mixed on the food.  Great, great naan bread, incredible sauces, but the onion bhaji was disappointingly unauthentic and really tough in places.  Don't bother with the salad, but the lentil soup is awesome.  My fellow diner had a Saag lamb curry, and I had a veggie Kofta.  His got rave reviews.  The kofta was fairly authentic but a little funky on the texture.  The sauce was absolutely delicious.
So skip straight to the entrees, and it's worth being adventurous with menu selections.

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Elite '08

15

120

Chris E.

Fairview, OR

Sometime I enjoy watching the social dynamic at a restaurant WAY more than I care about the food. There seemed to a couple waiting tables that had a 4 year old that hung out in the kitchen. There was an older lady that seemed to be in charge and waved her arms when she talked. I think there might have been a guy washing dishes too, but it was a bit mysterious. Everything was tasty, but somehow dull. They're WAY chintzy on the meat, but the sauces were nice. Don't expect a quick meal if you have table service. It took 10 minutes to get someone to acknowledge us once we sat down.

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Elite '08

10

62

Lisa H.

Vancouver, WA

I was not impressed with the food here.  It was okay, but not good and passable as Indian food, but only barely.  It seemed thrown together like half heartedly and uncaringly.  The building is really run down and the bathroom was disgusting.  And yes, I will judge a place by its facilities.  If they can't keep the restroom clean, how can I think the kitchen is clean?  The service was slow and I dont think the staff had the time for us, despite the fact we were one of only two tables.  Not recommended.

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27

512

Kelly M.

Portland, OR

My only experience with India Oven has been during their buffet hours (11:30-2:30).  During these prime time hours you can shell over about eight bucks and load up your plate as much as you'd like.  You don't have to wait, and the food always tastes good.

I've heard that this place has a bad reputation for slow service and high prices, but if you go during the lunch buffet you'll get a good (fast) Indian meal for pretty cheap.  Not to mention that it's close to everything else on Hawthorne.

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7

47

Emily F.

Portland, OR

This restaurant is in an old Masonic Temple building, which makes the vibe inside a little cold and creepy.

The food is really yummy, especially the lentil soup.  The service is super slow, though.  Don't come here looking for a quick meal.

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