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Taste Of India - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Chinese Indian, Chinese [Edit]
96 W Old Country RdHicksville, NY 11801
(516) 681-7500
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Taste Of India
11 reviews in English
-
Review from Daniel P.
1/17/2010
If this were in NYC I'd never review this place so it could stay unknown, but on LI that just leads to premature closure. So, there you are. This place has amazingly delicious food. The Indian Chinese thing works, and magically.
If you haven't eaten Indian much and want some suggestions, use me as your guide:
Begin by ordering a specialty drink, preferably the Kala Khatta. Get the sweet corn soup and add some red pepper paste to taste. Everything should be spicy. Order a basket with naan and roti and dip them in the imli ki (sweet, precious tamarind chutney). Get an appetizer, preferably the chili crispy vegetables, which are doughy and sweet and very fried. Order a main course of your choosing, but the Indian classics are superbly prepared here. For dessert, go with Gulab Jamun (always a classic with whities) if you like warm honey, ginger, and doughy balls, or get the fresh-made, completely natural and on-premises produced Kulfi (ice cream).
The family that runs the place is delightful. If you have any questions, they will educate you, and quite graciously. Don't expect much ambiance. This is a barebones eatery, and a tiny, tiny dining room, but the grandeur of the flavors in the food made here make this fact entirely moot. I want this place to be in business forever so I can selfishly come and horde naan and kooky Chinese-inspired Indian fare.
A note: The sign outside reads "Szechwan Mirchi," which is slightly throwy-offish.
EDIT (Sep. 2010): They're probably closed. Every time I call a random dude answers, neglects to tell us the business name, and says "not open. Renovations." -
Review from Joe S.
Queens, NY
7/26/2009 3 photos
When I still lived on Long Island, I would occasionally pass by this restaurant whenever I happened to be in Hicksville for whatever reason. The first thing one might notice is that the restaurant is exceptionally small (some have been known to describe this as "adorable"), especially next to the behemoth of an IHOP right next to it.
I also noted that it claimed to serve "Indian Chinese" food, which was something I was wholly unfamiliar with. At first, I had assumed it was a restaurant like so many take out places in Brooklyn and Queens. The type that serve fried chicken, chinese food AND tacos.
But something told me to go inside and so, being easily seduced by somethings, I decided to venture in.
I will say this now and I stick by it: Szechwan Mirchi might quite possibly make the most delicious food I've ever tasted.
Indian Chinese food is somewhere between fusion and cultural adaptation. Imagine the style and preparation of Chinese food, but with the flavors, spices and sauces of an Indian restaurant. That will get you somewhere towards an idea of what this is like.
The restaurant will prepare dishes as spicy (or not spicy, if you're not into that kind of thing) as you like, with very generous portions accompanied by rice.
I HIGHLY recommend trying the chili crispy vegetables as an appetizer. as the name would imply, they are fairly spicy without any requests, but if you're willing to brave it, you will taste some of the crispiest and tastiest food ever. It's really hard to verbalize how crispy and delicious this dish is and that confuses me.
The dinners range from noodles, to curries, to soups, to entrees. For anyone wondering, the menu is extremely vegan and vegetarian friendly, but for those craving a bite of animal, there is plenty to choose from in that category as well.
Without making this review any longer than it already is, all I can say is that if you live anywhere near this place and enjoy either or both Indian and Chinese food, you absolutely need to go here. It's honestly a crime that there aren't lines out the door of this restaurant every night, making it a necessity for the owners to buy a larger building (which they could do from all the patronage).
Indian Chinese food has been getting some recognition in the past couple years, but it needs more. This is the place. -
Review from Alex H.
Bayville, NY
10/12/2009
Excellent especiaaly the dahl
Would recommend highly -
Review from Iffat B.
2/19/2010
I went here because I wanted some cheap, good Indian take-out. Each take-out dish is $5, so I got the chicken biriyani and chicken tikka masala. The chicken biriyani was good for the $5 I paid as I was not expecting much. It had a alot of ginger in it, so if you don't like ginger, stay away. The chicken tikka masala was a little tangy, but still good.
If you're looking for some quick, cheap take-out, this is the place to go! Just don't expect gourmet Indian food... -
Review from Christopher C.
Long Beach, NY
6/15/2010 1 photo
Totally unassuming little hole in the wall with a interesting parking scenario. The food is great and nice and spicy when requested so, the family that owns the place is super friendly and the prices cant be beat! I've only been here a few times but it will be on my keeper list.
-
Review from Chinku G.
Hicksville, NY
1/16/2006
Went there two nights ago and i go there quite often with the family. The food is great, the service decent the only problem with this place is there is not a lot of seating available. So if you go with the lot of people you need to call ahead and make reservations. To me its worth it because the food is remarkable. Try the butter chicken and you wont regret it.
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Review from Norman S.
New York, NY
5/28/2010
its pretty decent place, average tasting for long island.
the indian dishes taste more like their mirch menu, pretty watery curries or call it gravy? would expect a more rounded explosion of seasonings with every bite but its decent and who can complain with their prices. the vegetable somosas are really good i like them with the chat masala.
the egg curry was scrambled egg. i prefer hard boiled.
the people here are really super nice. -
Review from Puneet C.
Hicksville, NY
1/12/2006
The food is amazing as its newly opened restaurant and owners are dedicated to customer satisfaction,though its a small place with a seating capacity of about 50...Since its a small restaurent, the service is slow but the food quantity and taste are amazing.
Good value for money. -
Review from Michael S.
New York, NY
1/14/2010
The hot and sour soup and chicken tikka masala perfectly prepared. The mixed grilled chicken kakobs were a delight. Superb service. Will definitely return for more!
-
Review from Amobiye N.
Hauppauge, NY
9/2/2009
This restaurant was a great dining experience. The food was excellent and the service even better. I even returned within the week to bring someone else. They remembered me and my taste preferences. The food is an excellent fusion of Chinese and Indian flavors. Definitely recommend it!!
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Review from maryann b.
Valley Stream, NY
4/8/2010
Finally got to go after months of hearing how good the food was and it was worth the wait! After a few minutes of looking at the menu the owner came over and asked what we thought about if we let him pick out selections for us, being that both my friend and I will try anything and are incredibly indecisive we let him. We were definitely very satisfied with what he brought and very full by the time we left! I couldn't tell you the name of anything I ate but it was all delicious! He first brought over a crispy lentil flat bread (it looked like a taco shell) for us to munch on and the food didn't stop coming from there...we got 2 apps (a fish and a veg), soup, 2 entrees, rice flavored with veggies and spices, 2 types of naan, and after trying to tell him we couldn't possibly have anything else he insisted we try the homemade rose petal ice cream and Indian tea..which turns out was chai tea and chai in Indian means tea..who knew?! The rose petal ice cream was delish as well, it kinda tasted like root beer but at the same time like nothing I've ever had before.
Our overall experience was wonderful! The owner was welcoming, all SIX courses were brought out well spaced out and never once did we feel rushed during out 2 1/2 hour meal, as so many other places typically do. We left very full and with 2 lunch size doggie bags that he automatically split all the left overs into for us.
Oh! when it came time for the bill he refused to bring us one, saying that he doesn't like making the costumers feel uncomfortable when he's picking the menu, after much debating with him and finally naming our price he insisted it was too much, lowered the amount and wouldn't accept more even though it was at least 1/2 what we would've spent if we went some place else.
