The Milwaukee area is no stranger to Indian restaurants.
From Tandoor Restaurant in West Allis, to Cafe India in Walker’s Point, there are many places vying to be the area’s best Indian restaurant.
However, in 2014, India Garden opened on Wauwatosa’s West side bringing delicious, high quality northern Indian cuisine to Wauwatosa.
The restaurant is tucked away off of Burleigh, sandwiched in between a chiropractors’s offices and manufacturing buildings, and across the street from Bolero Bowl. However, despite the odd location and the industrial-looking brick exterior of the building, for India Garden, it’s what’s on the inside that matters.
Along with traditional decor and ambiance, India Garden boasts a tantalizing menu featuring dishes from Northern India that exceeds expectations.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is almost romantic, with low lighting and large spacious booths lining the walls around a large single dining area with 8 to 10 tables and a full bar separated from the main area. I always choose to sit in one of the booths that was large enough for 5 or 6 people. Each table has a cloth tablecloth and napkins which makes the dining experience a step up from regular take out food.
Upon sitting we had our drink orders taken. To drink I ordered a mango lassi. Lassi originates from the Punjab region of India. It is a yogurt-based drink with the consistency of a smoothie. The beverage is creamy, refreshing, and the sweetness of the mango goes perfectly with the tanginess of the yogurt. It would make for a wonderful dessert and the flavor is so rich that you cannot help but down the drink in 5 minutes.
For the main course I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. Served in an aluminum bowl with a side of rice and crispy toasted naan bread, the chicken comes submerged in sauce and diced into large cubes that have already partially melted, rendering them moist and tender. The word “masala” refers to a variety of spices used in Indian cuisine, including cumin, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, and more. The sauce is tomato-based and is made smooth by adding yogurt or cream and the spices provide some heat. The roasted chicken is enveloped and coated in sauce making the flavor addicting and leaves you craving more.
The service is high quality and the food always comes out in a timely manner. Our drinks are filled regularly and without haste. The servers do their job quickly and they dont waste time, however, this does not impact the succinctness of the service.
After visiting this restaurant almost a half dozen times, I have never been disappointed. By the time you’re done with your meal, any of the most popular Indian restaurants in town will seem bland and boring.
At India Garden, the quality of the food is simply superior and the care that goes into each meal is apparent every time you order from the comically large menu.
