Navaratna

October 26, 2024. I had been wanting to try out this place for several months now, ever since a friend shared their exceedingly positive review about this South Indian vegetarian restaurant. It had a lot of items that are usually not available in typical `Indian' restaurants in USA which invariably are mostly `North Indian'. Overall, the food was tasty, authentic, and affordable ($80 for 3 members). We ate the following. 1. Adai avial (அடை அவியல்)-- The adai is slightly oily. The avial was good, lots of veggies, and a tad too much of asafoetida (பெருங்காயம்). 2. Andra masala dosa was very spicy/hot! The waitress did mention it'll be spicy, but it was way more than I expected. 3. Idly (இட்லி) -- soft and nice, felt fresh. All chutneys had a separate tadka on top while being served, it felt excessive. 4. Cauliflower -- Was oily and crispy, and I didn't actually expect it to be any different. It was okayish. 5. South Indian meals had several veggie dishes, in addition to sambar, rasam, dal. a. கோவக்காய்(Tindora) korma - had a rich gravy. b. கீரை பருப்பு(Spinach dal) - was chewy. c. பாகக்காய்(Bitter gourd) in tomato gravy - was okayish. This was another member's item, and I just tasted a few sub-items. 6. Ada pradaman (அடை பிரதமன்) -- Nice and sweet, combination of coconut milk and jaggery was nice. The rice (or was it coconut?) flakes were too many and also felt a bit undercooked.

This is a home run. Amazing food. Great service. Reasonably priced so an outstanding value. We got two combo platters- one from North India and one from Southern India. It was a great call because we could try many dishes. Also highly recommend the coconut soup! I have eaten at kosher Indian restaurants around the world and this one was really really outstanding food.

Third time in this restaurant. It has really good South and Northern Indian food, all of them vegetarian. A plus, in my opinion, in a neighborhood full of restaurants with only meat in their menus. This time I only had the introductory lunch, but it was worth it. I could see this as a fun appetizer for a group of two or three. Also I tried Rupee, their Indian lager, and it was really really good. I had an spill and one of the girls there quickly helped me to clean, so service is quite good. What I don't like is the atmosphere. The three times I went there it was dead silent, not even quiet music on the background, just silence. Now this time it was also dark, and way too hot. It lacks some ventilation I guess. I say this in a constructive way, because the restaurant is really good, is not generic Indian food you'll get anywhere else. It's unique.

*A Culinary Nightmare* If you enjoy spitting out a third of what you chew, then this place is for you. It feels like this restaurant actively hates its customers. The lentil balls were hard, dry, and coated in whole peppercorns—who does that? The dishes were riddled with unchewable stalks, bay leaves, and whole peppers, as if the chef was saying, "Oh, you want authentic ethnic food? Let's drown it in spices for these clueless thrill-seekers. They'll think it's exotic." This food is not just bad; it's offensive. Your restaurant should not exist. What a disgrace.

Absolutely enjoyed my dining experience at Navaratna restaurant in Stamford. The flavors of the food were outstanding, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable. The authenticity of the Indian cuisine really stood out, making it a delightful culinary journey. The friendly staff and welcoming owner added a personal touch, enhancing the overall experience. Highly recommend for a satisfying and affordable taste of India.