10Best restaurants for Indian eats in and around NOLA

10

Golden Feather Mardi Gras Indian Restaurant Gallery
9

Wah Kitchen
8

NOLA Desi Kitchen
7

Shyan's Kitchen
6

Tandoori Chicken
5

Taj Mahal
4

Nirvana Indian Cuisine
3

Good Karma Cafe
2

Silk Road
1

Saffron

Explore New Orleans

Nirvana Indian Cuisine

Item: Nirvana Indian Cuisine
Author: Beth D'Addono

Cuisine: Indian

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

Back in the 1980s, Har and Anila Keswani had a vision: to introduce New Orleanians to real Indian cuisine (see Taj Mahal on this list). Operating since 1982 and expanding to its current uptown location in 1999, the Keswani family was a forerunner in offering authentic Indian cuisine to locals and visitors alike. Favorites include buttery naan, creamy chicken tikka masala and expertly spiced curries, fish, chicken, lamb and shrimp cooked to perfection in the Tandoor oven. One of the stand out dishes is Flag of India, a presentation of butter chicken, malai kebab and saag paneer to represent the gold, white and green of the flag of India. Save room for rice pudding for dessert.

Address:

4308 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-894-9797

Hours:

Tue-Sun 11:30am-10pm

Website:

insidenirvana.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Beth D'Addono
New Orleans Local Expert

Indian: "You can order your food and have it delivered on the Waitr app on your phone."

Best for Indian Because: Unlike most spots on this list, which tend to be of humble design and layout, Nirvana serves food in a gorgeous setting.

Main Menu
- Appetizers
  
  Vegetable Samosa
  
  crispy pastry stuffed with potato and peas, served with mint and imli chutney ($5.00)
  
  Veggie Kathi Roll
  
  Indian version of a veggie wrap, served with mint and imli chutney ($6.00)
  
  Nirvana Kathi Roll
  
  Indian version of a chicken wrap ($7.00)
  
  Samosa Chat
  
  two vegetable samosas covered with curried garbanzos, raita, and chutneys ($7.50)
  
  Khurmi Naan
  
  topped with cheese and tomato ($4.50)
  
  Bombay Wings
  
  chicken wings marinated and grilled in the tandoor ($6.00)
  
  Rugda Pati
  
  potato cakes topped with curried garbanzos, raita, and chutneys ($4.50)
  
  Chat Papri
  
  seasoned potatoes and vegetables with crispy wafers ($4.50)
  
  Kashmiri Naan Mild
  
  stuffed with cherries and cashews, great for kids ($3.50)
  
  Assorted Non-Vegetarian for 2
  
  Vegetable Samosa, Chicken Pakora, Seekh Kebab, Bombay Wings ($13.95)
  
  Assorted Vegetarian for 2
  
  Vegetable Samosa, Onion Pakora, Rugda Pati ($10.95)
  
  Mixed Kebab Platter
  
  Malai Kebab, Paneer Tikka, and Seenkh Kebab served on sizzler ($13.95)
  
  Shrimp Chili
  
  shrimp sautéed with ginger, garlic, mixed bell peppers, and onions in a tangy tomato sauce ($9.00)
- Pakora
  
  Onion Mild
  
  ($4.50)
  
  Mixed Veggie
  
  ($4.50)
  
  Fresh Spinach
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Chicken Mild
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Redfish
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Shrimp
  
  ($9.00)
- Soup & Salads
  
  Mulligatawny
  
  chicken (Gluten Free) or lentil soup (Vegetarian, Gluten Free) ($4.50)
  
  Garam Chicken Soup
  
  hot and spicy ($3.50)
  
  Garam Vegetable Soup
  
  ($3.50)
  
  Garam Shrimp Soup
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Tomato Soup
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Empire Salad
  
  slices of tomato, cucumber, and carrot with Italian dressing ($5.00)
  
  Onion Salad
  
  slices of onion, jalapeno, and lemon ($3.00)
- Nirvana Specials
  
  Nirvana Special
  
  roasted lamb with butter, ginger chicken, and shrimp sixty-five ($17.95)
  
  Flag of India
  
  Butter Chicken, Malai Kebab, and Saag Paneer to represent the colors of the flag of India ($18.95)
  
  Mixed Grill
  
  chicken tikka, boti kebab, fish tikka, and tandoori shrimp ($19.95)
  
  Mixed Biryani
  
  lamb, chicken and shrimp cooked together with rice, similar to jambalaya or fried rice ($17.95)
- Tandoor
  
  Tandoori Chicken
  
  chicken marinated and roasted over charcoal ($12.95)
  
  Chicken Tikka
  
  boneless pieces of chicken marinated with spices and herbs and roasted in the tandoor ($13.95)
  
  Paneer Shashlik
  
  farmer's cheese marinated and roasted in the tandoor, served on sizzler ($14.95)
  
  Malai Kebab
  
  boneless chicken breast encrusted with cashews and grilled over charcoal ($13.95)
  
  Boti Kebab
  
  cubed leg of lamb marinated and roasted ($14.95)
  
  Fish Tikka
  
  redfish marinated and roasted in the tandoor ($16.95)
  
  Tandoori Shrimp
  
  fresh jumbo shrimp spiced and broiled in the tandoor ($18.95)
- Standard Indian Fare
  Curry
  tomato and onion gravy
  
  Vegetable: $12.95
  
  Chicken: $13.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
  Sixty-Five
  spicy dish marinated with ginger, garlic, red chilies, and vinegar
  
  Vegetable: $13.95
  
  Chicken: $14.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
  Vindaloo*
  a thick spicy and tangy gravy with potatoes
  
  Vegetable: $12.95
  
  Chicken: $13.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
  Saag
  sautéed spinach
  
  Vegetable: $12.95
  
  Chicken: $13.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
  Korma
  housemade almond and cashew gravy
  
  Vegetable: $12.95
  
  Chicken: $13.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
  Khatha Metha Teekha
  tangy sweet and spicy
  
  Vegetable: $14.95
  
  Chicken: $15.95
  
  Lamb: $15.95
  
  Shrimp & Fish: $17.95
- Lamb
  
  Boti Kebab Masala
  
  lamb leg roasted in the tandoori oven and then prepared in tomato cream gravy with vegetables ($15.95)
  
  Lamb Rogan Josh
  
  lamb curry cooked in spiced oil and yoghurt ($15.95)
  
  Lamb Achari
  
  lamb cubes in a very spicy and tart pickle curry ($15.95)
  
  Lamb Goa*
  
  coconut lamb curry ($15.95)
  
  Lamb Dhansak
  
  lamb and lentils flavored with cumin and ginger ($15.95)
  
  Kashmiri Lamb
  
  lamb in chili sauce ($15.95)
  
  Mutton Rara
  
  traditional recipe of minced lamb, cubed lamb, boiled eggs, and peas ($15.95)
- Shrimp
  
  Shrimp Tikka Masala
  
  jumbo shrimp with vegetables in a tomato and bell pepper cream sauce ($17.95)
  
  Goan Shrimp Curry*
  
  jumbo shrimp cooked in a coconut and vegetable sauce. A recipe from Goa ($17.95)
  
  Shrimp Tarka
  
  jumbo shrimp sautéed with butter, garlic, ginger, and a host of Indian spices ($17.95)
  
  Kali-Milch Shrimp*
  
  jumbo shrimp prepared in a sweet and spicy black peppery cream sauce ($17.95)
- Chicken
  
  Chicken Patia Mild
  
  boneless chicken in a sweet mango curry ($14.95)
  
  Chicken Tikka Masala
  
  roasted chicken tikka from the tandoor cooked with bell peppers in a butter cream sauce ($14.95)
  
  Butter Chicken Mild
  
  roasted pieces of tender chicken cooked in a tomato butter methi sauce ($14.95)
  
  Chicken Chatnad*
  
  boneless chicken sautéed in coconut paste and spices ($14.95)
  
  Ginger Chicken
  
  chicken sautéed with ginger and spices ($14.95)
  
  Murgh Sonya
  
  chicken breast stuffed with ground lamb, nuts, and dried fruit, cooked in a cream gravy ($16.95)
- Fish
  
  Fish Tikka Masala
  
  redfish in a tomato butter sauce with vegetables ($17.95)
  
  Chili Fish
  
  redfish sautéed with ginger, garlic, mixed bell peppers, and onions in a tangy tomato sauce ($17.95)
  
  Fish Min Curry*
  
  redfish in a coconut stew ($17.95)
  
  Tawa Fish
  
  fish marinated with Indian herbs and spices, then cooked on a skillet ($17.95)
- Vegetarian
  
  Dal Makhani
  
  seven kinds of lentils ($10.95)
  
  Cholle
  
  curried garbanzo beans ($10.95)
  
  Yellow Dal
  
  butter whipped yellow moong beans ($10.95)
  
  Alu Gobi
  
  potatoes and cauliflower sautéed with onion, tomato, and spices ($12.95)
  
  Saag Paneer
  
  chunks of farmer's cheese sautéed in curried spinach ($12.95)
  
  Navrattan Korma
  
  nine vegetables and farmer's cheese cooked in a cream sauce ($12.95)
  
  Paneer Tikka Masala
  
  roasted paneer cheese cooked with bell peppers in a butter cream sauce ($13.95)
  
  Paneer Duo & Eggplant
  
  paneer makhani, bhenghan bhartha, and saag paneer ($15.95)
  
  Nirvana Veggie Delight
  
  navrattan korma, saag paneer, and bombay potatoes ($14.95)
  
  Mattar Paneer
  
  peas and farmer's cheese in a tomato sauce ($12.95)
  
  Bhindhi
  
  sautéed okra with spices, onions and tomatoes ($12.95)
  
  Mushroom Masala
  
  mushrooms prepared in a tomato and onion cream gravy ($12.95)
  
  Malai Kofta
  
  dumplings of cheese with vegetables in an onion cream sauce ($12.95)
  
  Dal Saag
  
  lentils with creamed spinach ($12.95)
  
  Sabji Kali Milch*
  
  vegetables in a sweet black peppery cream gravy ($12.95)
  
  Alu Saag
  
  chunks of potato cooked with curried spinach ($12.95)
  
  Kadai Paneer
  
  farmer's cheese sautéed with vegetables and spices ($12.95)
  
  Bhenghan Bhartha
  
  eggplant, tomato, onions and spices ($12.95)
  
  Nirvana Sabji
  
  chef's specialty with baby corn, eggplant, and mushrooms ($12.95)
  
  Paneer Makhani
  
  farmer's cheese in a tomato and cream sauce ($12.95)
  
  Alu Mattar Makhani
  
  green peas and potatoes in a tomato butter sauce ($12.95)
  
  Paneer Kali-Milch*
  
  farmer's cheese in a spicy sweet black peppery cream sauce ($12.95)
- Biryani
  
  Chicken Biryani
  
  chicken and basmati rice cooked together with spices ($13.95)
  
  Lamb Biryani
  
  ($15.95)
  
  Shrimp Biryani
  
  ($15.95)
  
  Vegetable Biryani
  
  ($12.95)
- Breads
  
  Naan
  
  unleavened white bread ($2.50)
  
  Roti
  
  unleavened wheat bread ($2.50)
  
  Lasuni Naan
  
  naan with roasted garlic ($3.50)
  
  Kalonji Naan
  
  naan with onion seeds ($3.50)
  
  Paratha
  
  layered wheat bread ($3.25)
  
  Garlic Roti
  
  unleavened wheat bread with roasted garlic ($3.50)
  
  Poori
  
  deep fried puffy wheat bread ($3.00)
  
  Aloo Paratha
  
  stuffed with potatoes ($3.50)
  
  Onion Kulcha
  
  stuffed with onions ($3.50)
  
  Keema Naan
  
  stuffed with lamb ($4.50)
  
  Paneer Kulcha
  
  stuffed with cheese ($3.50)
  
  Nirvana Naan
  
  stuffed with chicken and spices ($4.50)
  
  Mixed Veggie Paratha
  
  layered wheat bread stuffed with mixed vegetables ($3.50)
  
  Mixed Bread Basket
  
  kalonji naan, lasuni naan, and roti ($7.00)
  
  Parmesan Bullet Naan
  
  unleavened white bread with parmesan cheese and jalapenos ($3.00)
- Accompaniments
  
  Plain Basmati Rice
  
  ($2.00)
  
  Buttered Basmati Rice
  
  ($2.50)
  
  Chutney Plate
  
  Imli (sweet tamarind fruit condiment), Mint (spicy mint condiment made with green chilies, cilantro, and spices), and Mango (a sweet mango condiment) ($3.00)
  
  Raita
  
  yogurt with grated carrot and cucumber ($2.00)
  
  Plain Homemade Yogurt
  
  ($2.00)
  
  Achar
  
  mixed vegetables pickled with Indian herbs and spices ($2.00)
  
  Papad
  
  crispy lentil wafers ($2.00)
  
  Masala Papad
  
  traditional Indian lentil chips seasoned with chef's spices, garnished with onion, tomato, and cilantro ($4.00)
  
  Makhani Sauce
  
  butter and methi sauce ($6.00)

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