India's Taste - Markham

India's Taste is located at 680 Denison St., in Markham bordering Toronto's northeast. It's about a 15 min. walk from the Victoria Park bus loop so may be considered transit-accessible, and located in an industrial area... probably less expensive leasing. India's Taste has a nice modern but elegant interior with high-backed booths which are much appreciated. The place was about half full and there was atmospheric music.

Chana masala was excellent with plenty of flavor. Dal was very good and also quite fresh, with bold spicy heat. Methi malai with mushrooms was a wonderful flavor combination with hints of parsley and seasoning that otherwise blended together perfectly. Mishy said the naan bread was the best she ever had, although she says that just about every time. It was quite good though, with just enough butter and a hint of garlic.

Vegetable soup was excellent with a citrusy zesty note which was unique and very good. Shahi paneer is paneer in a butter chicken sauce, rather like vegetarian butter chicken, and was delicious. Paneer dhaniya was another delicious green dish of paneer in a wonderfully seasoned sauce with hints of cilantro, but again the seasonings blend so masterfully it's difficult to tell where one ends and one begins. Aloo gobi had plenty of flavor with some heat and was quite delicious. Eggplant bhartha had very similar seasoning, and happily is pureed without the greasy texture of eggplant that I don't like very much. Sambar had a delicious and interesting flavour, and I can't remember the last time I had this dish if ever, but the seasoning is definitely different from the usual.

Vegetable noodles, once the flavor kicked in with savoriness, were very good and we both loved them. Chicken curry had a very interesting more herbal seasoning which complemented it quite well. Butter chicken was delicious and fresh, with a nice creamy sauce.

Chicken kabob was well-spiced and delicious. Fish Tikka was smoky and its seasoning was not overpowering but was still quite good. Chicken tandoori was a little dry but still good. Tandoori gobi is a delicious variation on aloo gobi with cauliflower cooked in a tandoor and seasoned appropriately. Paneer tikka is similarly a variant on other paneer dishes by being cooked in a Tikka and seasoned appropriately, and it was quite good. Spring roll was very good, fresh and seasoned like it was made on premises. Pakora were unlike any other I've ever had being more like a turnover with filling, and was very good, again with perfectly done seasoning. Samosas also seem to be made on premises and were very well seasoned. Pav bhaji was a delicious puree.

For dessert, gulab jamun was quite hot inside, so beware... was quite good when cooled off. Chocolate ice cream was delicious and rich, vanilla was good although not super-expressive, mango was also understated, strawberry very good; all were fresh and none of them were freezer-burned. Halwa semolina dessert was quite good. Weekend lunch was $28 and seems about the price point these days for these somewhat higher-end Indian buffets. Although this is a lot for lunch, I certainly enjoyed my lunch there (eating way too much!) and Mishy liked it very much as well. We’d possibly return if so many other unexplored places didn’t beckon...

Rating: 8.5 – 9 / 10