India's Taste is located at 2620 Simcoe St. N. in north Oshawa, the municipality three east of Toronto. We have reviewed three other locations of this chain; this one opened recently, a few months ago, and the interior was spotlessly clean and gleaming. Although there were no other customers there when we arrived, they eventually showed up and it was moderately busy. Pop is canned, not AYCD and somewhat overpriced at $3.50. However, rose milk made with Rooh Afza is included and delicious, so pop is unnecessary. Naan will be delivered on request, plain, butter and garlic. We went for weekend lunch.
Mishy said the veg Hakka noodles were delicious with some slight heat, and I agree that they were very good. I loved the chicken kabob, which also had just enough heat without excess. Aloo tikka is a cute round potato pancake and was excellent with a warm cozy flavour. Fish pakora was excellent, with very good seasoning again not being too hot. Mishy loved the butter chicken, saying it was excellent and tender, and I totally agree that it was excellent. Chicken tandoori was too hot but fantastic otherwise, and we both loved it between gulps of beverage. Chicken and fish tikka were both delicious.
Chicken Biryani was very good with plenty of flavour. Creamy chicken had a delicious sauce. Curry chicken was very good and Handi chicken excellent. Veg dumpling was delivered to our table unasked for us to sample, and it was delicious and original. Daal makhani was wonderful and full of flavour, as was rajma curry. Chana masala was very good to excellent, very well-seasoned. Mixed veg was delicious and had a nice balance of vegetables and flavours. Baigan bhartha I have not had before but it was quite good and seems be made of squash. Tandoori soya chaap had a wonderful smoky flavour. Potato balls seem cooked on a tikka and were quite enjoyable, as was tikka paneer which had a nicely piquant cheese bite. Samosas were excellent although I suspect for purchased rather than made on premises.
For dessert, Mishy was not impressed with the rasmalai, but brightened up when I showed her the area with the ice cream and cakes which is hidden near the bar, not in the buffet area. She especially loved the strawberry ice cream with its syrup marbling, which I did as well. Butterscotch was fresh not freezer burned. We also both loved the halwi as it had carrot which gives it more flavour, and it was delicious. Gulub jamun was very good.. Rabri is another dessert dish I can't recall having at least recently and has an interesting mix of flavours and was quite enjoyable. Mango fruit cream was very mangoey and very good. Jalebi is like a sweet semi-translucent pretzel, and was good. Nameless little cakes ie black forest were very good and fresh. It was $32.99 on weekends and this is is an all day price including dinner, which is only slightly over for lunch and slightly under for dinner which balances out. The included rose milk beverage adds value. We certainly had an excellent, memorable lunch and it was worth the trip!
Rating: 9 - 9.5 / 10 + 0.5 value adjustment = 9.5 - 10 / 10
