An Indian restaurant tucked away in a strip mall in the suburb of Arden Hills may seem unassuming, but it’s quite the opposite. Namaste’s spice and flavors are so good, it took me straight back to my study abroad trip to India.
What: Namaste India Grill & Brewhouse
Cuisine: Indian
Where: 3673 Lexington Ave N, Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: $15-25
Distance from Bethel University: 5 minutes
Featuring traditional Northern Indian cuisine from Haryana, this restaurant is about as authentic as it gets. Personally, after visiting Haryana and speaking with the owner of Namaste, I can attest that this place is legitimate. It has a wide variety of Indian street food with hot, spicy and mild options to suit different taste palates.
I went with chicken josh, lamb curry, and vegetable korma, a generous helping of rice and last, but not least, in my opinion, their greatest bread from the clay oven, garlic naan.
Once again, I had to get a to-go box because I literally could not eat all theany more food.
Many people go for the popular butter chicken, but if you want something very similar with a little more kick and a distinctive taste, I would recommend the chicken josh. The creamy sauce alone pairs well with rice or garlic naan, but the boneless chicken makes it a great all-around choice. The lamb curry was a more tomato-based dish, with the sauce a bit runnier than the josh, but still great with rice and naan. For vegetarians, the vegetable korma topped with cashews and peas is great served with chicken dishes or on its own with rice.
If you’re into Indian food or looking to try something new, this is my top recommendation. As I previously mentioned, it doesn’t get closer to actually being in India than this. The five-minute drive (or the 30-minute walk) from Bethel makes it a great local pick.
Namaste is open from 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 -10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday. On weekends, the Indian grill is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
