Indian Food Wonderfully Done

Wilmington finally got a wonderful Indian restaurant when Tandoori Bites, located across the street from Hugh MacRae Park on South College Road, opened in 2010. Tandoori Bites offers a lunch buffet every day that is an excellent way for those who are not familiar with Indian food to sample many different dishes, as well as for those who know and love Indian food to chooses their favorites. The buffet is very modestly priced and extensive, typically including vegetarian samosa, palaak paneer (spinach cooked with fresh homemade cheese); chana masala (chick peas cooked with onions and tomatoes), chicken saag (chicken cooked with spinach and freshly ground spices) and gulab jamun (deep fried wheat and milk balls soaked in syrup) with a whole host of additional dishes too. The buffet changes daily, so the selection is never identical. Fresh, hot Indian bread is brought to you table after you’ve ordered the buffet.

Dinner choices at Tandoori Bites are outstanding. Either the vegetarian or non vegetarian thali are excellent sampler choices, since they feature smaller portions of several dishes served with rice, nan (a delicious Indian bread) and dessert. Other outstanding choices are lamb vindaloo, marinated lamb cooked in vinegar and potatoes in a spicy gravy; shrimp tikka masala, jumbo shrimp with flavorful spices and herbs in a rich and creamy sauce, and vegetable biryani, basmati rice cooked with spices and fresh vegetables. Go with a group of friends if possible so that you can order a number of dishes and delicious breads to share.

Tandoori Bites is vegan friendly and has a kid’s menu and full bar with all ABC permits in the attractively decorated restaurant. They have a very good selection of Indian beers too and open from 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tandoori Bites also offers full catering service.