Food A La Mahatma

The Indian Oven is located in the Old Market District of Omaha, NE. The Old Market  (Omaha’s #2 tourist destination) is like the Cherry Creek of Denver; a lot of great restaurants, shops and art galleries. The majority of the restaurants are locally owned, but it does have a few chains. 

Tucked away in the northeast corner, near Howard Street and 10^th, the Indian Oven has been open since 1984. It has been named “The Best of Omaha” for many years and the food and service proves why. 

My friend James and I opted to sit outside. The September night had a fall feeling; the air was crisp, the humidity was low and temperatures maintained at about 68 degrees.

The patio has about 10 tables; the inside is not much bigger. Inside, the walls are painted in a curry-like color, with the smells of chili peppers, cumin, and turmeric filling the air. When you walk through the doors you feel like you’ve been transported to an exotic location.

Just like Colorado, you can’t smoke inside. The only downside I found sitting outside was the cigar bar next-door, where people who chain-smoke congregate.

Our waitress, who kind of looked like Janeane Garofalo, recommended we start with a chai. The homemade blend with fresh black tea leaves, select spices and warm milk had a fresh taste. None of the mixture of spices stood out, but that is actually a good thing. The perfectly mixed blend was a start to what would be one of the best meals I’ve had in years.

 James and I started with a simple appetizer. He ordered the papri chat.  It had five naan chips (baked flat bread) with a dip made of chickpeas and potatoes topped with tamarind-jalapeno and cilantro chutneys.

I am not a big fan of chickpeas, they usually have a raw and bland taste for me. But this may have changed my views on the legume. What out hummus, here I come!

The semi-spicy sauce drizzled on top added the zing you desire when you eat Indian food. The baked naan, acted like a spoon, perfect for scooping the dip like appetizer.

The naan was light, crunchy and perfectly seasoned. I was disappointed when we only got five. There were still several helpings of chickpeas left, which I had to eat with an actual spoon.

 The waitress was excited to tell us about the new Tandoori oven the restaurant just bought.  She recommended we try some actual naan, which is baked against the walls of the oven.

Naan can be served plain, but usually flavored with different herbs and spices; she suggested we get ours topped with garlic and freshly cut cilantro. (I was surprised at how much cilantro there is in Indian cooking)

The flat bread, still warm when it came to our table with our meal had a bold garlic flavor. The bright green from the cilantro splashed against the white of the bread added a unique flavor 

For dinner I tried the Chicken Kashmiri; it’s mild in spice compared to some dishes you can eat at an Indian restaurant. It was the perfect follow-up to the already perfect meal. (Kashmirim, which means banana, is a northern Indian dish.)

The creamy fruit sauce of banana and coconut was fantastic. It is beautifully served in a dish, with rice and a salad on the side. You can tell the chef puts effort and love with every dish that comes out of his kitchen. 

If you are curry wimp, this is the best dish to satisfy your taste buds.  It is a curry, but not spicy at all. This dish is not bland; it’s full of flavors like fennel, cinnamon and cumin. The creamy texture comes from the yoghurt base they use in the sauce.

The dish comes with several chunks of chicken breasts; bananas and almonds are used as a garnish. I just wished there was more chicken in the dish. It is served with a nice side salad and Indian Oven rice. 

The bill for two people came to about $48.00. It was on the expensive side, but rent in the Old Market is high, and this is food you don’t get often. I hope to get a second chance to eat there before I head back to Colorado.