All food critiques will be judged on the following categories: presentation; taste; creativity; and overall rating of atmosphere. Each category will have a rating of one star to five stars with five being the best. And then all four categories will be averaged for an overall rating.
What: Food Critique
Where: Nirvana Indian Corvallis, OR
When: Monday evening February 9, 2015
Overall: 3 3/4 stars (for tonight's dinner). Overall a delicious meal, prepared well with great and friendly customer service.
Presentation: 3 stars Nirvana takes the extra time and effort to make sure each dish is ascetically pleasing as well as clean and appetizing.
Taste: 4 stars As far a taste goes every food item hit the mark! The combination of Indian spices and curries were incredible. I ordered the Lamb Sag with a medium spice level and the spice was perfect with a kick but not painful. The meats were tender and juicy leaving me wanting more. The only thing I was not crazy about was the Chai. The Chai is not the sweet and spicy type Chai one would find at a coffee shop but instead is what is traditionally served in India or Africa as "Chai" which is simply black tea with warm milk. I was missing the spices (cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper etc.).
Creativity: 3 stars Nirvana serves traditional authentic Punjabi Indian dishes so there isn't a lot of room for creativity. However two dishes that stood out are the Nirvana Feast (meat version) and the Tandoori Grill.
Atmosphere: 2 1/2 stars There is so much more that could be done in regards to creating a fun and unique atmosphere. I really wanted to be taken to India...take me on a journey with the food, atmosphere and service to India. However I find this disheveled and haphazard manner of ethnic decoration typical of many Indian, Thai and Chinese restaurants. Where there are a few traditional/ethic decorations combined with some tacky American decorations and a lot of barren wall space without anything. I like how clean and organized Nirvana is. The dining experience is simple and not cluttered and there is an elegance to it. Nirvana has received 100%'s on their last several health inspections. Corvallis is lacking an ethnic restaurant that has amazing décor and that the dining experience in itself is festive and an event.
We started off with a Lamb Samosa as an appetizer.
They arrived two steaming golden brown pyramids. I cut into mine and the aroma of lamb and Indian spices filled the room. The lamb was flavorful and moist. The pastry shell was on the thick side but delicious. I topped mine with a spicy mint chutney which added the perfect amount of spice to the minced lamb.
Next came the Lamb Sag which I ordered without the cream. This is the reason I prefer Nirvana Indian over its competition Evergreen Indian. Everything at Nirvana is made fresh to order and they do a great job adapting to special dietary needs.
The portions are generous, rice cooked perfectly and attention paid to the detail of presentation. The waitress who is the owner's wife presents each dish with it's name and arranges the dishes on the table in an eloquent manner. The owner Gurmeed is the head chef. He took the time to come and talk with us and inquire about our happiness with the food. Gurmeed has a jovial and humble personality. It is apparent that him and his wife take immense pride in their food, presentation and restaurant. Nirvana has been open since 2008. They are well known for their weekend and lunch buffets. The Buffet is a bargain at $9.99 for lunch which is available seven days a week. They also have a to-go option. This Buffet is by far the freshest buffet I have ever experienced and they keep the food coming. Back to the Lamb Sag. The lamb was cooked perfectly: braised first and then slow cooked providing pieces of lamb that I could cut with my fork and that were seasoned perfectly. My handsome date ordered The Nirvana Feast which they have a meat and a vegetarian version. I recommended either of these dishes as an introduction to Indian food and as a sampler to the quality of Nirvana's food or the buffet would offer the same experience.
Everything tastes better sitting across from this guy!! Sorry girls. He is taken!!
As you can see the Nirvana Feast comes with a generous array of food and can easily be shared with two people. The Nirvana (meat) Feast includes: Tandoori chicken, Seekh Kabob, Boti Babob, Chicken Tikka, Lamb Curry, Mattar Paneer, Pilav, Nan, Ratia, Salad, Kheer and Tea or Coffee. The Paneer (cheese) is homemade as is the Ratia (yogurt). The cheese is a great consistency: light with a nice chewy texture. Unfortunately I did not try the Mango Lassi but my date loved his and affirmed it was well done! A Lassi is a refreshing yogurt drink and this one was blended with Mano pulp. I will have to take his word for it and remember to try it next time! Also included in the picture below is the Chai tea.
Overall a delightful dining experience. I look forward to going to Nirvana again and to trying out more of their interesting menu.
Contact Information:
1945 NW 9th St Corvallis, OR 97330
(541) 738-6104
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