India Oven - Authentic Cuisine of India
| Address: | 3450 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214, USA |
| Phone: | +1 503-872-9687 |
| Site: | indiaovenportland.com |
| Rating: | 3.8 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 5–9PM |
Location
Photos 40
Reviews 6
A
A Private User
Portland is known for great food. And its also known that we have pretty bad service. But if we could give out an award for the worst service in our great Foodie city, it would have to be to Indian Oven on Belmont. We came inside expecting a warm escape from the 30 degree windy weather last week. It wasnt warm at all and the waiter/host (one in the same) actually wanted to seat us next to the door when every table in the place was completely empty. I said wed prefer to sit in a warmer spot and he seemed bothered by that. We asked specifically for separate checks and we all ordered separately. But he brought us the food together...in the same dishes (it was very confusing when he put two dishes of rice on the table but there were three of us who ordered rice dishes... then we find out that we were to share the two servings between the three of us. There was a similar story with the naan also!). The wait for our food seemed like an eternity (which seemed ridiculous given the fact we were the only people in the restaurant)! When the food finally arrived, he couldnt remember who had what dish and because they looked so similarly we had trouble telling also. He was so hard to understand that we couldnt even tell what he was calling each dish! I had to keep asking to have my water refilled. He pretty much ignored us. When he brought the bill... guess what! It was all together (even though we were very specific about separating checks). We asked him again if he would separate it for us and he said, just write who was paying for what on the back of the receipt because "then it saves me work." (!!!!) If that wasnt bad enough, he didnt even bring us a pen with the bill!!! I told him we would like a pen and he acted surprised that we didnt have one ourselves. The food was simply ok and alright. But nothing to write home about or bother returning for. It also was a little spendy when you consider the portion sizes. In this day and age we want a good deal, especially if were going to a place that treats you like dirt. We will not be returning for a second time and we would advise anyone and everyone to not even try it for a first time.
JA
jaleel ihsan
If you are looking for not just the authentic Indian cuisine but authentic Indian cuisine fit for Maharajas and Maharinis (rulers of the princely states that existed in Indian subcontinent before and during the British colonial rule), you can definitely find it at India Oven (and unlikely elsewhere). I travel all over the US for business and prefer to eat at an Indian place. I have not found a place like this up till now. I will give just two examples out of the menu to illustrate the difference between simply authentic and authentic plus superb. Chicken Biryani (with bones) one finds at regular Indian restaurants is authentic, but not good enough for the royal taste. Making it boneless is not sufficient either. At India Oven, you get this plus a healthy amount of raisins, almonds, cashews and other nuts. Plain salted Lassi (yoghurt shake, effective in beating the scorching Indian summer heat) would be authentic but, not good enough for the royal taste. At India Oven, you get it with a touch of freshly ground mint or freshly round dry roosted cumin seeds. The wife of the owner couple freshly prepares each dish, right behind the counter, in plain sight (not hidden behind kitchen doors), just as she would prepare it for her family, if she was back in India.
SA
Sabrina Suazo
The food here is the absolute best Portland/Vancouver has to offer. After moving here from Denver I was upset with the terrible Indian food Portland had. I was walking on Belmont and saw this place and popped in to give it a try. First of all let me tell you that their chai is amazing! You can taste the cinnamon, anise and ginger. Leaps and bounds better that the crap other places try to pass off as chai. They also sweeten their chai - something that I was accustomed to in other places in the US but not here in Portland. They also have soy chai! My family is vegan and the selection of vegan friendly entrees is awesome. The flavors are authentic and if you want spicy they will give it to you. I dont know what other people are talking about when they say the food was bland or not spicy enough - medium is too spicy for our family and I love spicy. Their samosas are not greasy, unlike other places. They have the best tamarind - its not watered down and it has chunks of what I think is date and it is spiced to perfection. If you want the best Portland has to offer - this is it.
SU
Sue Jensen
These people have much to learn about taking care of the customer. As you walk in the door, there is a cold, empty feel about the restaurant from the owner. The prices are ridiculous and the attitude is inconceivable. The food taste fine but I ordered 3 different curry dishes and none of us could tell much difference between them. I was charged $5 for a cucumber salad and that was all it was.... a small plate of cucumber. I asked for some Nan to go with dinner and was charged $4 for 1 piece. The owner/server saw that we were done eating and ready to go but just glared at us. There was only one other customer in the restaurant at 6pm which tells a lot. Finally my boyfriend reached behind the counter to get a to go box and the owner got upset and gave us our bill. This is the first time in 20 years that I havent tipped for food and service.
A
A Private User
DO NOT EAT HERE. Terrible idea. The waiter tried to sit us next to the door, when there were plenty of other, nicer seating available. We waited over 20 minutes after ordering our food in which three parties after us already received their appetizers before we even got our main dish. On top of that, my eggplant was cold ( and tasted like baby food), the naan was burnt and our water glasses were only filled ONCE. When my boyfriend told the waiter this he just minced an "Oh really?" The worst part was, after all of this our bill was still high and we both felt bloated instead of sated. I will never go back here, ever again. I would rather drive out of my neighborhood and spend more at Swagat. Swagats prices are worth their food quality, the quality of service and the atmosphere.
AS
Ash Poor
Our favorite Indian restaurant. The hosts are gracious, and the food is excellent. We tend to order the same things, so after patronizing the restaurant 2-3 times/month since it was on Hawthorne, the owners know what were going to order when we get there, and let us know if "our table" is available or not when we come in. Please note, this isnt anywhere you want to eat when youre in a hurry, as service can be slow, but only because it is a small operation, and everything is cooked fresh. Dont believe it? The kitchen shares space with the dining room, so you just have to look past the counter to see it being cooked. Excellent chicken pakora, chicken and boti tikka masala, tandori, naan, onion bhaji, samosa, and perhaps the best chai EVER.
