Welcome New India to Lakeside Avenue
Style Weekly provides the nuts ‘n’ blots on Lakeside’s newest restaurant:
North Siders were a bit surprised when the casual, seafood-centric LA Grill closed suddenly last year, then became a short-lived Italian joint, Mento’s, for only a few weeks before going dark. Now the place, at 5516 Lakeside Ave., has another identity, New India, and new owners, cousins Santokh and Malkiat Singh.
It’s still a no-frills setting, but early raves for the food might indicate a level of stability in the food-conscious neighborhood. “We just want to let people know that we are here,” Santokh says, “and that we have clay oven and tandoori dishes and many vegetarian items.” They serve a lunch buffet daily as well as dinner, 5-9 p.m. 266-1170.
Having read a positive review on New Indian, a colleague and I decided to give it a try on an early Sunday evening…
What a major disappointment! Although there were only two occupied tables when we arrived, it took over an hour to be served one order of wine and two entrees.
Both my dish and my companion’s were variations of chicken with a coconut base…both were somewhat bland with no coconut flavoring, nor anything that we could identify as the described ingredients of cashews and raisins.
The owner/manager tried to intimidate us into accepting “free desserts” which we did not want.
Except for excellent conversation, this was a sad waste of an evening. I wouldn’t think of going back…and would
remind other Richmonder’s that we do have
many very good Indian Restaurants…New India just doesn’t happen to be one of them.
Ginter Park Neighbor
WONDERFUL! We’ve been in for the Buffet and Dinner “off the menu” dining. Every experience is wonderful. (Too Sad the Ginter Park Neighbor didn’t have good things to say)
All of our food has been wonderful. We’ve brought friends in and everyone has enjoyed and has come back again. We’ve been trying different items each time we come in from appetizers to entrees to desserts and drinks. (And the lunch buffet is a wonderful treat!) Everything leaves us with that immediate and “hours later euphoria” of “Wow! That was soooo good!!”
The owner is kind and service has never been a problem .. exactly as I would expect in a restaurant that makes all their fresh, tasty food. Drinks arrived … Appetizer arrived … dinner arrived .. dessert arrived. We did not have to wait long. (It’s not a FAST FOOD establishment… it’s a DINING establishment!) Our water was always filled.
For the Ginter Park reviewer to say Santokh “intimidated” them by offering desserts … OMG… I can’t even imagine it. Wonderful, kind owner.. Amazing food and very pleasant dining experience. Great spices… yum… Yum… YUM!!! May NEW INDIA… Live Long and Prosper!! Welcome to the Lakeside Community!!
I’ve only had good experiences at New India, both dining in and taking out. The vegetable korma is a must try!
I’ve been twice to the lunch buffet. I second what the 3rd person said – try the vegetable korma!! That’s my favorite. The Naan bread is fabulous, the chicken Korma also very good. If it’s not hot enough you can try adding some chutney – the yoghurt “raita” is good if you want to make it less hot. I liked the range of thing particularly the chickpeas and spinach. Nice dessert.
Great value.
I couldn’t disagree more with the first post either, I can’t imagine the folks there being anything but very kind and helpful. I went with my roommate, who is Indian and very picky about his food, and even he was impressed, they even made it spicy enough for him, a hard thing to do! Without having read these reviews, I got the vegetable korma too, it was so delicious I almost fainted! I’m definitely going back, now I want to try the buffet though to see what else I like!
I was so saddened to read the first post! It could not be further from my experiences.
New India’s food has far exceeded the quality of any other indian cuisine I have tasted in Richmond.
I have searched for a good Indian restaurant here for 8 years, and cannot be happier about the food I have gotten at New India. I am doubly pleased that this one openened only a few miles from my home.
The food is fresh, the spice levels right on target, the service kind and efficient, and the atmosphere is clean and pleasant.
Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
I actually thought this place was great! You could tell that it is a family run restaurant, and the food was very tasty. I am not sure if Lakeside is ready for an Indian restaurant, but I really hope they do well!
I agree with the first comment! This restaurant is especially bad if you have kids! My husband and I have gone twice (decided to give a second chance) for dinner with our 3 year old son, and it took over an hour just to get food. If you know 3 year olds…that doesn’t work well! I also asked for very mild, and the food was SO spicy, I could hardly eat it! And they did try and push free mango lassi on us…which we had already had…but was still charged for! We live down the street and have vowed to NEVER return. Bad service and kind-of rude, food is very average and the wait is just unbelievable! If you want a good Indian restaurant…Don’t go to New India.
I, too, will have to agree with the first comment, as did my companion, a neighbor. The waiter seemed to have an attitude and was not at all helpful. He couldn’t even make any recommendations. The “service” was slow, and the quality of the food, poor. I wanted to return and give them a second chance, but having stumbled across this site and reading #’s 1 & 8 comments, no thanks.
I have been to the lunch buffet at New India many times and have always enjoyed it. My kids, 5 and 3, have also been several times and it has been a good experience.
I don’t know about dinner but try the lunch buffet and you won’t regret it.
I have been to New India twice for the lunch buffet, which I think is good food and reasonably priced. I always get vegetarian samosas with mint chutney for takeout after my meal and they are fantastic! I am planning another visit to New India again next week. I also agree with most of the comments which say that the owner/server is very kind and concientious and our water glasses are always full. Once when the buffet got wiped out by a group of diners, we requested things to be refilled. Not only were they refilled fairly promptly, but the server brought the naan (bread)right to our table, freshly made.
I sincerely hope this restaurant has continued success!
The food is something I had never had before in any Indian restaurants. Simply Awesome! We went for a birthday and had a lunch buffet, were pleasantly surprised with the excellent buffet varities. We couldn’t wait and decided to go for our anniversary too – it’s very peaceful and cozy place with good food and loving people what else would you need to enjoy special occasions! The owner was so nice and polite.
We are sure it will be a huge success – just wait till the word gets out there!
( lol! ) Thanks, folks! I just gained ten pounds just reading about the food mentioned in these comments! New India sounds like a promising new establishment, and I’m — now — planning to visit. I’ve never had Indian cuisine before, but now I have to try it. Thanks for the recommendations!
It’s already out of business.
I don’t think it is out of business. I think it is in the same building as the Sports Bar. The New India sign is still up on the side.