Take Taste Buds In Different Direction At The Taste Of India

Without lifting a fork, I can declare that a new place on North Division is the best Indian restaurant in Spokane.

OK, so it’s the only Indian restaurant in Spokane.

But judging by the crowded dining room at Taste of India during lunch last week, adventurous eaters have been starving for spicy curries and meats cooked in a tandoori oven. And the restaurant is happy to oblige.

For those unfamiliar with the foods of India, the cuisine goes way beyond curry. It’s been called a perfect melding of Middle Eastern, Mongolian and Malaysian. (Persian pilafs, Moghul kebabs, Turkish flatbreads and Indonesian spices find a place on the Indian table.)

The expansive menu at Taste of India covers a lot of territory. There are more than 10 entries under the bread category alone. One entire page is dedicated to various curries and there are 13 vegetable dishes.

Neophytes should check out the daily lunch buffet - with three or four entrees to sample, along with the most delicious bread to scoop the saucy dishes. Naan is a slightly fluffy flatbread with much more character than a tortilla. Also, don’t skip the zippy mint chutney.

Taste of India is a most welcome addition to the Spokane dining scene.

The restaurant is located at 3110 N. Division. It’s open daily from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Chew with your brew

Casey’s Pub in Post Falls has cooked up a menu that’s a nice blend of burgers, sandwiches and pizza as well as a few slightly more upscale dishes.

Make mine the N’Awlins shrimp, please. Those are prawns sauteed in hot spices and Falls Gold (one of the brews made on premises). Many of the items are made with the house suds as a key ingredient. The kitchen even sneaks it into the pizza sauce.

At lunch, there’s a selection of nicely priced specials, including a Southwest burger complemented by a salsa made with Altbier and angel hair pasta with garlic and fresh basil. All lunches are $4.95.

Casey’s Pub is located at Highway 41 and Seltice Way in Post Falls.

Read all about it

Magellan Press recently published a national directory of restaurants focusing on local favorites.

Spokane is well-represented, too. Here are a sampling of the results found in “Where locals eat - A Guide to the Best Restaurants in the Country”:

Best Mexican: Chapala.

Best place to take the kids: Cyrus O’Leary’s and Tomato Street.

Best seafood: Clinkerdagger and Salty’s.

Best steaks: Arizona Steakhouse.

Best Chinese: Kay Lon Garden.

Best breakfast: Waffles and More.

Best place to eat when someone else is buying: Patsy Clark’s.

Best sandwiches: Domini and Bruchi’s.

Best Japanese: The Mustard Seed.

But here’s one entry that I found completely baffling: The Onion was rated as the restaurant with the best vegetarian food.

The Onion’s where I head when I’m craving a big juicy burger, but for veggie fare? Maybe the respondents were thinking of those gloriously decadent onion rings.

They’re sure perky

I halfway expected to see Rachel from “Friends” behind the counter of the new City Perk espresso bar in the STA Plaza.

Then, somebody set me straight - it’s Central Perk, not City Perk, where the gang of “Friends” hang out on that top-rated TV show.

Still, I thought the guy taking orders at City Perk showed some good comic skills. When I asked what kind of coffee they used, he deadpanned “Folger’s.” Very funny.

The coffee - Craven’s - was good (try the light roast) and another thing to recommend this place was a case full of pastries. Not the dry, break-a-tooth biscotti they offer at the tony espresso joints, either.

City Perk offers ooey-gooey glazed donuts, maple bars and other diet-busting sweets. They offer free delivery, too. Check it out.

Small bites

During October, a portion of the proceeds from every Family Feast meal sold at Boston Market will be donated to efforts to educate people about breast cancer. (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.) The project is expected to raise up to $300,000.

Rodolfo’s in the Valley has closed. Mamma Mia’s also has called it quits.

The owners of Zip’s are getting into the world of wraps - a neat alternative to the sandwich. Look for Wrappers with Flair on East Sprague at Pines and also farther out on Sprague between Progress and Adams.

Next month, you’ll say oyster and I’ll say urster. No matter what you call the briny bivalves, they’re going to be celebrated during Salty’s annual oyster festival. For details, call the restaurant at 327-8888. , DataTimes The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, RESTAURANT REVIEW - Behind the Menu