Flavors of India Port Charlotte

“I do not like Indian food.” I used to be able to say that honestly. My wife has always loved Indian food, though, so despite my lack of excitement for the cuisine, I suggested we dine at Flavors of India in North Port/Port Charlotte for lunch. I’m so glad we did. Firstly, our server, John, was absolutely terrific. He was friendly from the moment we walked in, and even offered a suggestion for my own meal (which turned out to be perfect!) I started off with ordering the Chicken Lollipops as an appetizer, which is chicken wings coated in a chili sauce. I really enjoyed that they were crispy fried, but not at all greasy. I would certainly get them again. My wife has some limitations to her diet for health reasons, so it can be difficult to find something she can eat at a restaurant and actually enjoy. She decided to try the Aloo Gobi Masala (gluten free and vegan) and described it as hearty and filling, with a well-balanced heat (she ordered it “hot”), while the veggies were tasty and cooked perfectly. I was unsure about what to get for myself, but was leaning toward a goat dish. John suggested Goat Chettinadu, as I mentioned I also like a lot of heat in my food. This proved to be a marvelous suggestion, as the dish was spectacular. The goat was so tender, and it was served in a creamy sauce that is almost soup-like. I would compare the meat-type to oxtails, as they are little bits of meat attached to the bone, but offer such profound flavors you don’t mind getting your fingers a bit saucy. In fact, I had to remind myself I was in public so that I didn’t go hog-wild on the sauce. The goat was robust in flavor, while the sauce it was cooked in was so smooth it really could be eaten like a soup, it was so creamy and delightful. YUM!! Mix it in your jasmine rice to really take advantage of every drop. On a personal level, I wouldn’t mind bumping the heat level up a bit, which I will ask for the next time I go – and there WILL BE many a “next time”. So now, if I were to say “I don’t like Indian food”, I’d be a big ol’ liar. I just had to find the right stuff, and believe me, Flavors of India has the right stuff. Great service, excellent flavors, and the portions were big enough that an extra-large man such as myself needed boxes to take home the leftovers, which did not last long in the fridge. Oh! I cannot forget that I also ordered Keema Naan, which is naan lightly filled with lamb meat. It was both sweet and savory at the same time, and I recommend it, too. I’m so excited to have found new flavors in this area, and I suggest you give them a try – even if you’re one of those, like I was until last week, that claims “I don’t like Indian food”. Trust me, you may be very wrong about that. I certainly was. And I couldn’t be happier about it.