Restaurant review: Namaste Shangri-La

Nestled in a strip mall at the corner of Tudor and Lake Otis, hungry students can find an Asian food gem known as Namaste Shangri-La. The restaurant’s large menu offers culinary delights from across the Himalayan region that are sure to appease even the hungriest of stomachs at a student-friendly price.

Nearing the restaurant, I was struck by the delicious scent of curry – my personal favorite dish – and I knew I was in for a treat. An ethereal musical mix – likely tunes from Northern India or Nepal – met my ears upon entering and I was quickly seated by a host.

A hefty menu was placed in front of me, and I soon found that there were options for all kinds of eaters – with vegetarian and vegan options having a comfortable amount of menu space. An entire page dedicated to the sauces for pairing with appetizers and entrees described each, leaving no doubt about what flavor to expect.

As for appetizers, there was a large selection, and I ordered only one: papadum. This delectable treat was described by the menu as “crispy lentil wafers, roasted in [a] tandoori oven.” 

I had never tried this before but am more than happy that I ordered it. This bready dish had the look of a toasted tortilla; however, the flavor was closer to that of an unsalted cracker. 

The real pop of the papadum were the sauces that came with it. Not listed on the menu, these sauces came as a surprise to me – one brown and one green. The brown sauce, red chutney, offered a tangy, yet sweet flavor while the green one, green chutney, tasted sweeter and the flavor of cilantro noticeably stuck out. This was a great appetizer that left me wanting more – luckily my entrée was soon to follow.

My appetizer plate was whisked away and shortly after replaced by the main course. This consisted of chicken vindaloo, white rice and garlic naan bread. The menu explained that vindaloo sauce is a combination of onion and tomato sauces cooked with vinegar and Himalayan herbs and spices. I was given the choice of different spice levels, of which I chose spicy. This dish was delicious and easily lived up to the scent of curry that I originally smelled when entering. Not too spicy or overpowering, the chicken vindaloo provided much-needed warmth and flavor for the cold March day on which I enjoyed it.

The garlic naan bread was equally appetizing. It provided a reprieve from the chicken’s spice when needed and was great when dipped in the vindaloo sauce. The flavor was sweet and, obviously, garlicky – again, just right and not overpowering.

To finish my mission at Namaste Shangri-La, I ordered “Nepali Kheer” for dessert. This was a rice pudding flavored with milk and cardamom. The pudding, served with a sprinkling of almonds, was sweet and satisfying. Several other dessert options made an appearance on the menu as well, such as coconut and pistachio ice creams and carrot pudding.

I was impressed with the lengthy menu and reasonable prices. Most appetizers and desserts ranged between $3 and $4 while entrees cost roughly $15. The chicken vindaloo, for example, cost $15.95 and could easily feed two people.

Overall, Namaste Shangri-La provided great food and friendly service at a price point that is within reach for college students. It is located roughly a two-minute drive from campus at 2446 E Tudor Road.