Kashmir Indian Restaurant: A Taste of Northern India in the Highlands

Wedged in between an antiques shop and a psychic's storefront — only in the Highlands neighborhood — Kashmir Indian Restaurant can easily be overlooked. Few would guess at the aromatic wonders available at Kashmir Indian Restaurant, a former frame house on Bardstown Road across the street from Mid-City Mall.

Named for the northwestern state on the Indian-Pakistani border, Kashmir includes a long list of authentic northern Indian dishes. How long a list? There are 16 different types of bread alone, including naan, chapati, paratha and pappadam. The menu ranges from curries to various saags to staples like Vegetarian Biryani ($8.99) and various Vidaloos, whether chicken, lamb or shrimp ($9.99–$11.99).

Why not start off with an appetizer of the Non-Vegetarian Platter ($6.25), one of the best ways to garner a sampling of Indian dishes? The platter comes with a meat samosa (a tiny pastry-encrusted minced-lamb pie); some chicken and fish pakora (a batter-dipped and fried nugget), Chicken Tikka (tandoori-cooked chicken) and Seekh Kebab (skewered ground lamb).

Any dish can be ordered mild, medium or hot. Most of the entrees can be made vegetarian or with chicken, lamb or  seafood. Kashmir is a vegetarian's dream, boasting nearly two dozen meatless menu items! These include a Vegetarian Thali, or sampler platter ($8.99); Saag Paneer, a spinach- and mustard leaf-based curry with homemade cheese ($8.99); and Paneer Tikka Masala, a curry dish of homemade cheese nuggets in a rich, lightly spiced, tomato-based sauce ($9.50)

But meat eaters will rejoice, as well. For example, the Non-Vegetarian Thali ($13.25) provides a sampler platter with lamb curry, chicken curry and an enormous tandoori chicken leg, accompanied by spongy poori bread and paper-thin pappadam bread, basmati rice and raita, a cooling condiment of coriander-, mint- and cumin-infused yogurt.

Even those who totally reject heat in their meat can find something at Kashmir Indian Restaurant. The Lamb Korma ($10.99) or Chicken Korma ($9.99) features meat cooked in delicate spices and herbs and served in a mild cream sauce with nuts and golden raisins. This savory, russet-colored dish won't disturb even the faintest of hearts!

If you've managed to save room for dessert, Kashmir has a modest dessert menu: Gulab Jamun, brownish-red balls of cheese, milk and dough soaked in a syrup ($2.50); Kulfi, an exotic Indian ice cream made with almonds, pistachios and cashews ($2.75); and Kheer, the traditional Indian rice pudding ($2)

Kashmir serves lassis, plain ($2.50) or mango ($2.75); mango juice ($2), mango shakes ($2.75), Masala Tea ($2) and Jones soda ($2.50), as well as the usual complement of sodas and regular tea. Or you can opt for one of the many Indian beers or wines.

In good weather, there's plenty of outdoor seating. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. There's a buffet Saturday through Tuesday, noon to 3 p.m. Dinner's served Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon to 10:30 p.m.

Indian cuisine Indian food India Indian northern India Biryani Vindaloo chicken lamb shrimp fish vegetarian vegan samosa pakora Tikka Seekh Kebab Seekh kebab tandoori tandoor Thali saag saag paneer paneer tikka masala masala powder masala curry korma Gulab Jamun Kulfi ice cream cheese almonds pistachios casheews kheer dessert desserts mint cardamon lassi mango masala tea Jones soda Mid-City Mall buffet rice pudding