There aren’t that many options for Indian food in Baton Rouge. But as of late 2015, new restaurant Daawat from the Al Noor Indian Cuisine team has added to the visibility of the local Indian food scene.
The restaurant’s interior is pretty standard, and the buffet area gives off a cafeteria vibe. There’s a sign next to the food requesting diners not waste food, or suffer from what is idiomatically known as “eyes bigger than your stomach” syndrome. The sign is simple, yet endearing, and almost grandmotherly as it essentially says please finish your plate. It gets across the familial atmosphere of Daawat.
Service was warm and swift. As soon as I walked in, smiling faces ushered me to a table and quickly served me the drink of my choice. I was also given delicious naan, traditional Indian oven-baked flatbread. I could not stop eating it. The host saw my delight and graciously let me have some to take home.
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Then it was time for me to serve myself at the buffet. I am not that familiar with Indian food and was excited by all the options. As a rice lover, I decided to go with a mix of lemon rice and curry fried rice, which turned out to be perfect choices. The two wonderfully seasoned grains of rice really complemented each other and offered both sweet and savory flavors.
I chose crab tikki (sort of like crab cakes) to go with my rice, and I was thrilled with the little crab-filled medallions. While the overwhelming flavor was rich crab, there were piquant undertones of seasoning. The crab tikki was a treat to my taste buds, and I definitely went back for seconds and thirds.
For dessert, I went with the rice pudding. I was not prepared for the pleasure my palate experienced after I took my first taste. If heaven has a taste, it’s Daawat’s rice pudding.
Overall, my foray into Indian cuisine was a pleasant one. I enjoyed eating while listening to the soft Indian music playing throughout the restaurant.
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Though it’s a ways away from where I live, I’d go there again for the rice pudding alone.
Daawat is at 4855 South Sherwood Forest Blvd. and open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
Fast Break is a 225 Dine series that celebrates lunch in Baton Rouge. Follow along as we tour different lunch spots around the city.