Where the Locals Eat Rating
Best Indian
Top 100 Restaurant, New Orleans
"In 1982, inspired by the curry houses of Europe, Har and Anila Keswani opened their first Indian restaurant, Taj Mahal, in Metairie (still in operation). Since then, the Keswani family has operated three other Indian restaurants in New Orleans: Keswani's in Uptown Square, Shalimar in the French Quarter, and now, since 1999, Nirvana on Magazine Street."
–Nirvana's website
"At lunch, Nirvana, the area's best Indian restaurant, sets a buffet of its standards: hot naan, assorted chutneys, tandoori and saag chicken, curried garbanzo beans . . . [that] will satisfy a craving, perhaps even get you to return for dinner."
–Brett Anderson, The Times-Picayune
"Known for curries that burst with flavor, Nirvana has a lunch buffet that makes for a very satisfying midday meal."
–Gambit Weekly
". . . the [lunch] buffet (with many vegetarian items) is one of the great Uptown dining bargains.
–Offbeat Magazine
"Nirvana is the kind of place where you and your date can secret yourself away at a back table, or a bunch of friends can festively dine together."
–WWLTV "Unknown Food Critic"
"Nirvana is nirvana for vegetarians."
–Where Y'at magazine
Full bar. Serving lunch and dinner Tue–Sun. Closed Mon.
How Others Rate Nirvana
Zagat 2009
21 Food Quality (very good to excellent)
The New Orleans Menu by Tom Fitzmorris
*** (good enough to go out of your way to try)
Where Y'At
Best Indian Restaurant, 2009 readers' poll