Restaurant Review: Namaste Cafe

Take the Namaste Cafe, for example, where I recently dined with two of my friends. Though not all of us were even vegetarian, we ended up with an entirely vegan meal because of the large array of tasty options.

“In South Asia,” the owner tells me, “meat is something that is really only eaten about once a week. Vegetarian food is eaten every day. It’s a healthy lifestyle.”

Open for lunch and dinner, the Namaste Cafe (pronounced nah-mah-STAY) has over 25 treats that either are vegan or can be prepared vegan upon request. And although it’s only been open for about a year, they’ve already gotten a pretty good response from the masses. Mentioned in the 2007 Reader’s Faves under Indian restaurants, it was also voted “Best Chai 2007” in City Pages—Chai that, by the way, is available with soy milk.

“People are very health conscious these days,” they tell me, “and we try to satisfy every customer.”

Billed as Nepali cuisine with global inspirations, the food is similar to Indian, but, as the waitress informed us, a little bit lighter. They value local and organic products, and they cook the food right after you order. It’s a little bit of a longer wait than most restaurants, but the result is well worth it.

I started out with the Fried Dahl, a warming, hearty soup of lentils and perfectly fried onions, spiked with cilantro and some chopped tomatoes that provided a wonderful contrast with the deep, rich flavor of the lentils. Flavorful without being spicy, the Fried Dahl is definitely a must-try.

As I moved on to the Namaste Special Curry with vegetables (most dishes on the menu give you a choice of tofu, vegetables, or some kind of meat), I was even more impressed. Tangy and unique, the tomato-based curry was packed with spices that complemented the green beans, cauliflower, and potato morsels perfectly. The tastefully placed scallions in this dish were also a nice touch. This dish deserved its “special” title.

Although I’ve only been to Namaste twice, I’d recommend everything I had. The Special Curry and Dahl were the highlights, but the Kathmandu curry (which I had with tofu) was pleasant, light, and flavorful without being overbearing. Under “Small Bites,” the Aloo Chop was also quite enjoyable: Deep fried puffs filled with potatoes, mushrooms, peas, and, of course, spices.

If you’re looking for a gourmet way to dine vegetarian, I’d suggest the Namaste Cafe.

Namaste Cafe
2512 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405

Review by Alana Horowitz-Friedman