Spice Village

Spice Village, located at 8 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, is a delightful experience with great service and even better food.

Before dinner we received cone shaped chips with three different dipping sauces. There was a brown tamarind sauce, a deep forest green mint dipping sauce and an orange-yellow mango chutney. All three were powerful flavors and a great start to the menu.

My guests and I started out with the Baingan Bartha ($13.95), a smoked eggplant dish with green chilies, ginger, tomatoes, onions and fresh coriander leaves. The dish was creamy and flavorful.

We decided to order three dishes, which were all suitable for sharing.

The Prawn Malai Curry ($19.95) contained large tiger prawns marinated in mild spices with herbs, then cooked in a coconut sauce. The prawns were plump and juicy and so perfectly cooked that they literally popped when bitten into. They had a tremendous amount of flavor and the coconut sauce accompanying them gave the entire dish a familiar "coconut shrimp" flavor.

A traditional favorite, Tandoori Chicken ($14.50) is a must at any Indian restaurant. Chicken marinated in yogurt and freshly ground spices, then skewered and grilled in a clay oven. This was the best I had ever tasted. The chicken was incredible. It was moist, succulent and flavorful. The spices were not at all overpowering. The depth of flavor kept me and my guests guessing which spices and flavors were used.

My favorite dish out of all three was the Chicken Tikka Masala ($15.95). The waitress had recommended this dish and suggested we pair it with a Garlic Naan ($3.50). The chicken again was perfectly cooked, but the sauce was what made the dish special for me. Boneless chicken breast is grilled in a tandoor oven and cooked in a creamy sauce with mild spices. The reddish sauce was almost like a tomato sauce and when mixed with the garlic naan created an Indian dish with Italian-like flavors.

Our order came with an enormous bowl of rice to mix everything with and by the end of the meal there was regrettably no room for dessert.

I have had the opportunity to try several different Indian restaurants in the surrounding area, but none were as enjoyable as this Tuckahoe gem. The inside is beautifully decorated with soft music and extremely friendly staff. I went on a Monday night, which for most restaurants is a relatively quiet night. Not at Spice Village. There were filled tables all around the restaurant. The cozy outdoor seating is perfect for the warm summer months and there is even a small red carpet and velvet rope outside the front entrance. Spice Village is a charming and authentic experience that will leave you wanting to come back again and again.

Their hours are as follows:

Lunch:

Monday - Friday: 12.00 PM to 2.30 PM (Buffet)

Saturday and Sunday: Until 3.00PM

Dinner:

Sunday-Thursday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday-Saturday 5:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Spice Village caters for all events and delivers too.

Their website is: www.spicevillageny.com

Phone: 914-779-5400