Taste of Gujarat

Taste of Gujarat may look like any other ordinary restaurant located in a strip mall, but this Silverado Ranch restaurant, with its glowing neon and relaxing red-lit lounge, is a stunner inside. Pair the atmosphere with recipes passed down by generation and close your eyes and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported.     

The vibe: It’s mood-changing. Once you pop through the door, you’ll enter a small hallway and be greeted with an orange neon “Namasta” sign crowned with moody clouds and a golden angel. But the wow moment comes when you turn the corner and see the lounge—a rectangular room, glowing red from the lanterns overhead. It then transitions to the dining room, a more well-lit space.   

The food: Gujarati cuisine leans vegetarian so a majority of dishes are meatless. Start with a soft, fluffy khaman bread and an order of crispy, pigeon-pea-stuffed balls called lilva kachori, which sort of resemble dumplings. Then, punch open a pani puri puff and stuff it with a combination of black chickpeas, spiced potatoes, and zesty mint. For non-vegetarians, there’s tandoori chicken, lamb samosas, and shrimp masala.  

The drink: The best pairings are non-alcoholic. Reach for a lassi—sweet or mango—or look in the direction of a limbu sharbat, a Gujarati-style lemonade with salt, sugar, and cumin. They also serve beer, wine, and lots of whiskey.  

Time Out tip: If the weather cooperates, they have an outdoor patio.