On Cornwall Avenue, bold signage marks the newest player in Bellingham’s fairly small Indian food game: Namaste the Royal Taste of India. The well-traveled among you may recognize the name as a second location of an Indian mainstay in Blaine.
While recipes are distinctly South Indian, Owner Chirag Prajapati’s hospitality is universal. Namaste’s menu is almost 50% vegetarian, with many dishes easily adapted to fit vegan diets. All the meat on the menu is certified halal.
In an interview, Prajapati recounted the local support when they opened their first location in Blaine about a year ago — and how the success led their now-landlord on Cornwall to suggest they attempt to expand in Bellingham.
Perhaps some of the success lies in their commitment to the experience. “It’s trying to make what the customer likes,” Prajapati said.
Namaste’s is spartan, and the color scheme still recalls the past tenant: V Go, a vegan grocery store concept. I’m seated quickly and politely, and the well-appointed menu and truly incredible scents wafting from the kitchen overshadow the interior design decisions. Having done my research, ordering is a quick affair.
Samosas ($6.99) and pakora ($9.99) arrived promptly after ordering and were steaming hot and fresh. Samosas are an Indian classic and were redolent of spice, the crisp exterior contrasting nicely with the tender potato and vegetable filling. The pakoras were a rockstar menu item — vegetable fritters tossed in gram flour and fried. Think heavily spiced onion rings, but better in every appreciable way. The serving was entree-sized, a good sign for things to come.
Namaste delivers on taste. My mild chana masala ($14.99), medium-spicy butter chicken ($16.99) and spicy lamb korma ($19.99) all knocked it out of the park. The chana masala (spiced chickpeas) is vegetarian and good enough for an omnivore to dine with pleasure. A serving of naan ($2.99) calls out for scooping, and the toothsome flatbread pairs beautifully with the chickpeas. Even for those who don’t like chickpeas normally, this is worth a try.
The butter chicken tasted precisely how I expect butter chicken to taste, and the lamb korma was deeply, deliciously spic-ed. This is distinct (to me) from simply being spic-y, which is often spicy for spicy’s sake. The depth of flavor in every dish is exactly what I seek out in Indian cooking. The butter chicken is intensely rich, tender grilled chicken in a tomato and butter bisque (for lack of a better descriptor).
The korma was a sleeper. The first few bites were delicious and flavorful, korma being an incredibly rich curry, but not immediately spicy. This did, unfortunately for me, lead to an overconfident consumption of the lamb korma atop the rice and naan, behavior which continued until the deeply intense heat punched me in the jaw. This is a compliment, not a complaint.
Service was friendly and attentive — and on that note, I want to mention the inclusion of rice with every entree. Growing up in a culturally Eastern household, the idea of ensuring that your guests are served enough food for seconds, thirds and a bit left leftover is hewn immutably into my mind. Offering it up as part of the meal feels like a decision made not for business, but for the heart.
Namaste the Royal Taste of India, delivers on the twofold name. The cuisine is excellent, and the experience is accessible and friendly. Open most days from morning until late, I suspect that Namaste will rapidly attain a reputation as an excellent weekday lunch spot, and an excellent late-night takeout option.
Namaste is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday at 1213 Cornwall Ave. Info: namasteblaine.com.
Mark Saleeb is a frequent enjoyer of food. Find him at instagram.com/eats.often.
