Namaste India - Edgewater, New Jersey

C S. (.

NAMASTE is where we get our "Indian fix" these days and we're delighted to recommend it to others as well.

We dined a few times at the original Namaste restaurant several years ago, after it changed ownership (it used to be Kinara), and our experiences were never satisfactory. We stopped coming here for a very long time and it was only recently that we, kind of reluctantly, and because we had run of options, decided to give it another try.

To our surprise, we found that the "new" Namaste must have changed owners and, more importantly, their kitchen and serving staff, because EVERYTHING IS MUCH BETTER than it was before. The food we've tried so far is like "night and day" in comparison to what the old Namaste used to serve. And the service is polite, friendly, courteous and accommodating too. The current re-incarnation of Namaste is smaller in space than before (the second dining room that was accessible through the shopping center is not part of the restaurant any more) but that makes it more comfortable and cozzier.

NAMASTE continues to be a BYOB establishment and, in our unbiased opinion, serves the BEST INDIAN FOOD in the area. Their menu (see photos) contains most of the staples of Indian cuisine, made with good ingredients, served in good portions, with incredible flavor and at very reasonable prices.

On our multiple visits in the last month and a half, we've gotten to try their Samosa (vegetarian version, 2 pieces per order, gold-brown, very crispy on the outside and filled with spiced potato mash and green peas), Pakoras (fritters made of a mixture of onions, carrots and cabbage, battered in checkpeas with herbs and spices), Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Okra Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chana Saag (a creamy seasoned spinach puree with chickpeas, which is not on the menu but made upon our request), Navratan Korma (a delicious mildly dish of mixed vegetables cooked in a smooth, creamy sauce of cashew nuts, onion and Indian spices), Shrimp Fried Rice (a simpler but very tasty variation of the known Chinese dish, made with basmati rice and a light Nepali sauce) and Baigan Bharta (an aromatic dish of mashed tandoor-roasted eggplant, cooked in a sauce of tomato, onion, herbs and species). Also, we've tried their Aloo Paratha and Garlic Naan, and they are both excellent bread choices.

All our food orders came at the right temperature and accompanied with a sufficient portion of basmati rice and a healthy salad, consisting of a mix of diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions, with a light, gently spiced and tasty house dressing that played very well with the food we had. For deserts, we've tried their Gulab Jamun (golden brown spongy milky balls, soaked in a scented syrup), Rasmalai (flatten milk patties soaked in a thickened sweetened milk, flavored with cardamon and other spices) and Gajar Halwa (a yummy pudding made with shredded carrots, milk, cardamon and other spices, which is not on the menu but was kindly made at our request).

Everything we've tried so far at Namaste has been super delicious but special mention go to their exceptional Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka, which are the absolute best we've ever had! Both dishes are appropriately portioned, perfectly marinated, masterfully cooked, and very tender and juicy in the mouth.

All these items we have ordered at Namaste were big enough to share and, to our taste, the level of spiciness was just right. Visually, the food here was appealing to the eyes too.

Finally, our dinner tab (for 2) ran to approximately $60-$70 (with tip included), which is more than reasonable.

It's worth noting that, since our first visit on 4/7/24, we've seen a positive uptick in their dine-in patrons and a strong stream of take-outs, which are an indication that the new Namaste is doing things right. When judging the objectivity of some of the reviews posted here, please be fair and consider that the quality of take-out food will never be the same as when you dine in.

Hema K.

Delivery Order: Food was far better than some of the pricey South East Asian Restaurants I had ordered from recently. Biryani was decent enough, and the meat for a change, was tender. It's surprising how often it turns chewy and hard, when I order from some of the pricer places.

Noodles and Samosas were quite good. I was pleasantly surprised.

Arelis B.

Amazing Authentic Indian Cuisine, we had the goat curry , Chicken Tandoori ( OMG so Fresh!!) , and Shrimp curry all with white rice . Food was tolerant spicy we asked for mild and it was just perfect, food was also cooked to perfection . Food feels very much home made , is not oily. The staff is super nice and friendly, the bus boy for our table Praveen was super attentive . Great place to have great healthy Indian food. I will try another level up in spice next time . Will definitely be back ! AAA+++

Arav B.

The ambiance was great at Namaste India—felt very warm and homely. Food was delivered quite quickly, and presentation was neat. I had some minor complaints about their starter items, but the main course was perfect. Very understanding and friendly waitress. Overall, a good place to have an Indian dinner!

Arjun K.

I’m from India and this place reminds me of eating food back home, one of the best in the area, not even Jersey city has anything like this. The palak paneer is too good!

R B.

I would not recommend this restaurant.
Placed a to-go order for Everest Gobi which stated pan fried lightly sautéed in flavorful sauce. The pictures don't do justice, the veggies were super wet.
Lamb Sheekh Kabob was extremely dry. Unfortunately, I will not be coming back to this restaurant.

If you found my review helpful, follow my local guide profile to see my experiences with other destinations!

Tommy C.

Pre-COVID-19 we would come here every now and then for their delicious Indian food but we haven’t made the trek out there in awhile. I was glad to find that they offer delivery via Uber Eats. The food travels well and is not much to look at but very much delicious. They have a good variety of options to choose from no matter your diet and the portions are pretty generous.

Ritesh N.

FAST review: Food, Ambience, Service and Time.

Food. It was okay. Nothing fascinating. I liked the pakora, salted lassi and masala chai. We were divided on everything else. My son and I liked the veg chowmein, rest of the family not. I did not like the chicken tikka masala, but the others found it okay. We ordered chicken biryani but they got us veg biriyani (even after confirming with us twice that it was chicken, as we ordered two chicken dishes), it was okay.

Ambience. The restaurant itself is not a real comfort zone. The colors don't gel along well, and there's a lot happening in the little nooks and corners. Gave me a sense of hoarder feeling. Sometimes, less is more; sometimes it is not. The hearts to celebrate Valentine's were cut in construction paper and taped on, at random. I'd rather they did not put that at all.

Service. Great service. There were just two families, including us and the other was already at the end of their meal. Not sure if that helped, but they were attentive (except for messing up one order). They were courteous.

Time. Reasonable. Not a lot of wait, but then again there wasn't much rush.