Finding Indian Food In Unlikely Places At Julie’s Little India Kitchen

It’s veggie time, guys and gals! Daniele brings us a new post about a not-so-known provider of Indian cuisine tucked away in the Faubourg Marigny. Enjoy! -Leslie

As anyone who has spent time in New Orleans can tell you, good things can turn up in unexpected places here. So I was pleased, but not exactly surprised, when a neighborhood joint in the Marigny started serving Indian food a few years ago. You may already know Schiro’s for one of the other services provided there: po’boy shop, bar, convenience store, laundromat, guest house. With a list that long, it’s fair to worry that adding yet another activity might just be setting oneself up for mediocrity. That certainly isn’t the case here.

On one side of Schiro’s menu you’ll find the standard (not very veggie-friendly) po’boy shop fare. But flip the menu over and… Score! The menu for Julie’s Little India Kitchen… with vegetarian options! Two of my favorite Indian dishes are on the menu: samosas and saag paneer. The samosas are what I am most impressed by. They are super tasty and great to share with a friend as a starter. The saag paneer is more mildly flavored than others I’ve had, which allows the creamy texture and flavor of the paneer to come through. It comes with the standard basmati rice, papadam and naan to make a nice, filling meal.

I’ll concede that it’s not the most amazing Indian food I’ve ever had, but it definitely hits the spot when I get a craving for it. What I really appreciate about this set-up at Schiro’s is how seamlessly a po’boy shop and an Indian restaurant exist together in the same space. It’s the perfect place to go when you are craving ethic food, but your dining companions are wary of stretching their culinary bounds beyond cheese fries. And if you’ve got friends like that, be sure to give them a bite of your samosa so they know what they’re missing out on!