Indian Food in Milwaukee- Café India [REVIEW]

Restaurant Name: Café India Bay View

Restaurant Address: 2201 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Restaurant Number: (414)-837-6121

Business Hours: | M-W, F-S 11: 30 am – 10 pm | Thursday 11:30 am – 9:30 pm |

Cuisine Type: Indian

Price per entrée: $4- $20

Attire: Casual

Reservations: NO

Payment: Credit and Debit Cards Accepted, Cash

Service: 4 plates

Setting: 5 plates

Food: 5 plates

Value: 5 plates

Overall: 5 plates

I enjoy trying new restaurants and food; I like to explore different foods that I don’t typically eat on a daily. It would be easy for me to go to a taco place and order what I usually get. Still, I wanted to go somewhere where I don’t usually go as often or eat. I asked my sister where she wanted to go out for dinner on Sunday, and she wanted to go to Café India in Bay View. They have another location a few streets down on 1st street, also called Café India. It’s located next to a gas station, but the food is the same, but the prices do vary a bit, as in it’s a bit cheaper. We have been to both of the locations before, but it was a while back, every time we go, we get so excited by the flavors of the spices.

Rakesh Rehan’s restaurant, Café India Bay View, lies near the heart of Milwaukee. It’s in a location where it may be hard to spot, but, once you do, you’ll be curious to find out what it’s all about. When you enter the restaurant, you’ll feel peaceful and welcomed; the waiters and waitresses greet you and sit you right away. The place is small but comfortable; they have an outside section for when the weather is nice; you’ll notice that the setting is modern and well kept. Café India’s atmosphere is relaxed and casual; you don’t have to worry about dressing up or looking fancy. Whenever I get the chance to go to Café India, I feel welcomed. Their hospitality is one of the best I have ever experienced, and they make you feel like you belong. The way I can describe it is like when you go over your friend’s house, and their mom wants to make you feel like you’re part of the family, and you feel like you are.

They have a wide selection of food and drinks; vegetarian or vegan appetizers, Indian BBQ, vegetarian curry, non-vegetarian curry, rice, biryani, and dessert. Usually, I get the chicken tikka masala and Malai Kofta, with a side of rice and naan. The flavors that the curry have is beyond explainable; it’s a burst of flavors that leave you speechless and wanting to eat more. I remember the first time I went to Café India; I didn’t know what any of the foods were; it was my first time trying Indian food. My first bite of the curry chicken, I was hooked, I remember the feeling of wanting to do a dance and cry because it was so good. I kept eating until I felt full, but then, there was dessert; even though I was full, I still wanted to try the desserts. I got the mango ice cream and the gulab jamun, another type of flavor exploded in my mouth, I couldn’t get enough.

The restaurant has a wide selection of alcohol and alcoholic drinks, even Indian Liquor and Indian Beer. They have lassi, which is a blend of yogurt, water, spices, and fruit; it’s a smoothie in away. I had my first mango lassi, and of course, I wasn’t disappointed; they brought out to me with a fancy glass with a red design on top of it. The mango was sweet; the consistency is different than what a smoothie would be; it was a bit thick but watery at the same time. After we finished ordering and received our food, we were ready to dig in; the first bite, I always close my eyes because I am so happy with what I’m eating. I looked at my sister, and I told her, “you don’t know what you’re missing until you have it,” and at that moment, it was curry, the rice, and nan that we were eating.

Usually, when we eat Indian food, we eat like there’s no tomorrow; we took our time and appreciated it. We finished the naan, the rice, the lassi, and we took both of our curry home. Their portions are great; they don’t give you less or a lot of it; it’s the right amount. But the curry, they provide it to you in this tin bowl, and when you look at it, you know that you won’t finish it on your own. We ended up taking our curry home, and we are still excited to eat it later on or the next day.

           Our experience was great, as it always is when we go. The service and setting were great; the waiters and waitresses made sure that everything was well and that we were satisfied with our food. As mentioned before, they made us feel welcomed, and their setting makes it even better. If you want to try an excellent Indian cuisine, stop by the Bay View area and eat at Café India, you won’t be disappointed.