Namaskar Food Too Heavy

[claire ab lani]

I had dinner at Namaskar in Davis Square with a friend. We didn't like the food: it was oversalted, overspiced, and just generally too heavy. This includes the three sauces, the papdaums, and our two main dishes. Disappointed. However, the service is excellent and the people are very nice.

[Sal Monella]

I had a so-so experience there a while ago too. I wanted to like the place but the food was average. No complaints about the service. I've always liked Kashmir and Indian Quality. There'll be others that don't like Kashmir but I've never been disappointed...to date.

[sheitoon]

I thought Namaskar was just too expensive. I wish there was a good S. Indian place in the area.

[elbev]

I think Claire ab lani's assessment is dead on. The folks that run Namaskar are quite friendly and accommodated, but the food is no good. When I ate there (lunch buffet several months back), both myself and dining companion were feeling ill for several hours afterward. We did not eat excessive amounts, nor was the food anywhere near tasty enough to justify the subsequent misery. I know this is a board favorite, and I am curious to know what people think is best there. Or is it not even worth a second chance?

[sheitoon]

I think Punjabi Dhaba in Inman Sq. is great. Cheap and served on the same trays used in India, which make it feel even more authentic. My husband loves it; he grew up in India, and we've even randomly run into a couple of people he went to high school with there. It's gone a bit downhill in the last year or so though.

[nfo]

I like Namaskar. I like the papadams, and the sauces - it's true I don't mind salt, though. I like the fried treats, particularly the pakoras, with lots of that orange-red pickled onion stuff - that's got to be the best condiment in Davis. I enjoyed the lamb vindaloo - the lamb was tender, and the sauce was flavorful with some good heat.

Price-wise, if you compare Namaskar to the nearby competition (i.e. Diva), it's fair, if not exactly a bargain (not many bargains in Davis).

[fenian]

I like Namaskar, but from my perspective, Indian food cannot be too spicy or heavy. To me, the shock-the-senses spicing, rich creams, and visible oiliness are what make Indian food special. At its best, Indian food is sensory overload (the ridiculously salty and tangy mixed pickle is a great example of this).