Don R.
Yelp
If you work in downtown Dallas, or are visiting the Perot Museum or Dallas Aquarium, make time to stop in a Shiva's Bar & Grill for a wide array of Indian dishes, each one as flavorful as the last. Thanks to owner; Praveen, for being such a great host and allowing me to sample so many wonderful dishes!
I started with Vegetable Samosa and Onion Pakora. The samosa was good, as I expected, but this was my first time having Onion Pakora (onions fried in chickpea flour) and they were delicious!
Next was Yellow Lentil Soup, which was a very nice consistency and a little more flavorful than the typical lentil soup.
Being my first time, I had to try a few main dishes to really get a sense of what Shiva has to offer. The Meat Classic includes Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Korma, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Saag and Shrimp Vindaloo. I also tried the Butter Chicken and Chicken Biryani. (If you want to sample a variety of dishes, The Royal Dinner for Two includes your choice of the Meat Classic or the Vegetable Classic with the Onion Pakora, Yellow Lentil Soup, Garlic Naan, Raita and Dessert - a great selection of items!)
Again, no item disappointed, but what stood out to me was the Chicken Saag (I've had Saag Paneer before, but never with Chicken), It's sort of an Indian version of Creamed Spinach and I really enjoyed it. The Butter Chicken was packed with flavor, and the Chicken Biryani was a large portion and included all the great flavors and aromatics of a good Biryani dish.
I was also treated to some Mussels in a clay pot, which I didn't see on the menu, but really enjoyed.
Finally, I tried the Gulab Jamun and Rice Kheer. The Gulab Jamun were tasty, but nothing out of the ordinary. The Rice Kheer I really enjoyed. Slightly sweet, and a good consistency. It was the best Rice Pudding, of any kind, I've ever tried.
Shiva's also has a full bar, so you can enjoy your favorite drink along with your meal. There's a small parking lot beside the restaurant, and more parking just down the street, towards the Aquarium.
I know I'll be back, and I would highly recommend you try Shiva's the next time your downtown.