Stretching back 5,000 years, the culinary history of India is one that’s incredibly rich and varied. Ranging across the flavor palette from mild to spicy, these complex, multi-textured dishes are the product of a medley of influences. The cultural values of India, the impact of Islam and Hindu, and even the influence of national conflicts with Mongolia, Persia, and China all shaped Indian cuisine. Perhaps this is why each of the country’s 29 states have their own menu items for hungry diners. 

Given the community’s love of restaurants, it should come as no surprise that Rutherford County now has five Indian restaurants. If you’re in the mood for Indian dishes, the area’s eateries are a great mix of casual fusion, buffet, and even fine dining options. 

If you’re familiar with one of these restaurants, please leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Clay Pit

The Clay Pit is an institution. It is the oldest Indian restaurant in the area. Long known for its all-day buffet, Clay Pit offers all of the traditional dishes, including samosas, curry, vindaloo, tikka masala, and korma. They also offer Clay Oven Dishes like Shrimp Tandoori and a Rack of Lamb. Meals can be paired with various accompaniments or bread, including naan.

It has a long-standing following of loyal customers who eat there frequently because the restaurant is willing to tailor its food to a client’s taste, from mild to “the hotter the better.” They are opening a second location on Broad Street in the old Bobo’s location.

The Clay Pit
Northside Shopping Center
1813 Memorial Boulevard Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-904-6262
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Tandoor Indian Restaurant

Opening in 2015, Tandoor offers the kind of Indian food you will find in England, where it is very popular. They use a lot of coconut milk in their dishes. If you like chaat, Tandoor offers a “Chaat Corner.” Chaat is fried dough with various ingredients and a sweet and tangy sauce. The dough may be stuffed with dishes like popdi or dahi.

Tandoor gets exceptionally high marks from reviewers for their fish dishes. They also offer a very extensive menu of vegetable dishes. Be sure to try one of the saag offerings, like saag paneer. It is spinach with Indian cheese and spices. For those looking for something unique, they offer goat karahi, goat meat left on the bone and cooked in a fried onion sauce. One of their specialties is Lamb Rogan Josh. It is cooked in a tomato yogurt sauce.

Tandoor Indian Restaurant
529 North Thompson Lane
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-907-9555

Hours:
Lunch Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Dinner Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Royal Indian Cuisine

Royal Indian Cuisine is a vegetarian Indian restaurant. All of their dishes are meat-free.
They also offer gluten-free options. If you love little dosa Indian crepes, this is the place to visit. They have some standard fare, and some that are all their own, like chili cheese and spring noodles. They also offer Woodlands’ Rava Marsala. Woodlands is a well-loved vegetarian Indian restaurant in Nashville, and Rava is another form of Indian crepe.

Besides great curries, this restaurant offers a unique group of Indo-Chinese dishes called Manchurian Dry. The chef’s special is Gobi Manchurian Dry. It is crispy cauliflower fritters in ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.

Royal Indian Cuisine
206 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-396-8269

Hours:
Lunch Tuesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Dinner Tuesday through Sunday 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Curry House

While Clay Pit is quick dining with their buffet, and both Tandoor and Royal Indian Cuisine offer casual sit-down fare, Curry House adds a dash of elegance to the meal with crisp tablecloths, crystal chandeliers, and the requisite silk draperies.

Curry House has taken traditional Indian street dishes and turned them into a gourmet delight, including the presentation. Servings are presented with epicurean flair and a dash of Bollywood style, like for a movie feast. It is traditional Indian food. You will find curry, tandoori, tikka masala, makhani, biryani, and vindaloo. They come in vegetarian, fish, chicken, goat, and lamb versions. Make sure to save room for the rice pudding called Kheer (Gulab Jamun), which is fried dry milk balls in a honey syrup.

Curry House
669 President Place
Smyrna, TN 37167
615-894-4440

Hours:
Lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Dinner Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Ugadi Indian Grill

Only a month old, Ugadi Indian Grill is already a community favorite. Their dishes are made from market-fresh ingredients and make use of bold, flavorful spices. Everything is made in-house for a fusion of primarily Indian flavors, especially from Southern India. There are a few items drawing from Chinese flavors, also. 

Ugadi has an extensive menu of Indian food items like appetizers, soup, chatt, biryanis, rice and noodles, dinners, and and desserts.The restaurant also brings in some dishes brought to India during its period of British rule.This includes Mulligatawny Soup, which is an English soup made with Indian flavors. It was typically made from lentils, fried onion, and curry powder thickened and served over rice, and then it became a soup with the addition of vegetables, nuts, and port wine.

Ugadi Indian Grill
2306 Medical Center Parkway
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
615-624-7674

Hours:
Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.Friday, 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, 12:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, 12:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.669