Sitting snugly on the corner of West Washington and Broom Street, it is easy to find Maharani Indian Restaurant. Just follow the aroma of exotic spices, inviting all whom pass by to indulge in an exquisite variety of Indian cuisine.

Offering a wide selection for lunch and dinner, from lamb kabobs to mango milkshakes, the Maharani brings the tastes of India to downtown Madison in an exciting way.

Dinner at Maharani starts out with complimentary “papadam.” These are large Indian style chips filled with caraway seeds that come with a tray of colorful relishes of varying spice and sweetness. If these aren’t enough to tide one over until the entrees arrive, there are many appetizers to choose from.

The Vegetable Samosas are triangular shaped pastries that are very popular throughout Asia. With savory potatoes and peas surrounded by a fried pastry shell, samosas are a delicious way to start a meal, but are a bit pricy at $4.50 for a plate of two.

Maharani provides a large selection of entrees, featuring many chicken, beef, lamb and seafood curries and dishes for the meat lovers, as well as many traditional vegetarian dishes. These dishes generally come served in hot brass bowls full of spices sauces and with a large side of basmati rice.

One such dish, the Beef Shahi Korma, features succulent chunks of beef cooked in a mixture of spices, herbs, cashews, almonds and raisins. The raisins, ground up into the sauce, provide a subtle sweetness that creates a gentle aftertaste which helps counterbalance the hotter spices that make up the bulk of the sauce. The beef itself is very tender, and infused with the great variety of the flavors that surround it.

In addition to the curry dishes offered, one can also try the “tandoori” specials. These are dishes that are specially prepared in a traditional Middle Eastern clay oven known as a tandoor. One such dish is the Boti Kabob. Brought to the table hot and steaming directly from the tandoor, the Boti Kabob features pieces of juicy lamb that has been marinated in a yogurt sauce and roasted with vegetables.
Every entrée can be custom ordered to whatever degree of spiciness the customer desires and can handle, varying from a palatable mild to a sweltering hot for the more daring patron.

Going well with any dinner are the breads Maharani offers, such as the many types of “Naan.” Naan is an Indian flat bread that is also baked in the tandoor oven. Each Naan is cut into four pieces that work very well for dipping into sauces or scooping up the rice, veggies, and meats in the entrees.

The Chef’s Special Naan, stuffed with onions, potatoes and cheese, is one of the more filling and savory breads offered.

The dinner entrees proved large enough to require a to-go container, but were quite pricy with the Beef Shahi Korma and the Boti Kabob costing $13.95 and $15.95 respectively.

A perfect ending to a delicious Maharani meal are the warm steaming towels brought by the waiters for the customers to clean and wash their hands and face.

Dinner can prove expensive, especially for the average student. However, the Maharani offers a more reasonably priced lunch buffet costing $9.95 during the week and $10.95 on the weekend.

What makes up the buffet varies daily, but there is always a nice selection of meat and vegetarian dishes to try, fried pastries, a salad bar and a dessert table.

At the dessert table, the mango ice cream cannot be missed. It complements another dish called “Gulab Jamun” perfectly. Gulab Jamun is made up of fried cottage cheese and dry milk. Sweet, soggy and warm, these treats are much more delicious than their description could ever convey, and definitely something different to try. Their warmth provides a nice contrast to the cold mango ice cream, a soothing experience akin to eating pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream.

The lunch buffet is a great deal, allowing one to sample a large variety of new dishes at a reasonable price. To get the most out of your visit, forgo dinner and make Maharani a new favorite lunch option. Show your student ID and get a 10 percent discount. Free parking is also available during business hours.