East Memphis Welcomes Indian Flavors in Style
Memphis Meets the World
If you’ve been in Memphis for any length of time (maybe your whole life), and you’ve fallen hard for it like so many of us, you know that watching it grow, adapt, and prosper is always exciting. Memphians know we can keep up with other large cities as far as culture, the arts, and food because we have our own brand of beauty and taste that’s always flavored with the resiliency that keeps us strong. In the last few years, our city has seen an incredible expansion of ethnic food and fine dining. And even more exciting, these new restaurants are not always in the city center. Bringing life to the neighborhoods east of downtown and midtown, East Memphis, Cordova and Bartlett are experiencing their own renaissance of local eateries and are breaking the chain of only having “chains”.
Food from The East in East Memphis
If you love Mediterranean food, you’ve probably been familiar with Casablanca on Poplar Avenue in East Memphis where it’s been operating for well over a decade. However, you may not know about Casablanca’s new neighbor: Swagath Indian Cuisine.
The Right Vibe
From the moment you enter the Swagath, you realize that you’re in for a treat. The decor is dark and intimate, the music is well curated for a meal that feels like an occasion, and while there are several traditional tables in the dining room, the two large tables surrounded by couches offer a uniquely fun way to enjoy the menu with a group of friends.
The Right Menu
The menu at Swagath also feels like a treat. While the American favorite Butter Chicken dish remains on the menu, they’ve opted to leave off some of the Indian dishes you may be used to in order to give you space to explore and enjoy other traditional dishes. On a recent group dinner date, our server warmly shared his favorite selections with us, advising spice levels based on the preferences of the table and steering us towards his absolute “must haves” for every course. He was right at every turn. From the Mumbai tacos (something I would have never ordered on my own and am now craving) to the Amritsari Tikka Kebabs, our “first bite” selections brought flavors and textures that worked beautifully together. The Dahi Puri was a standout as well…small, bite-sized pastry puffs filled with a creamy, savory filling.
For our main course, we ordered a selection of Butter Chicken, Coconut Chicken, and Spicy Goat Masala with delectable basmati rice and orders of garlic and cheesy Naan. Enjoying these dishes on our couches with friends in a lovely setting gave us a sense of real pleasure and the deep comfort of eating something warm and spicy at the end of a long day.
In Hindu, Swagath means “Welcome”, and that’s the perfect sentiment for a lovely dinner at Swagath Indian Cuisine.