Liz Barrett and Tracy Morin are writers living in Oxford, Mississippi.
Known around town as the "Two Taste Buds", they write a restaurant review column in each issue of The Local Voice.

This column is dedicated to exploring the eating options available to vegetarians and meat lovers alike in Oxford and the surrounding area.

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Liz the meat eater

I have to admit, the first time I ate at Maharaja I criticized them for conforming to southern taste buds. When they just opened, they only offered a buffet, and the food lacked the rich, multi-layered flavor so typical of Indian food. However, as the meal progressed, I noticed the owners going from table to table asking diners about their meals (something I recommend all managers and owners get in the habit of doing). They wanted to know opinions about the spiciness of the food and were letting everyone know that they’d soon be introducing a menu.

This visit was my second since the release of the menu, and I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken curry with rice and a side of garlic naan—it’s actually been put on my list of favorite dishes. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the owners were still interested in what we thought of the food (this kind of dedication to the customer is what makes a successful restaurant).

The menu invites you to order entrées mild, medium or spicy, but be forewarned—spicy Indian food is not as tame as spicy Mexican food! If you’re new to the Indian scene, don’t be shy—ask a lot of questions and try something new. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, kick it up a notch with the spice level, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Tracy the vegetarian

Indian food is a staple for me—I love its pungent spices, wide array of vegetarian dishes and accompaniments (naan, basmati rice and a mango lassi are musts to temper the frequent heat of Indian dishes). Not only did I grow up alongside the largest Indian population in the United States; I’ve personally traveled to the subcontinent—so I consider myself something of an expert on Indian food. Naturally, no one was happier than me when an official Indian restaurant opened in Oxford last spring.

After a mediocre first experience (the Easter lunch buffet), I returned to check out the dinner menu and was delighted to see some of my favorite North Indian dishes—malai kofta and aloo gobi—juxtaposed with lesser-known South Indian staples such as dosas, idli and sambar. On my latest visit, I ordered a masala dosa (fried chickpea flour rolled up thin as a crepe around spice-laced potatoes and onions), which was as good as any I’d expect to find outside of India. Though the accompanying sambar set my mouth aflame, it was too flavorful to skip.

If you’ve never had Indian food, you can try several items to get an overview of the cuisine by ordering the reasonably priced complete dinner option. As for me, I still need to try plenty of my favorite traditional dishes at Maharaja, but I’m sure that repeated visits will enable me to assemble a roster of favorites in no time.

This column is dedicated to exploring the eating options available to vegetarians and meat lovers alike in Oxford and the surrounding area. If you have a favorite eating spot you’d like us to check out, send us an e-mail at twotastebuds@thelocalvoice.net.