There are already plenty of great places to eat on the stretch of Paradise Road that lies between the Hard Rock and Las Vegas Convention Center: Firefly, Del Frisco�s, Marrakech � just to name a few. From Spanish-style tapas plates to Brazilian meat skewers, Paradise Road is, well, a culinary paradise. It�s only drawback at this moment is the unending construction that makes the area difficult to navigate during morning and afternoon commutes.
But don�t let the chaos of blinking arrows and temporary lanes deter you from indulging in what is quickly being recognized as the premier Indian restaurant in town: Origin India. Founded by the British restaurateur Raja Abdul Majid, Origin is an upscale or contemporary �fusion� version of Indian cuisine and offers a high-end experience without busting your pocketbook. Indeed, a complete lunch (appetizers, drinks, etc.) here doesn�t cost much more than some burgers and brews at Gordon Biersch down the street!
Although the leathered chairs and elegant overall atmosphere (candles, mirrors, earthy color schemes) make for the perfect romantic encounter, they�re not too distracting so that a business lunch becomes impossible. Families (i.e., screaming kids) should probably dine elsewhere, though we�re pretty sure they won�t be discouraged. Due to its proximity to the university and the Howard Hughes Parkway, expect to see professors and professionals at lunch and after work hours. (FYI: There�s a UNLV lunch discount of 10 percent for faculty and students!)
Everything here is presented beautifully. For appetizers, we suggest a couple of vegetarian items: Anarkali Papri Chaat (whole wheat wafers buried under potatoes, chickpeas and yogurt, with mint, plum and tamarind sauce, $5.95) and the Crunchy Bhajia (shredded spinach, potato and onion mixed with flour and fried to golden perfection, $4.95). Having never ordered seafood at an Indian restaurant, we were blown away by the Lahsooni Jhinga, or stir-fried shrimp in garlic sauce served with green papayas ($10.95). And for full-on meat-eaters, there�s something as simple and divine as the Lahori Chapli Kebab ($9.95), which consists of lamb patties seasoned and grilled on a tawa (a kind of Indian pancake griddle).
For lunch (or really any) entr�es, there�s really no way to go wrong at Origin India. If you know anything about Indian cuisine, then you�ve likely sampled a dosa, or a South Indian crepe. We went with the Keema Dosa ($9.95) � large enough to feed two, it seems, and with enough savory ground lamb to make you want to enjoy every bite. This was the first dosa we�ve enjoyed that came with a side of coconut sauce. Although we were unsure how to apply it, we�re confident Liberty Watch readers will find a way to make it work. The Kathi Kebab Rolls (or Stuffed Paratha Rolls) are burrito-like in their presentation, but such a description doesn�t do justice to the taste. According to our waiter, the Chicken Kebab Roll ($7.95) is the most popular, and now we know why: It�s nothing like any sandwich you�ve ever had �and it�s all due to the seasoning and the tender meat.
Too stuffed to explore the dessert menu, we did manage to sample the Corn Phirni (corn kernels cooked in milk and flavored with pistachios, $4.95), and it was surprisingly good and is something we�ll undoubtedly enjoy again.
Origin India is the best Indian restaurant we�ve experienced in the six years we�ve been dining in Las Vegas, and it�s one of the best culinary adventures we�ve ever taken. We know there are many distractions on Paradise, but please take a moment for a culinary odyssey you can�t experience anywhere else in Nevada.
Origin India is located at 4480 Paradise Road, Suite 1200. For more information, call 702-734-6342 or visit
www.originindiarestaurant.com
