4 Indian Restaurants to Try in Rutherford County

There is something about stepping into an Indian restaurant that makes me think of old movies and colorful fabrics draped on sinuous dancing girls. I have long heard of the spice markets along the Silk Road in places like Marrakesh, these restaurants make me think of what those might be like. The flavors are always a beautiful friendship, yet each restaurant has its own regional takes on the various traditional dishes.

Rutherford County now has four Indian restaurants. They run the gamut from fast food-ish buffet to nice sit down with fancy chandeliers.

The Clay Pit

The Clay Pit is an institution. It is the oldest of the four restaurants. Long known for their all-day buffet, Clay Pit offers all of the traditional dishes, including samosas, curry, Vindaloo, Tikki Masala, and Korma. They also offer Clay Oven Dishes like Shrimp Tandoori and Rack of Lamb. Meals can be paired with an assortment of accompaniments or breads, like Naan.

It has a long-standing following of loyal customers who eat there frequently because they are willing to tailor their food to your taste, from mild to “the hotter the better.”

Originally opening a restaurant in California, the owners of Clay Pit moved her about ten years ago. They offer a number of specials on their website.

The Clay Pit
Northside Shopping Center 1813 Memorial Boulevard Murfreesboro
615-904-6262
theclaypitindiancuisine.com
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 a fried dough with various ingredients and a sweet and tangy sauce. The dough may be stuffed with dishes like Popdi or Dhahi.

Tandoor gets especially 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. Yummo!

For those looking for something unique, they offer Goat Kadahi, 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
615-907-9555
tandoorindianmurfreesboro.com/location.aspx
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

This is a vegetarian Indian restaurant. They also offer gluten-free options.

If you love the little Dosa Indian crepes, this is the place to come. They have some standard offerings, and some that are all their own, like chili cheese and spring noodle.
They also offer Woodlands’ Rava Marsala. Woodlands is a well-loved vegetarian Indian restaurant in Nashville. 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 a ginger, garlic, soy sauce.

Royal Indian Cuisine
206 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro
615-396-8269
royalindiancuisinetn.com
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 Cusine offer casual sit-down fair, Curry House adds a dash of elegance to the meal with crisp table cloths, crystal chandeliers, and the requisite silk drapings.

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 Bolliwood style, like for a movie feast.

It is traditional Indian food. You will find curry, tandoori, tikki masala, makhani, biyani, and vindaloo. They come in vegetarian, fish, chicken, goat and lamb versions.
Make sure to save room for the rice pudding called Kheer, or the Gulab Jamon, which is my husband’s favorite. They are fried dry milk balls in a honey syrup.

Curry House
669 President Place Smyrna
615-894-4440
curryhousetn.com
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.