Address: 1581 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, ON
Cuisine: Indian
Website: https://indiandesiaffair.com/
What I Ate: Vegetable pakoras, chicken coconut curry, beef biryani, shrimp chettinad
I went here with my dad tonight for dinner and had a really positive experience as someone who eats gluten-free. Right away, I appreciated that gluten-free and dairy-free items were clearly marked on the menu, which made ordering much less stressful and showed that the restaurant is aware of dietary restrictions.
We started with the veggie pakoras as an appetizer. They came out hot and crispy, served with two sauces: mint and tamarind. Unfortunately, the tamarind sauce wasn’t gluten-free, so I stuck with the mint sauce—but honestly, it was fresh, flavourful, and paired really well with the pakoras, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out.
For our main dishes, we tried a few different options. The beef biryani, a fragrant rice dish mixed with tender pieces of beef, was full of warm spices and had great depth of flavour. The chicken coconut curry was another standout—rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced without being overwhelming. Both dishes felt comforting and well-balanced.
The shrimp chettinad, however, was a bit underwhelming compared to the other dishes. It was essentially shrimp in a tomato-based sauce and lacked the complexity and bold flavours found in the other meals. It wasn’t bad, just not especially memorable.
Overall, this was a great dining experience and one of the more celiac-friendly restaurants I’ve been to. The clear menu labelling, knowledgeable staff, and delicious gluten-free options made it a place I felt comfortable eating at. I will definitely be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for flavourful, gluten-free Indian food.