When it comes to eating, we might all know what we like and don’t like. Some are traditional. Some are average. Some is a quick bite we come to expect. But sometimes we search for something new. Something we never had before. Or something we had but was not totally different.
Having worked in Delhi, India, I knew what I expected when I was there. It is not always what we get back here. It may have the same name, but when it comes to its creation, it differs. Here we expect it a certain way. But in Delhi, it is an experience. A flavor and taste you can get from the local market, restaurant, or food cart lining the street where tourists never go. That is the food of India.
So, deciding I needed some good Indian food, I heard of a place to explore. I took the chance and made the reservation. That was the first smart step to take. Because when I entered, I had entered back into Delhi.
LAJAWAB INDIAN CUISINE is the place to experience what true Indian food is about.
Being shown to our table, the waiter explained the rules of Lajawab. It was a mix of the various styles of Indian food from the various regions. One might have what we are familiar with. And another is from an area we did not know of. You can have meat in one area and be purely vegan in another. And, having worked in India, I do remember the difference.
Check out this TikTok to get a glimpse into the place:
@lajawab4uWe are celebrating our first anniversary. Here begins Season 2. Thank you, everyone, for being with us.
We looked at the menu, which had a variety to choose from. Our host explained everything and took his time with us. That did take time. But the first thing to do was to order something to drink.
We started with a Mango Lassi – a traditional drink. We also had a Taj Mahal Beer, a beer you can only get when in India, but it was here with them. So, this was a definite must-have.
With a little more time, we decided to place the order.
The Appetizers
We knew what to have first, and that was the Samosa, a common dish in India that we take as an appetizer. It is a crisp fried dough that is made with potatoes and peas, and anything else they place inside that night. It came as a dip that was a good complement to the fresh and warm Samosa. They were tasty and could have been a meal unto themselves.
Next came the entrees. We had ordered three of them as we could not decide which one to have. It became a good exploration of what we might enjoy.
The Entrees
Palak Paneer was always the first choice. And we do enjoy it. But here at Lajawad Indian Cuisine, it was different. This is the way I remember we would have in India. Having dinner with a colleague who was a vegetarian, I learned quickly how to do this. Back in Lajawad, it was the same. And fresh and tasty and with some spice. It was thick and rich with the sauce that was everything. It is a meal to have every day.
Then we tried Matar Methi Malai. This was again a very vegetarian dish to enjoy. It was a spicy and aromatic South Indian dish cooked in a flavorful mixture of coconut milk, curry leaves, and tamarind. There were fresh peas added, which were very special. Again, it was a meal I had only in Delhi, and here it was once more. It brought back memories.
Then there was the Chettinad. This is marinated chicken in a rich, creamy mixture of yogurt, spices, and herbs, smoked until tender and flavorful. This was a wonderful compliment to the other dishes we had. The combination of picking what to eat from each dish is very typical in India of sharing with each other. It was a wonderful dish to enjoy.
Of course, with every meal, you need to have naan…traditional Indian bread. Selected was one recommended, the Special Kulcha. It was rich and perfect. It was not plain and simple. Instead, it was a mix of flavors and spices and a touch you could only find from the chef, and it had a hint of garlic. Take a piece and have some of it with the meal you are picking from at that moment. The aroma was wonderful unto itself. It worked with each dish and even on its own.
Naturally, the meals come with rice, and there was more than enough for a few days.
The Team behind Lajawab Indian Cuisine
Lajawab Indian Cuisine was created by two brothers who are chefs. Meeting with them, you learn more about India, the culture, and the food of the regions they represent. This is the real stuff. This is not typical for the American market. This is the food you find on the back roads in India, and you can taste firsthand what a true experience in Indian dining is all about.
Thanks to the chefs, the team is great. They can help with everything. Service is good. The price is ideal. As for a reservation, I would make it. By 7 pm, the place was packed with everyone, including people who were from India. That is how good Lajawab is.
I will be back. Shukriya (Thank you).
LOCATION:
Lajawab Indian Cuisine
2705 54th Ave N.
St Petersburg, Florida
Phone: 727-329-6880
- About the Author
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Ron Rossi is a New York native, marketing director, and self-styled “Jaded Traveler” who has spent a career crossing borders — both professionally and culinarily. Having lived and worked across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, Ron has eaten his way through nearly 100 countries on six continents, always with the same philosophy: the best food belongs to the people, not the guidebooks. He gravitates toward mid-range, budget, and street food — the kind of meal a local nurse, teacher, or taxi driver would actually eat — and believes that a country’s character is most honestly revealed not in its fine dining rooms but in its markets, cart stalls, and neighborhood joints. At New York Street Food, Ron brings that same globe-spanning hunger to the five boroughs, hunting down the dishes that feed everyday New Yorkers and the stories behind the hands that make them.
