(EDIT 5/24/08: Swagat has closed and a new restaurant is taking the place)

Introduction

Swagat, Located at 303 1st Street in Downtown Roanoke (Ph 342-4887)

Located at 303 1st Street in downtown Roanoke (at the corner of 1st Street and Kirk Avenue), Swagat serves up authentic Indian dishes in a classy dining environment.

The restaurant features a number of entrees with chicken, steak, and seafood, and a full bar with a rather extensive wine selection.

Many menu items make up a buffet, which is offered every day of the week during lunchtime hours. Also, the entire menu is available for takeout.

What I Ordered

Chicken Tikka Masala with Naan at Swagat

On the recommendation of a friend, I tried the Chicken Tikka Masala. This meal consists of roasted chicken breasts chopped up into bite-size pieces, then placed in a pot and simmered while immersed in a tomato and cream sauce. White rice is also included and acts as a bed for the chicken and sauce.

I typically avoid tomatoes themselves, but the sauce in this instance is quite good. It actually reminded me of a tomato paste, or some kind of all-natural and organic ketchup.

I also ordered some Naan (a traditional Indian bread) and a Mango Lassi (not shown), which is very good and resembles a smoothie.

Other Specialties

Swagat offers several entrees with chicken, steak, seafood, and even vegan and vegetarian options. For a complete menu list, descriptions, and some pictures of the meals, you may visit the Swagat website or go to their directory of menu items.

In A Nutshell

I had never experienced authentic Indian cuisine, and overall have good things to say afterwards. The dining environment was classy, and the service friendly and prompt. If you’re looking for something a little bit new and different in terms of international cuisine, I highly recommend visiting Swagat.