RESTAURANT REVIEW Sargam’s gives Reynoldsburg a good taste by Lisa Sherck f you are looking for a great take-out option during this miserable Ohio winter and the ongoing COVID crisis, consider checking out Sargam’s Restaurant at 1571 Hentz Dr in Reynoldsburg. The mix of Nepalese and Indian options seem like they are specifically prepared to maintain their flavor and texture during the transport, and even improve overnight for leftovers the next day. If you have had this type of cuisine before, you know that the longer the flavors combine, the better dishes become. While both Indian and Nepal cuisine use the similar spices, the blending of the spices is unique to each region and produces distinctive flavors. I decided to order from Sargam’s on a bitterly cold and windy Friday night in February. The website has a variety of options for delivery, including Grub Hub, Door Dash, and Uber Eats, as well as a pick-up option. I went with Door Dash, and the food made it to my house piping hot. For most dishes, you can select the level of spice from zero spicy all the way to extra hot. I have some experience with Indian and Nepalese food, so I was extremely interested to see how Sargam’s prepared some of my favorite Indian and Nepalese dishes. I started with the Vegetable Samosa ($3.99), as it is a classic Indian Appetizer. A samosa is a mixture of spiced potatoes and vegetables wrapped in a pastry and fried. Sargam’s version was true to form, but what made it unique was the chutney that came with it. The Chutney had a unique flavor, perhaps with a hint of raspberries, and was probably the best chutney I’ve had. All samsosas tend to be mild in heat, so this is a good option for those that do not like “hot” spice. Next up as an appetizer was the Vegetable Momo ($9.99). This is a traditional delicacy of Nepal and it can be compared to the Chinese steamed dumplings, but with spices specific to Nepal. The accompanying sauce is what 24 Counter clockwise, from the top, is a sampling of the Aloo Gobi, Malai Kofta, Chicken Biryani and Chicken Vindaloo truly gives the momos the extra flavor. Sargam’s sauce for the Momo was delightfully light and gingery, and ended with quite a kick of heat. This dish is steamed, so can be considered a healthy option. I would strongly recommend branching out and trying the momos. You will likely never go back to pot stickers. As for the main meal, I tasted two vegetarian dishes: Aloo Gobi ($10.99), which is potatoes and cauliflower toasted with ginger and other spices and Malai Kofta ($11.99), which is mixed vegetable cheese dumplings (think fried potato and cheese meatball) in a creamy tomato sauce with herbs and spices. You can’t go wrong with either of the dishes, though the Malai Kofta was particularly amazing I also tasted two popular Indian chicken dishes: Chicken Vindaloo ($12.99), where the chicken is marinated in vinegar, hot pepper and spices, cooked in a hot and spicy gravy and Chicken Biryani ($12.99), which is spiced rice dish, including saffron, mixed with chicken and served with Raita, a yogurt-based condiment. Both dishes were very traditional and had just the right spice level for me. And of course, I’ve never met a Naan bread that I haven’t loved, and Left, is vegetable momo on top with naan on bottom, and on the right plate, vegetable samosa. Lisa Sherck is a frequent contributor to Reynoldsburg Magazine as a restaurant reviewer. She also has a lethal forehand in tennis. Reynoldsburg Magazine • Spring, 2021 this was no exception. Sargam’s naan bread ($1.99) is handmade and baked in its traditional clay tandoori oven. Sargam’s offers different types of naan, some stuffed with mashed potatoes and green peas, and even whole wheat naan. Sargam’s is also open for indoor dining, and has a full bar. As a unique offering for the in-person dining experience, they offer Thali ($13 to $16), which is a traditional combination platter, the best way to sample as many unique dishes as you can. If you are feeling adventurous, try some dishes with goat, a traditional Nepal meat. Overall, Sargam’s is a moderately priced local restaurant, with fresh ingredients, and bursting with Indian and Nepal flavors. One of the owner’s, Narayan Neupane, educated me that when they first opened in the fall of 2018, they were the only restaurant with Nepal and Indian food in the area. They have been very grateful and overwhelmed with the support of all of Reynoldsburg, as they are a very small, local family business, many of whom are originally from Bhutan and Nepal, so if you are looking for some authentic food, stop in. and tall
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