As the deadline for this story approached, I looked over our master list of restaurants visited within the past five or so years and noticed something: the Recorder staff loves American food. While burgers and fries are undeniably tasty, I vowed to make my upcoming assignment different. I thought of a restaurant I’d visited just a few years ago at City Market and knew it would be a great, diverse eatery to add to our list.
Spice Box, which I first visited at City Market, has two locations and a popular food truck during the warmer months. The eatery serves up Indian and Pakistani cuisine for lunch and dinner.
I made my second visit to Spice Box at City Market earlier this week to try something new. The food stand is located right next to the door closest to The Platform. Around 11 a.m., I was the only person in line, which was good for me, because I could take my time looking over the menu without feeling rushed.
Customers can choose one or two entrees, which come with basmati rice and naan (a wonderful tasting bread), or they can choose Spice Rice for an additional dollar. The main entree options include: Chicken Tikki, Palak Paneer (spinach and cheese), Channa (vegan), Aloo (vegan and potatoes) or Spicy Shrimp.
Once I saw the Spicy Shrimp on the menu, I knew the other meal options stood no chance. I’m often surprised by how often I choose shrimp with my dishes; I could eat it every day and never get tired of it. Long story short, I chose just one entree, the Spicy Shrimp, along with a bottle of water.
The menu also included the Naan Wrap, a grilled flatbread and chutney wrap with a choice of chicken, Aloo, Channa or shrimp; and Tandori Tacos with roti, basmati rice and garbanzo beans with a choice of Chicken Tikki, Channa, goat or shrimp; among other items.
Within three minutes of ordering, I was handed a box of food and headed to the second floor of City Market to see if the shrimp was actually spicy. I’ve been let down several times by other restaurants who claim their dishes are spicy, and I wanted to see if Spice Box was the real deal.
As I opened my Styrofoam box, tons of steam escaped, informing me I needed to give the food a minute to cool. Soon after, I captured one shrimp, some of the smoking orange sauce and white basmati rice on my fork. The dish had good flavor and great texture and was certainly spicy. To keep the spice under control, the naan became my best friend and went very well with the spices.
Spice Box did not let me down, and I’ll gladly return. Next time, I’m looking forward to trying the Naan Wrap priced at about $8. It’s a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to New Delhi.
Spice Box
Fletcher Place
719 Virginia Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
City Market
222 E. Market St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
