Tag: Minerva Indian Restaurant

Minerva Is Still Our Area’s Favorite Indian Restaurant!

Since it first opened in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (only a mile or so south of the Pasco County line) in 2016, Minerva Indian Restaurant has been among our readers’ favorites every year. In fact, even though our 2022 Reader Dining Survey was the first year we gave “Indian Restaurants” their own category, not only did Minerva dominate the voting this year, it also has received the most votes for “Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa” of any Indian restaurant in New Tampa between 2017 and 2022.

And, for good reason. Not only do Minerva owners Venkat Reddy and his wife Amrutha offer a huge menu (with more than 200 different food items), including North India, South India and Indo-Chinese favorites, they also feature one of the largest Indian lunch buffets in the Tampa Bay area, with about three dozen total items.

So, What Are Our Favorites?

Long-time readers of the Neighborhood News know that Indian food has never been at the top of my list of favorite cuisine types, although I have expanded my horizons enough to have multiple favorites at Minerva. And, the good news is that photographer Charmaine George enjoys Indian food more than I do, so we were able to sample quite a few options during our recent visits.

*Among our editor’s favorites from Minerva’s buffet are the Tandoori chicken, the Hakka veg chowmein and the vegetable spring rolls and samosas.*

Of course, the Minerva lunch buffet is a an affordable place to start for those who aren’t sure what Indian appetizers and entrées they’ll like best and it includes everything from naan breads to vegetable samosas (deep-fried veggie “pies” stuffed with potatoes and veggies) and veggie spring rolls (very much like Chinese or even Thai-style), plus entrées like butter chicken, Tandoori chicken (one of Minerva’s variety of meats cooked in a clay Tandoor oven), chicken tikka masala, goat curry and multiple biryani (rice) dishes, as well as desserts. I couldn’t possibly name and didn’t sample all 35+ items (40+ on weekends) on the buffet, but all I can say is that it’s super-popular and available seven days a week between 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Also available on the buffet are some of Minerva’s Indo-Chinese dishes, including the Hakka veg chowmein (with lo mein-style soft noodles) and veggie fried rice, although I also really liked the full order of chicken Indo-Chinese fried rice I got on another visit.

*This garlic naan is one of ten Naan breads on Minerva’s extensive menu.*

One of mine and Charmaine’s absolute favorites was the garlic naan bread, one of about ten different naans — from butter to onion to spicy chilli — and 20 or so total bread options at Minerva.

Charmaine and I also sampled three different long-grain biryani rice dishes — goat, chicken and veggie. We agreed that the biryanis themselves aren’t as spicy as we’ve had at some other Indian restaurants, but when goat or chicken is added, the biryani does take on a spicier flavor.

Among the other dishes we tried were the tandoori lamb chops, always one of my favorite dishes at any Indian restaurant. Also available are Tandoori goat chops, lamb shish kababs, chicken shish kabobs, and chicken on the bone or boneless, as well as a mixed grill of lamb and chicken kababs. These dishes are all served fajita-style on a sizzling plate, with peppers and onions.

Charmaine and I also wanted to try a South Indian specialty, so Amrutha suggested we try the Upma, which is a traditional breakfast dish made with semolina, vegetables, peanuts, onion, chillis and ginger. It has a delicate flavor and a consistency that most reminds me of corned beef hash, but without meat.

And, although there are probably still 200+ items on Minerva’s menu we haven’t yet sampled, Charmaine and I both look forward to trying the soups (e.g., the Minerva Special chicken soup and hot-&-sour soup), the North Indian paneer paratha (wheat bread stuffed with cheese), and perhaps one of Minerva’s shrimp or fish dishes, including ginger fish or shrimp, vindaloo (curried with potatoes) or tikka masala (in a creamy sauce).

And yes, we both also enjoyed the gulab jamoon dessert, which is basically Indian-style donuts served in a sugar syrup.

Minerva also offers a great variety of traditional Indian drinks (mango lassi, coconut water and more), as well as the best selection of Indian beers you’ll find anywhere. These Indian beers, like Taj Majal, King Fisher and Hunter, as well as red and white house wines (although there is a nice variety of other wines, too) are all just $1 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Speaking of specials, there are a lot of them, including BOGO buffet and entrée deals, and Minerva’s Biryani Special. On Thursdays and Sundays (only), all biryani dishes (usually $12.95-$16.95) are only $10 each all day. There also are a number of Value Meals, enough to serve 2-3 people, for $19.95-$27.95, on the last page of Minerva’s menu. Minerva Indian Restaurant (19050 BBD) is open every day for lunch & dinner. For more info, call (813) 978-8586 or visit MinervaTampa.com.

Minerva Indian Restaurant — Where Adventurous Taste Buds Are Rewarded!

EVEN WHEN I lived in New York City, where some of the most renowned Indian cuisine outside of the sub-continent itself is served, I was never the biggest fan of curry, a primary (and spicy) ingredient in Indian food from all of the country’s many distinct regions, each of which has its own signature dishes.

But, it’s been more than 35 years since I lived in the Big Apple and since then, either my taste buds have “grown up” or the two-year-old Minerva Indian Restaurant in the New Tampa center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. has some of the most delicious Indian food I’ve ever tasted.

Or, maybe a little bit of both.

At any rate, when Minerva opened in 2016, I had freelance writer Brad Stager write the story about owner Venkat Reddy’s unassuming (from the outside) but elegant inside eatery because a) Brad told me he knows quite a bit about and loves Indian food and b) I was concerned about not being able to rave about a new advertiser.

Well, you can call me an old dog learning some new tricks at Minerva, which actually shouldn’t surprise me too much because even when it first opened, I was definitely impressed not only with the restaurant’s huge selection of excellent Indian beers (at really low prices; see below for more info), but also with Minerva’s Indian-style Chinese chicken fried rice, which had a hint of curry, but nothing about the spices were overpowering and the portion was huge.

Two years later, Venkat has an even more impressed new fan. Whether you enjoy Minerva’s tremendous lunch buffet, which offers different dishes every day, including North and South Indian and Indo Chinese options, which is a great way to sample more than two dozen options (including salads, vegetarian dishes and desserts, as well as many main and side dishes), or order off the huge and very fairly priced menu, you really can’t go wrong.

Among the starters I’ve sampled, I really enjoyed the crispy vegetable spring rolls (served with mint and tamarind sauces on the side; I preferred the tamarind), the equally crisp and delicious garlic naan (similar to pita bread, but crispier and better tasting than any pita I’ve ever eaten) and the Minerva Special Soup, which is sort of a blend of traditional New York-style Chinese egg drop soup and my mom’s homemade chicken soup. In addition to a savory, but not spicy broth, the soup is loaded with white meat chicken and a variety of fresh veggies. In a word…awesome.

And if you have never sampled any of the Indian beers, you owe it to yourself to include a Taj Majal, Kingfisher or the amazing Hunter strong premium beer, which does have a 6.5-percent alcohol content (thus, the “strong” label), but tastes to me like a crisp, refreshing lager or pilsner.

Enticing Entrées!

I usually steer clear of Indian buffets, because, too often, there are too many different kinds of curry in one place for me. I know most people who like Indian food go for the butter chicken, Masala or Tikka Masala dishes (all of which are Specialties of the House at Minerva), but when I ate Indian food in New York, I really only liked Tandoori clay oven dishes, and only at some places. And, while I do enjoy Minerva’s Tandoori chicken on the buffet, my favorite entrée at Minerva is the Tandoori lamb shish kabab, which is actually ground lamb served with a crispy edge outside and tender inside on a sizzling fajita-style dish, only with better onions and peppers than at any Mexican restaurant. And, best of all, none of the entrées I’ve mentioned costs more than $14.95.

I also really enjoyed the Minerva Special Chicken, which serves equally delicious veggies with boneless chicken pieces in a sweet red curry sauce that has no bite at all. Another new favorite of mine is the goat curry, which is tender goat on the bone, again with a very light curry sauce that was excellent when paired with the vegetable biryani (basmati rice) from the buffet. And, speaking of the buffet, it’s truly a bargain at $9.95 Monday-Friday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and although the buffet costs $12.95 on Saturday and Sunday, Venkat says that he adds some special items that make it well worth the extra cost.

And yes, for you vegetarians out there, Minerva offers nearly two dozen veggie entrées, plus hand-made dosas (crepes), a South Indian favorite served with sambar, coconut and ginger chutney and a variety of veggie-based fillings.

So, reward your adventurous taste buds and try Minerva Indian Restaurant. You’ll be glad you did.

Minerva is located at 19050 BBD in New Tampa. For more info, call (813) 978-8586 or visit MinervaTampa.com.

Minerva Indian Restaurant

Minerva Indian Restaurant Now Open In The New Tampa Center!

minerva-6-copy Your dining adventure begins as soon as you step inside Minerva Indian Restaurant. Suddenly gone is the bustle outside at the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and New Tampa Blvd.

Inhale the fragrance of jasmine incense and come face-to-face with a figurine of the elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesh.

This initial stimulation of sight and smell will warm up all of your senses to enjoy the wide range of flavors featured on Minerva’s menu, which spans India’s cuisine from south to north, and even includes some Indo-Chinese fare.

Owner Venkat Reddy has gathered the ingredients he needs to offer a taste of Indian home-style cooking to New Tampa gourmands and foodies.

“We have our own recipes from India and all of our spices come from India,” says Reddy, who grew up in Hyderabad, India.

minerva-gn Minerva has only been open since June — in the location previously occupied by Sushi Ko — but it’s already gaining a loyal following of repeat customers, like David Britton, who says he typically eats there once-a-week for lunch.

“It’s got some of the best Indian food in the area,” Britton said. “I can’t always pronounce what I’m eating, but I really like the spiciness.”

How spicy to prepare the food is one of the toughest culinary calibrations a chef can make. According to Reddy, guiding first-time visitors through the menu to accommodate their preferences and tolerances is part of the customer service at Minerva.

“We have a lot of varieties and I’ll ask them first how spicy they like their food,” says Reddy, who also is a New Tampa resident.

While consideration is given to the varied palates and expectations of patrons, Minerva stays true to delivering an authentic Indian dining experience, according to Perry Compton, who lived in India as a religious missionary and learned to cook in the local tradition. He sampled the lunch buffet for his initial visit to the restaurant and vowed to return.

minerva-1 “It’s my first time here but it won’t be my last,” Compton, a Wesley Chapel resident, says. “This food is some of the best I’ve ever eaten.” Compton was particularly impressed with Minerva’s butter chicken. “I make a pretty good one myself, and it takes so many ingredients to make.”

Butter chicken may qualify as comfort food for fans of Indian cuisine, and is a popular item on Minerva’s extensive lunch buffet. The spiciness manifests as a creamy assortment of subtle flavors rather than a searing burn to the taste buds. Allowing diners to savor those flavors is characteristic of the dishes at Minerva, especially the buffet items, which are all prepared in the mild-to-medium range of spiciness.

The lunch buffet is offered seven days a week and is changed daily, offering a good introduction to Indian cuisine. A la carte items can be ordered during lunch as well as dinner hours.

There are no beef or pork dishes on Minerva’s menu, but meat eaters have plenty of chicken, lamb, goat and seafood options. Goat curry is a good introduction to the red meat, which is a staple of diets around the globe, if not so much in the U.S.

The Cuisine For Vegetarians

Vegetarian dining takes on a whole different aspect with Indian food.

minerva-4 Vegetables are often main dishes and are cooked with spices that imbue them with appetizing flavors, such as bagara baigan, which has eggplant as its basis. Even humble lentil beans take on a bold taste when served as the curry dish tadka dal.

Masala dosas, which are thin rice crepes filled with curry-glazed vegetables, also are featured as part of Minerva’s lunch buffet.

Chinese foods like fried rice and chow mein assume an Indian flavor with the addition of ingredients like cumin and chilies. Minerva combines rice and soft noodles with vegetables, chicken and shrimp for the various Indo-Chinese entrees like hakka veg chowmein and mixed fried rice.

Neighborhood News publisher and dining reviewer Gary Nager raves about the Indo-Chinese chicken fried rice. “It has a uniquely peppery, mild spiciness,” Gary says, “and lots of veggies.” Gary also enjoyed the garlic naan bread and the medium-spicy tandoori-style chicken.

Beverages include American and Indian soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, wine and domestic and Indian beers like Taj Mahal, Old Monk 10000 Super Beer and Kingfisher. There also is a great selection of authentic Indian desserts to sample.

The wine list is actually pretty extensive, ranging from Clos du Bois chardonnay to 14 Hands Hot to Trot red blend.

Minerva offers a spacious and comfortable environment with light, modern decor and instrumental Indian pop music providing the soundtrack. The successful pairing of food and space is key to creating a positive dining experience, and according to the McCoy family of Wesley Chapel, Reddy has put it all together at his Minerva.

“What really enhances the food here is the ambiance,” says Anthony McCoy. His wife Rita also enjoys eating at Minerva, which has helped her become a fan of Indian cuisine.

“I’m trying all the different flavors because this is something I’m going to be cooking with more,” she said.

The McCoys’ son, Shawn, appreciated the low-key spiciness of the buffet.

“This has spice, but it’s within my tolerance,” he said.

Reddy named his restaurant Minerva after a popular cafe chain of that name in his hometown. He says he earned his certificate as a foodservice professional and moved to the U.S. Reddy comes to New Tampa after owning and operating restaurants in Dallas and Temple Terrace.

As word gets around about Minerva, people like Sam Abrahani are coming from as far away as Zephyrhills to dine at his restaurant.

“I drive 20 miles to eat (here),” Abrahani said. “You don’t have to go to India to get authentic Indian food. You can come to New Tampa.”

In addition to the inviting sit-down restaurant, Reddy provides catering services, including onsite food preparation to ensure optimal freshness. But, whether he’s serving a wedding party of a thousand guests at the India Cultural Center or the lunch crowd at Minerva, Reddy says he sticks to basic principles to achieve customer satisfaction.

“Good service, good food and maintain a high-quality of product,” he says.

Minerva Indian Restaurant is located at 19050 BBD Blvd. and is open daily, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. for dinner. Be sure to check the ad in this issue on page 51 of our latest New Tampa edition for coupons offering 15-percent off your check or $2 off a lunch buffet. For more information, visit MinervaTampa.com or call 978-8586.