Minerva Is Still Our Area’s Favorite Indian Restaurant! 

This is just a small portion of three dozen or so options at the lunch buffet at Minerva Indian Restaurant in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza on BBD Blvd. (All Photos by Charmaine George)

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. 
The chicken biryani is one of more than a dozen biryanis on Minerva’s huge 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.

The Tandoori lamb chops.
South Indian Upma 

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).

Gulab Jamoon dessert at Minerva.

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.

NT/WC’s Favorite Greek/Indian Restaurants

The Hungry Greek, like Vallarta’s, also keeps the locals happy (it’s #1 in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel) with great Greek and Mediterranean specialties at super-fair prices — especially when you factor in the quality of the food, the size of the portions served and the restaurant’s ability to get you in and out quickly while still cooking your food to order.

We recommend trying the Greek salads, gyro and chicken pita bread sandwiches (and platters) and variety of kabob entrées, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baked pastitsio (Greek lasagne) and spanikopita (spinach pie).

Wash it down with a Mythos or other Greek beer.

2 — Acropolis Greek Taverna New Tampa’s sit-down Greek restaurant has some of the best Greek cuisine around. Try the saganaki (Greek cheese flambé), grilled octopus, lamb chops and the Athenian fish.

3 — Little Greek on BBD in New Tampa is very similar in menu and serving style to Hungry Greek, and does an equally outstanding job of getting customers in and out quickly, even during its lunchtime rush.

4 — Minerva Indian Restaurant was the only Indian eatery to make this top-5 with its extensive menu packed with flavorful options, as well as one of the best Indian buffets around, with plenty of vegetarian choices.

5 — Al-Sham Palace in the Pebble Creek Collection is one of our area’s few truly authentic Syrian/Mediterranean restaurants, featuring a variety of shawarma and gyro sandwiches, plus kafta and chicken kababs & more.

The Next 5, in order of votes: Medilish Med Grill, Ice Spice Cafe, Atithi Indian, Taaza Mart Cafe, Petra Mediterranean Express (OOB).