Spice and love are the key ingredients at House of India in University City

Sauce 75: the essential St. Louis restaurants right now

Who doesn’t know about House of India’s lunch buffet? We certainly do, and we’ve lost count of the times we’ve circled its ample, aromatic smorgasbord of northern Indian cuisine. Owner Satish Kumar has been known to say that spice and love are House of India’s two favorite ingredients. Considering the restaurant has been voted the best of its kind by umpteen local publications since it opened in 1995, the love is mutual. Go here for crispy appetizers like the vegetable pakora with tamarind and mint chutneys – crunchy, spicy, sweet and herbaceous. Their onion bhajia is essentially India’s answer to American onion rings – and equally addictive. Their naan is pillowy, and condiments like the raita and achaar (spicy, sour pickles) are great accompaniments to cool down or spice up any dish respectively. Don’t miss their baingan bharta, eggplant that is roasted and smashed and sautéed with ginger, onions and tomatoes, and the chana masala, which has chickpeas in a tomato-based sauce flavored with butter, onions and spices.

8501 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.567.6850, hoistl.com

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The Sauce 75 is a photomosaic of the best in St. Louis dining in 2024. This list is a celebration of the diverse skills, techniques and culinary traditions that meet across our region. In sum, it tells a story about where St. Louis has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. Many great and good St. Louis restaurants have not made the cut. (Seventy-five is a lot fewer than you think!) Restaurants are constantly growing and evolving and go through ups and downs. Newly opened restaurants can take time to find their feet: There are a few exciting new places we’re cheering for, but which we feel haven’t yet fully hit their stride. Read the entire list here.