“ad” – Why is this here?

It has been a couple of years since I last visited Namaste Village for their Veganuary Carnival, so I was delighted to be invited back to see how things were getting on. I have been coming to this Castle Street site for years, even back before it was Namaste Village (who remembers Café Naz?) -and I have always loved the bright, open layout of the building.

The team has completely transformed the space since my last visit, really leaning into a warm, natural aesthetic. You are greeted by light oak chairs, simple wooden tables, and neat greenery trailing down from a ceiling canopy overhead. The walls feature detailed artwork capturing historic Indian scenes, paired with charming nostalgic touches like a classic gramophone sitting on a corner cabinet. It creates an easy going, airy setting that feels fresh, modern, and thoroughly well cared for.

As one of Cambridge’s only exclusively vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurants, it occupies a unique spot in our local food scene. But do not let the plant-based label fool you – whether you are a lifelong vegetarian or a hardened meat lover, this place serves up authentic Indian cuisine that prioritises flavour over everything.

The first thing that hits you when you sit down is the sheer scale of the menu. It is absolutely massive, spanning everything from Indian street food to authentic Gujarati specialities. The variety on offer is genuinely impressive. There is something for everyone here, making it ideal whether you are popping in for a quick lunch or settling in with a big group looking for dishes to share.

During the recent heatwave, a Mango Lassi was an absolute must It was cold, velvety, and rich with Kesar mango pulp, this refreshing yogurt drink was exactly what the doctor ordered to beat the heat.

Pani Puri

To kick off the food, we started with one of my favourite starters – the Pani Puri. These crisp, hollow fried shells are a classic Indian street food staple. You pour in the spiced water right before eating, giving you a brilliant crunch and an instant burst of cool, tangy flavour. These were some of the better ones I have had in Cambridgeshire.

Spinach Chat

Next up was the Crispy Spinach Chaat, and this was a real highlight. Made with crisp-fried baby spinach layered with creamy yogurt, masala chaat, and a blend of sweet chutneys, it delivers a surprisingly complex mix of textures and flavours.

To accompany it, I also tried the Khaman Dhokla – a traditional Gujarati dish of spongy, savoury steamed cakes made from chickpea flour, tempered with mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves. They are light, airy, and definitely well worth a try for someone looking for something a little different.

Masala Dosa

You simply cannot visit a proper Indian restaurant without ordering a Masala Dosa. This massive, golden rice-and-lentil pancake comes stuffed with a mildly spiced herbed potato mixture. It is served alongside sambhar and coconut chutney that is great for dipping. Making it a messy and fun dish to share between friends or eat entirely by yourself (guess which one I did?).

Soy Lamb Vindaloo & Biryani

For the mains, I could not resist trying their plant-based Lamb Vindaloo. The mock lamb is slow-cooked for extra tenderness, and I was genuinely amazed by the texture – it is soy-based, but you could barely tell the difference from the real thing. Highly impressive stuff and a clear sign that substitute vegetarian and vegan food has come a long way. As a bit of a hothead, I would have personally preferred a touch more heat for a vindaloo but the depth of flavour in the masala was fantastic. Because I got too excited and am completely out of control, I ordered myself a Jackfruit Biryani for rice. It is cooked in a traditional clay pot which gave the fragrant basmati rice an incredible depth of flavour and subtle smokiness.

A Champion for Vegetarians

In a food scene where vegetarians are so often treated as an afterthought – often left with a lonely halloumi burger or a basic pasta dish – Namaste Village stands as a true beacon for meat-free dining. Indian cuisine is arguably the greatest vegetarian food on the planet, perfected over centuries in a country where hundreds of millions of people eat meat-free every single day. That deep heritage shines through here, providing an incredible variety of sweet and savoury, creamy and crunchy textures, bringing a massive selection of regional dishes that many local foodies have yet to fully explore. It turns a simple meal out into an exciting and genuinely educational dining experience.

While you might be able to hunt down a marginally better individual example of a specific dish scattered around the city’s specialist spots, Namaste Village pulls off something far more impressive. They deliver brilliant consistency across a huge, ambitious menu, with absolutely nothing failing to hit the mark.

Whether you are a lifelong vegetarian, a plant-based diner, or a hardened meat lover looking for an incredible curry, this place will completely change how you view meat-free cooking. It is a warm, generous, and thoroughly impressive independent spot that deserves a place on every Cambridge foodie’s hit list.

Get down to Castle Street, support a fantastic local business, and let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!