By: Brandon Martin ~Staff Writer~

Shaan Indian in Hyde Park Plaza offers an excellent and personal dining experience.

Only a few hundred yards from the Hyde Park Plaza Kroger, this small venue is one of Cincinnati’s hidden gems.

The ambiance, service and food all mix together to provide an individualized venture that makes Shaan Indian stand out in a city with an abundance of Indian food restaurants.

The décor of the restaurant is straightforward. Simple linen table clothes and napkins adorn the tables and a traditional Indian tapestry decorates one wall.

A mix of Indian pop and traditional Indian music fills the space. In an area that can seat no more than 75 people, the proprietors have capitalized by giving the restaurant a simple, homelike feel.

They further build on that feeling by providing personal service.

The staff is made up of a local family, and they do their best to make you feel like family as well.

It is not uncommon to see the owner greet patrons by name and have their orders already memorized and on the line working before they even get to their seats.

He commonly stops by each table to have a brief conversation, giving each dining experience a personal touch, but he never overstays his welcome.

The food itself ties the entire experience together. Shaan Indian offers authentic Indian home-style cooking, and cooks are more than willing to customize anything on the menu to your preference.

If you generally stray away from Indian food due to spice, fear not, Shaan Indian operates on a one-to-six system for almost all of its dishes.

Cooks are able to dull the spice level without compromising the integrity of taste.

Conversely, they have no problem turning up the spice level.

Overall, Shaan Indian is one of the best Indian restaurants in the city, and if you are looking to try something new, it is the place to be.