First things first: Kohinoor served us the best Indian food we’ve ever eaten. We love Indian food, we have eaten plenty of it, and we have opinions. This meal did nothing to make us less opinionated.
We found the place through Laura DiMeo, the artist behind Perch Pottery in East Falmouth. We had reached out about visiting her studio, and she graciously welcomed our family for what became nearly two hours of conversation and a personal tour. Meeting an artist where she works is a pleasure in itself. Laura was also a delightful host.
When the conversation turned to our fondness for Indian cuisine, she recommended Kohinoor Indian Restaurant & Bar in nearby Mashpee. We took her advice.
Our order was entirely vegetarian: samosa chaat, aloo gobi, palak paneer, and garlic naan. We also happen to love heat. Serious heat. The kitchen had no difficulty accommodating us.
The food
The samosa chaat was an excellent introduction. Pieces of samosa mingled with chickpeas, onions, and tangy peppers; sweetness, bitterness, spice, and crunch kept turning up in different combinations. There was a lot going on, and every part of it seemed to belong there.
Next came the aloo gobi. We ordered the potatoes and cauliflower very spicy, and the kitchen took us seriously. Very seriously.
The impressive thing was how much flavor survived all that heat. Both vegetables were cooked perfectly and retained their individual textures. You could still taste the potatoes, the cauliflower, and the spices. The heat gave the whole thing considerable force without flattening everything beneath it.
Making food hot is one thing. Making it this good at that level of heat takes some care.
The palak paneer was equally convincing. Fresh-tasting spinach, soft paneer, and a rich, creamy sauce with enough heat to keep things interesting (yes, we ordered this one spicy, too). The creaminess and spice worked beautifully together. Nothing seemed to be compensating for anything else.
And the garlic naan: fragrant, flavorful, crisp in places and gently chewy in others. An excellent companion to the curries, though it hardly needed their help. Not a single dish disappointed us.
At the table with James
Our teenage son, James, has significant support needs. He also likes going out with his family. We like finding places where all three of us can enjoy a meal without spending much of it explaining ourselves.
My wife photographed the menu and used ChatGPT to make a choice board: eight options with pictures James could point to. He has his own opinions about dinner; the pictures give him another way to make them known.
Download James’s choice board (PNG)
An independent picture resource based on the menu during our visit. Check current choices with your server, and keep familiar ways to say no, ask for help, or choose something else available.
The staff were entirely comfortable with James. More than that, they seemed to get a kick out of him. Their warmth was easy and unforced, and they were attentive to the practical things.
They brought his drinks in plastic cups with lids, a small but thoughtful detail that made the meal easier. When we requested a plastic spoon, one appeared almost immediately.
None of this became an undertaking. The drinks arrived in cups that worked for him; we asked for a spoon and got one. That sort of straightforward attention goes a long way.
As James’s dad, I am fairly alert to the difference between a restaurant tolerating our presence and actually enjoying having us there. Kohinoor gave us every reason to believe it was the latter. James was another guest, with a family and an appetite. No awkwardness required.
The restaurant itself was immaculate: soft green walls, warm pendant lighting, floral accents, and comfortable booths. Even the small details—the patterned pots and white blooms—were worth a look. The service was impeccable throughout.
Worth the return trip
I could recommend Kohinoor on the aloo gobi alone. The palak paneer, samosa chaat, and garlic naan make that recommendation considerably easier. So does a staff who made having dinner with our son feel as ordinary and enjoyable as it ought to.
We went in hoping for a good Indian meal. We came out revising our list of favorites.
Thank you, Laura, for the recommendation. And thank you, Kohinoor, for looking after us so well.
We’ll be back.
Around Deer Crossing
Open the plaza map & nearby shops
Kohinoor sits in Deer Crossing at 681 Falmouth Road, Mashpee. A few other places to keep in mind while you’re here:
- Kohinoor Indian Restaurant & Bar — our dinner stop, Suite D12. Browse the restaurant’s menu.
- Bagel Haven — bagels, breakfast sandwiches, cream cheese, wraps and paninis. Its website currently lists 6 a.m.–2 p.m. daily, so plan this as a morning or lunch stop rather than after dinner.
- Darkwater Games — board games, trading cards and tabletop gaming, Suite A17. Check the shop’s site for its current hours and offerings.
- J Miller, Pictureframer & Gallery — custom framing and an art gallery, Suite A15. Its posted hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Open Deer Crossing in Google Maps
Neighboring-shop details are from the businesses’ own websites, checked October 25, 2026. These are nearby options, not additional reviews from this visit. Confirm hours and any access needs directly before going.
This review reflects our family’s firsthand dining experience. Our observations about service and welcome describe our particular visit, rather than a verified restaurant-wide accessibility policy. Check current hours, menu offerings, ingredients, and individual access needs directly with the restaurant.
Share the review and choice board
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Cream graphic with navy and pine-green type: Kohinoor, Mashpee, Cape Cod. A little heat. A warm welcome. A dad’s review of dinner at Kohinoor. Vegetarian favorites. An eight-choice picture board. Read the review and get the board at anausomelife.com/kohinoor/. Credit: An AUsome Life / @anausomelife.
Independent materials from An AUsome Life; these are not official restaurant materials or an endorsement by the restaurant. Ask about specific image use.