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| - Hubby and I were looking for someplace classy to have our first anniversary dinner, and I'd been meaning to try Jaipur for a while. If you email for a reservation, note that while the website says reservations are not final until you receive a confirmation, they said on the phone that they only reply to email reservations if the time requested isn't available.
The atmosphere is tranquil and relaxing. There's no noisy decor, just a couple of pieces of abstract art in an elegant cool-coloured room, and the music is cheerful sitar at a low and non-distracting volume. Sit by the big front window for Yonge Street peoplewatching. The only minus is that while there are ramps on the main floor, the washrooms are down a set of stairs, so it's not truly accessible.
The food is really, really tasty. We got the dinner for two ($49.95), which includes a shared appetizer, three shared entrees with rice, naan, and raita, and a shared dessert. (Note that sharing dessert is great if you're a couple, but otherwise you may want to order your own and avoid the shared menu.)
Our appetizer was dahi vada & chaat, which was a little plate of sensory overload -- sour yogurt, soft beans, sweet mint, and crunchy lentil crisps. We finished off the sauce with a spoon, it was that good. It seemed pretty small for two people, but we didn't anticipate how much more food we were getting.
Two of the three entrees in the dinner for two can be meat/seafood; we got shrimp masala, paneer makhani, and bhindi Rajasthani. The former two were tasty; the bhindi was a big plate of slivered and deep-fried okra with mint chutney for dipping. This is apparently a house original and is really fantastic and (I can't believe I'm using this word) more-ish.
Dessert was two big fat warm gulab jamun in syrup with lots of pistachios.
Drinks were not included in this deal but are not to be missed. There's an extensive wine list and what seem to be house cocktails. Hubby got an Indian Summer (Bombay Sapphire gin in lime soda with mint) and I got a Ginger Mojito (pineapple juice and ginger beer with rum, plus mint and ginger strips). Whenever it says 'mint' you're getting a huge handful of fresh mint leaves in the top of the glass.
I've been home for three hours, my tummy is still full, and yet I'm planning my next visit. :)
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