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| - This is a chic, modern Indian place that's a little more upscale and seemingly "gourmet" than the more traditional places commonly found in Toronto. Have someone you wanna impress with romantic vibes? And they're not an Indian food expert? Bring them here. The oriental and sensual atmosphere can definitely bring out the suave in even the most awkward ones.
First things first, the atmosphere at Amaya is top notch. It's intimate and dimly lit with tons of exotic decorations and art pieces that look straight out of a gallery or a museum. The hanging lamps only add to the mildly kama sutra vibe. When you enter this dark room you're immediately swallowed by a scent shower of aromatic Indian spices and you can stare at the colorful cushions while you wait to be seated. I'm personally into this stuff- dim lights, the right decor, faint exotic music. It all adds to your Indian experience, and Amaya definitely boasts one of the most atmospheric, intimate Indian settings in the city.
I think Amaya is a place you come for general experience rather than the sole amount of how much pleasure your taste buds get. Don't get me wrong, some dishes I ordered were simply heavenly in my mouth. However this isn't the most authentic or "hands down the best" Indian food you'll see in town. Appetizers are overpriced- three pieces of sliced eggplant for 8 dollars.. and the flavor was nothing too special, just the same as the other appetizers we ordered which was ram ladoo and samosa guacamole. The name samosa guacamole is actually quite misleading and left me with a little frown as there was no guacamole to be seen anywhere. If by guacamole they meant the thin, green-hued sauce drizzled on the samosas, then I'm not quite sure what to say. Unless you'd be happy with spending ten bucks on very small portioned, plain appetizers, you're better off skipping those and just sticking with the amuse-bouche that the chef brings out to every table. The naan was also quite disappointing but I didn't think too much of it because I come to Amaya more for the beautiful plates of curry that is modern blend of traditional Indian and other things I can't quite put my finger on.
As for the mains, the lamb shank korma was the most amazing one I've ever had. Velvety is the right word for describing it- the swirling mixture of flavors was intricate and hit all the right places on my taste bud in a perfect, subtle harmony. The lamb was one of the most tender that I have tried. The lobster butter masala was under my high expectations and ended up being a little too salty for my liking, and also lacked the amazing fireworks of smooth flavors in my mouth that the lamb had. Saag paneer was much too spicy for my liking, but I still appreciated the deep, subtle flavor. Could have used a little more of that awesome chewy paneer though. And definitely less spice. Especially for a restaurant that is known for fusion, innovative Indian dishes as opposed to classical and traditional, I thought the spice was too much. Adding onto the spice level, the beef tandoori was the spiciest vindaloo dish to have ever burned my tongue. Usually I'm pretty good with spicy food, but I'd have to say this vindaloo was a big miss for me with its burning spicy level that ignorantly over cloaked every other flavor the beef had to offer.
Plating is chic and modern, menu has a chic "gourmet" feel to it, and service is five stars dead on. They check on you often and make sure you've got everything you need, and the staff are all very friendly and only add more smiles while you dine. The food is great, but not amazing and some plates are a miss. If you're looking for something modern with Western influences and still the exotic atmosphere, you'll like this place. If you want a hole in the wall place kind of deal with the best, authentic Indian food you'll ever find without actually having to plan a trip to India, you're better off looking for something else. Perhaps some place else a little cheaper, too. Overall, it's a nice restaurant with great staff, a wonderful atmosphere, and delicious, flavorful Indian food that's a little outside the typical Torontonian Indian box, unless you're very particular about how authentic your naan is. I like Amaya for dates, and I will definitely be returning.. However I'll be sure to ask the server about personalizing the spice level of some of the dishes.
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