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| - "Choolaah" shines as a concept, and I hope to see more of them pop up around the area before too long. Described somewhat accurately as an "Indian style Chipotle," it's the glassy, modern, orange-logo building you always see on the way to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods; the one you promise yourself you'll go check out one day, but still have yet to do so. Take the plunge; it's worth your while.
The restaurant will begin to win you over before you eat. The space is both impressive and immaculate, with lots of modern touches: high ceilings painted black with exposed ductwork, stainless steel and wood laminate finishes, and windows galore, including ones that look into the kitchen and prep areas. You'll feel like you should be paying more for your meal than 10 measly dollars.
The ordering experience has been simplified to perfection but not dumbed-down, making it great for Indian food novices and veterans alike. The minimalist menu features large, colorful photos that break down your choices into a few core categories and one or two simple additional steps. You'll want to order everything, but alas, you must choose; on my visit, I picked paneer as a "plate," served with naan, masala sauce and rice.
I would stop short of describing the food as "exceptional." The paneer, while certainly serviceable, was reminiscent of firm tofu in consistency and not as melt-in-your-mouth as I remember the dish elsewhere. When thinking about this, perhaps rather than a quality issue, it might simply be the natural result of its "bbq" style preparation which could render it less moist than a "stewed" preparation. The naan was more thick and biscuity than fluffy in texture, but still buttery and tasty. The masala sauce was on the tame side, resembling a lighter soup and perhaps needing a bit more zest.
These minor complaints, however, should not be taken as deterrents: much as Chipotle should not be held to the standard of authentic Mexican fare, Choolaah, similarly, makes its quickness and freshness its selling point, and not its authenticity. Judged by this criteria, the result is an overwhelming success.
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