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| - I've been to Aravind a couple times since it opened earlier this year, and I can't stop recommending it to people. Like previous reviews have pointed out, this place isn't typical of most Indian places in Toronto. Don't come expecting butter chicken. In fact, don't come expecting chicken at all, because Aravind's menu consists of fish, seafood and vegetarian items.
It's southern Indian and Keralan fare. I don't know enough about cuisine on the Indian sub-continent to know exactly what that means, but from what I've understood and seen, that means no meat (save for fish) and no heavy sauces. Aravind also doesn't do the 'share' portions typical of most curry-focused Indian places in the city. Their dishes are individually plated and everything is made to order (or at least they have a knack for making it taste like it is). And they make a point of sourcing as much as possible (fish, produce, etc) from right here in Ontario.
Inventive Indian-inspired cocktails, too, which isn't totally surprising considering owner Aravind Kozhikott apparently used to man the bar at Thuet.
Chris Nuttall-Smith of Toronto Life called the crab biryani at Aravind one of Toronto's best dishes of 2011. I've had it, twice, and I think he's bang on with that assessment.
Go. Here. Now.
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