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| - This is a really nice restaurant with good ambiance and a lovely patio, but the food and service merit a few bits of critique.
- Papadums & chutneys: you have to order and pay for these here, which is bizarre because they are typically served complimentary. They're basically the "chips and salsa" of Indian restaurants, so it always kills me when I actually have to pay for them. The Papadums are lovely here, but the chutneys are lacking. The typical mango and yogurt chutneys are not served here, which I find odd. The tamarind (which you have to request) is like coloured water, instead of thick in substance and rich in flavour. The achaar is definitely unique, in that's it's lemon-based instead of lime, but I personally prefer the lime.
- Curry: I ordered the chicken tikka masala, chef-hot. It was surprisingly spicy tonight! The last time I came here and ordered the same spice level, it was insipid and terribly mild. I guess it's hit-or-miss, eh?
Also, the chicken did not look or taste like chicken tikka, which is traditionally prepared with small pieces of boneless chicken baked on skewers in a clay oven (tandoor). It didn't have the charcoal-look or taste, which was disappointing. I also had bits of gristle and bone, which should be nonexistent in chicken tikka!
FYI: None of the curries come with rice. Another oddity. You must order it separately.
- Garlic naan: brilliant. But you can't really screw that one up.
- Service: friendly staff, but slow service. Make sure you have plenty of time when you dine here. Everything seems to take ages, even when they're not busy. It's severely annoying when your stomach is full of curry and rice and all you want is your check and they take 20 minutes getting it to you. Especially when they're not even busy.
All in all, this place sufficed my Indian craving, but it's definitely not the best or most authentic in any aspect.
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