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| - I've been avoiding this review for a very long time. The owners of The Host are friends of the family*, and for that it's assumed that I must be slightly biased, but if I weren't a fan I would not review the place with flying colours**. If you enjoy Indian food, or consider yourself a connoisseur, this should be on your go to list for the best meal.
I've been frequenting this restaurant back when they where located at Bay and Charles St almost 15 years ago. Since then, the owners moved to Prince Arthur and expanded to include two other locations. The chefs (one of which is the owner), change rarely, and are professionally trained with experience in renowned restaurants from India. The best part about this comes with the consistency of all dishes. It's become very easy to figure out when a dish is catered by The Host, and presentation is almost always the same.
The dishes are always on the rich, creamy and mildly spicy side. I would avoid this place if you're on a diet, as you'll go home depressed.
My favourite dishes are:
Tava Tandoori Murg: Sizzling, tandoori grilled chicken marinated in yogurt and spices.
Tava Paneer: Sizzling, tandoori grilled spiced paneer (cheese curd).
Tak Tak Jhinga: Tandoor baked prawns, lightly spiced, but hella tender and juicy.
Dum Murg: I prefer this better than butter chicken, as it comes in an almond based cream instead of a tomato based cream. The chicken is always tender and juicy.
Patiala Baigan: Charbroiled Eggplant cooked with chopped onions, fennel and spices. This one is never cream based.
Kofta Dilkush: I see this one as their richest dish yet, with dumplings made of nuts and cheese in a thick, heart attack inducingly delicious cashew sauce.
Order your meal with tandoori naan or roti and a side of raita***, and you'll be in postprandial hyperglycemic bliss.
A meal for two will run you about $60 before tip.
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*No. There's no Corleone complex here.
** If you've ever been here you'd know they really don't need the buzz.
***Raita is pretty much like a spiced, greek yogurt. The naan, raita accompaniments in authentic Indian meals are as ubiquitous as rice is to sushi.
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