Eating Indian in SF

If there's one aspect where the San Francisco culinary scene falls short, it's the availability of good quality and tasty Indian food. Sure there are a sprinkling of Naan-n-Curry serving run-of-the-mill greasy and spicy Indian/Pakistani fare but for anything beyond that, you'll be playing safer if you head to the neighbouring town of Sausalito or maybe even to the South Bay.

There are however a couple of exceptions to this. Dosa is a not to be missed South Indian specialty restaurant. With a typically SF casual vibe, this chic restaurant serves a spicy Chettinad curry and coconut rice. Beautiful. The dosas are crisp and delightful - love their tangy tomato chutney. India Oven in the Outer Richmond neighbourhood is loved for its tandoori preparations made with tender meats. The vegetable korma is especially robust with nuts and farmer's cheese. Another winner is Chutney. If you're lucky enough to find parking and a place to sit, you'll find that the food is simple yet flavourful though a tad leaning towards pleasing the international palate. The malai kofta, prepared in a rich, lip-smacking gravy is not to be missed, nor is the alu-mutter. Steer away from the chana masala though which tasted banal and bordering on stale.

Pic: erinskitchen.blogspot.com

India Palace

Getting our hands on a halfway decent Indian meal in Minneapolis or Saint Paul has proven to be a challenge for my husband and me. We've given many restaurants a fair shot. From the popular Bombay Bistro in Minneapolis Downtown, where there is little other taste beyond oil and way too much garam masala (an Indian spice which if used in small proportions, can add a good kick to any dish but if used in excess, can just ruin the flavor of other spices) to Dancing Ganesha, also in Minneapolis Downtown, where the music is so loud that you can barely hear the person next to you and the predominant flavor in most tomato-based gravies is ketchup! Surabhi restaurant in Minneapolis adds way too much cream to their curries, to the extent that you can barely taste anything else. And Taste of India in Maplewood is located in a structure that resembles a garage and serves bland curries with overcooked vegetables. 

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We had almost given up hope when some friends suggested we try a little Indian restaurant in Roseville that they frequent. India Palace has a lunch buffet every day, which is fantastic value for money. They also have branches in Woodbury and a brand new one in Plymouth. You'll see very few Indian patrons there, which is quite surprising. But maybe because of that reason, the heat in the dishes is toned down and you can actually taste other spices. The buffet has a good selection of vegetarian and meat varieties. They sometimes have dishes from South India like idli and dosas. I would recommend staying away from these and sticking to the North Indian curries and dals. 


If you're there for dinner, a good option is the "dinner for two" - 
TANDOORI DINNER FOR TWO (Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Botti Kebab,Keema Kebab and shrimp served with Rogan Josh, choice of one bread,Vegetable Curry and, for dessert, Gulab Jamun,) INDIA PALACE BIRYANI DINNER FOR TWO (Aromatic rice flavored with lamb, chicken, shrimp and fresh vegetables, fragrant with saffron and garnished with raisins, cashews and almonds, served with Raita and Naan,) and VEGETARIAN DINNER FOR TWO (Somosas, Malai Kofta, Palak Paneer, Raita and choice of two Naans and, for dessert, Gulab Jamun.)


Alternatively, ordering a la carte is also an option if you're more than two people. Good appetizer options are VEGETABLE SAMOSA (Crispy patties stuffed with potatoes and peas, lightly seasoned with spices) , MUTTON SAMOSA (Crispy patties stuffed with lean ground lamb and peas, lightly seasoned with spices) and ALU TIKKI (Seasoned potatoes and peas fried in chickpea batter.) 

For the main course, there are many options to chose from. BANGAN BHARTHA -Charcoal baked eggplant, peeled and cooked with garden fresh tomatoes, peas and onions is a delightful dish especially for the burnt flavor of eggplant. For those who like paener (Indian version of tofu) MATAR PANEER (above) is the way to go. It's fresh green peas and chunks of homemade cheese, onions and tomatoes in a mildly spiced gravy. One of our favorites at India Palace is CHANA MASALA (top) - Tender chickpeas simmered in fresh tomato sauce and numerous spices. A true North Indian treat. 


For meat lovers, CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA - Boneless Tandoori chicken cooked in house special masala with sliced onions, bell peppers, ginger and tomatoes or LAMB VINDALOO - Lamb and potatoes sauteed with spicy tangy sauce are my recommendations. The INDIA PALACE’S SPECIAL lives up to their claim of being a "royal feast." Tandoori Shrimp,Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Botti Kebab and served with lamb or chicken curry and choice of bread is a treat for the palate. 


A couple of items deserve special mention. The raita which is yogurt with finely chopped tomatoes and cucumber and lightly seasoned with cumin, salt, mint and cilantro. And wheat rotis are freshly made and a delicious accompaniment to any meal.


The decor is pretty basic and the location is easy to miss. But the flavors are tantalizing, prices affordable and service warm and friendly. Unlike most other Indian restaurants in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, the dishes are not floating in oil, cream or an overdose of spice. In short, we have a winner!


I hope this restaurant review helps!


Foodie recommends
Mutter Paneer
Baingan Bharta
India Palace Special
Vegetable or Mutton Samosa


India Palace, 2570 Cleveland Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113, 8362 Tamarack Village, Suite 120, Woodbury, MN 55125 and 4190 Vinewood Lane N. #120 in Plymouth
Call: 651-631-1222 (Roseville), 763–383–1880 (Plymouth) and 651-731-6300 (Woodbury)
Meal for two: $35-$45
Lunch: 11am to 2.30pm
Dinner: 5pm to 10pm

Namaste Cafe

Armed with fresh ingredients, full flavors and a sunny attitude, this cute little restaurant in Uptown Minneapolis, serves Nepalese-Indian-Tibetan food. The menu has a ton of veggie options, which is a far cry from most restaurants in the area. Possibly the only drawback of the restaurant is that the service is really slow, so if it's a quick bite you're looking for, this isn't the place for you. But if you want to lounge around with a book and friendly conversation, complete with a cup of chai and mamachas, you're home.

The Creamy Masala Curry is a delicious gravy with tofu and green peas while the Namaste Special Curry is a medley of vegetables or meat in a signature sauce. The Fried Rice Kathmandu style ($7-$9), while a tad oily is a meal in itself. Skip the Red hot stir fried noodles ($7-$8)though, as there's little there beyond lumps of noodles in oil. The menu has a huge selection of herbal chais, a bonus for any tea lover. If you're looking for the Indian touch, we strongly recommend the Chole ($7) with bhaturas. Watch the spice level though, as spice level 4 or 5 can be pretty hot for a regular palette. The Alu Chaat and Papri Chaats ($6-$8) topped with fresh chutneys and cold yogurt are definite must tries.

Don't miss the Happy Hours: 3-6pm Everyday, 10pm-1am Thu Fri Sat. Also, the restaurant is now open for LATE NIGHT CURRY Thu.Fri.Sat 10:30pm-1am

Foodie's recommendations:
Chole
Creamy Masala Curry
Alu Chaat


Namaste Cafe, 2512 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Call: 612 827 2496
Lunch: 11am-3pm
Dinner: 5-10pm
Meal for 2: $20-$30
http://www.namastechai.com/