date: 4/11/06
location:st. paul
grade:b+

a guest review.

though in the mac/groveland type of area, the dinner here seems a bit spendy for the student crowd. maybe they flock to the lunch buffet, as this place not only charges for bread (pita , but parties of 5 (instead of the usual 6) are hit with a 20% tip if deserved or not, and such info is not on the menu. only one other tiny quibble, the service is a bit... well... spacey at times. a bit confused and perhaps confusing.

other than that, the food was good. for a change the vegetarian selections shone- we had some leek and bean dumplings in a mint yogurt sauce kind of thing for an app, and boy, was it good. the vegetarian shola with spinach was very lovely. the daal served with the lamb and rice was also a standout, it had the consistancy of refried beans instead of the usual soupy lentils. they had a lot more options for the vegetarian set than many of the places we go, but then again, it may be as it's near to mac.

the combo kebab with lamb, meatballs and chicken was tasty. i went with the chicken kebab over basmati rice. the chicken was tender and all, but the whole dish was a bit on the dry side. it had some cilantro chutney, but not enough. all entrees were served with a little salad thing, too. not sure why. but they were.

the atmosphere is just... right for the place. tapestries and rugs, plants that have been there since before they moved locations, music is not overbearing (bad pun- hits just the right note). it would be interesting to try the lunch buffet here. this is the kind of place there would be more of in the 'burbs.