Indian Tandoor-Oven Restaurant

Are you kidding me? written by revettt
Last visited this restaurant on June 18, 2005

My wife, a Maharashtrian, hosted my sister at the India Tandoor-Oven last week. Two of us ordered vegetarian thalis, the third ordered a non-vegetarian thali, and we added what the menu called "Burtha".

I am seldom moved to write about a restaurant and usually only do so when they are exceptionally good. In this instance, after reading some of the rave reviews, I felt it was important to add some balance.

I believe both my wife and I can say without hesitation that this was the worst "Indian" food we have ever eaten. Why? Good Indian food, no matter the region and type of food, is seasoned with unique blends of spices. These are broadly representative of an area of the country and are the signature of the chef.

The signature of the Indian Tandoor-Oven chet seems to be the total absence of spices -- no masala whatsoever seems to have been so much as waved over the dishes.

One part of the meal consisted of pakoras. These were somewhere between red and purple in color and dripping with oil. Good pakoras are prepared in besan flour and should appear light brown.

The meals were served with a puri. Normally there should be a choice of wheat product (chapatti, paratha, puri) and, if one orders puri, one should be served several small, light ones. This was one mega-puri with the consistency of the papad that was also served with the meal.

The channa-saag (chickpeas and spinach) and muttar paneer (peas and cottage cheese) might have been tolerable had they had any masala at all.

The "jewel in the crown" of the meal was "raita". In good raita there is a mixture of vegetables with light spicing. This was laced with tamarind and was quite simply inedible.

The menu included "choice of desert" with the thali. We were surprised that when we ordered gulab jamun, two rather than three were offered. Howev er, after tasting one, it was evident that we may have benefited from the short-changed delivery.

The Indian Tandoor-Oven was filled with patrons, many of whom appeared to be regulars. Perhaps this is the type of "Indian" food that some prefer. While acknowledging that there can be no dispute over taste, I would certainly not recommend the Indian Tandoor-Oven to anyone who is familiar with and likes good Indian cuisine. They will be sorely disappointed.

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