Restaurants

Didn’t I mention just last week that I’m a carnivore?  I am.  A serious one at that.  But here I am recommending yet another vegetarian restaurant.  Do you think this means I’m growing as a person?

I’m a huge fan of Indian food.  I just adore it.  And from Atlanta to Prague, if I’ve seen an Indian restaurant nearby, I’ve had to try it.  Admittedly, sometimes with mixed results (especially the further afield I’ve ventured).  But I’m still always compelled to try.  So when my friend Alyson suggested that we grab a meal at Vatan in New York City, I did not hesitate.

I was immediately charmed by the restaurant’s decor.  You walk in from the hustle and bustle of New York City and are somehow transported into a delightful Indian village full of color and magic.  Once seated, you remove your shoes, climb into your table and get ready for a true culinary experience.

But it was at that moment, once I was handed a menu, that I realized Vatan was a vegetarian restaurant.  I’ll admit that then I did hesitate for a second.  My “safety” dish at Indian restaurants is always chicken tikka masala or chicken korma.  After all, those two are hard to mess up even when cooked by native Norwegians that haven’t been south of Oslo.

But the smell of the food was intoxicating.  Meat or no meat, it was time to set aside any expectations.  And with my first bite, I realized that I didn’t mind the vegetarian menu one bit.

When we were seated, our waitress said she hoped we were hungry and she was wasn’t kidding – the all-you-can-eat $31 prix fixe menu offers a fantastic variety of appetizers and entrees.  And with just a nod and a smile, the food will keep on coming until you beg them to stop.  The batatavada and chana masala starters were absolutely amazing:  flavorful, spicy and the perfect complement to my mango lhassi.  And once the entrees arrived, I couldn’t get enough of the chole.  I realized that I didn’t miss the chicken at all.  I was too busy trying a little of this and a little of that.

Vatan offers a perfect introduction to Indian cuisine for novices and an even better reminder to us Indian-food lovers what the cuisine is really all about:  flavor, spice and a little bit of adventure.

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Vatan
409 Third Avenue
(between 28th and 29th streets)
New York City, NY 10016

Tel:  (212) 689-5666
Email:  info@vatanny.com

New Delhi Restaurant, San Francisco

Do you find yourself downtown in the evening and needing a nice place for dinner that won’t break your wallet? Looking for a great restaurant experience with good value while holiday shopping in San Francisco?

If you like the rich curries and exotic spices of Indian food, then you are in for a treat. Located in the heart of Union Square, when you walk in the door of New Delhi Restaurant you are enveloped within the warmth and old world spices of India.

From the hustle of Ellis Street, as you enter you’ll see a dark mahogany bar, often full of tourists and downtown workers alike, with a bartender ready to pour you the most delicious fresh mango martini or other house specialty. This is a place that feels like fine dining, having hosted many famous local and international guests, but if you’re wearing jeans you won’t feel out of place.

Exotic spices of India

Come with an appetite or a large group so that you can taste many dishes including the tandoori chicken, the korma, or saag gosht, with tender pieces of lamb and spinach. If you are vegetarian or you have one in your group, there are still lots of amazing dishes on the menu to choose from.

One of my favorites is the baigan masala, eggplant cooked with mild spices. And every meal needs one or two of the naan breads, especially their kabuli naan. Yum! Its sweetness goes perfectly with the spicy curries dishes.

This is a wonderfully exotic choice for lunch or dinner. And if you find yourself ordering more than you can eat, they are always happy to wrap your leftovers for you to take home. Given their incredible selection of savory choices, it has happened to me a few times.

And remember that if you just need a cozy place for a night cap after the theater, their beautiful bar is open late.

photo credit to plastic bystander, warriorgrrl