April 16, 2018

Curry Leaf

It took about two years of delicious carryout before I ventured into Curry Leaf for dinner. Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with (the inside of) this restaurant. In fact, it is quite lovely and intimate, especially at dinner time with its ambient lighting and flickering faux-candles. It’s just that 1. I am a creature of habit. So once that initial to-go order was placed, Curry Leaf became my go to Indian to-go restaurant; and 2. I really enjoy eating at home, especially after a long day at work. And, I really, really enjoy eating already prepared food at home.

Our regular to-go order consisted of either fish curry or shrimp masala (or sometimes both), Curry Leaf mixed grill, and garlic naan. Once in a while I would get the masala dosa. All delicious choices that allowed me to eat in the comfort of my own home while wearing pajamas (that’s my #3 reason for ordering take out).

However, once eating inside Curry Leaf, I was hooked and we haven’t ordered takeout from them since. Everything we’ve had has been amazing. So I’m confident that anything that catches your eye will also be equally delectable. But, I’ll share with you a few of my favorites to get you started.

If you’re hungry and need something immediately, I suggest the Curry Leaf vegetarian platter. It comes with samosas, pakora, and vada. Always freshly made and piping hot from the kitchen.

For entrées, you cannot go wrong with the crab malabar – crab in coconut milk and spices – so creamy and full of flavor. It melts in your mouth like butter. You definitely have to order some garlic naan to go along with.

Another option is the chana bhatura – puffy bread with chickpea curry. An everyday dish in India, chana bhatura can be eaten for any meal or even a snack. Do I even have to tell you how tasty it is? In the background you can see the fish tikka – fish marinated with ginger, coriander, and other spices and cooked in the tandoor.

As you might imagine, there are several vegetarian options. The daal makhanni (not pictured) is especially delicious – thick, creamy, and comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold day. The palak paneer is also a good choice because who doesn’t like spinach and paneer cheese. But, recently I’ve been returning to the aloo gobhi – potatoes and cauliflower in spices. Spicy, hearty, and the perfect accompaniment for any meat or seafood dish (or another vegetarian dish). On this night, we had aloo gobhi, lamb rogan josh (simply amazing!), and samosa chaat (which is kinda like a samosa seven layer salad – samosa, chana (chickpeas), and three different types of chutney. also, not pictured).