Flavor of India

Maya has been staying with my in-laws since Sunday and the house has been…quiet.  Honestly, I feel like my left arm is missing.  When she’s around all I want her to do is stop asking me questions.  And then when she’s gone I wonder why nobody is asking me questions?  There were certainly benefits to her sleepover though – I didn’t mind the break from having to provide her with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus snacks every 2 hours.  It was also quite liberating to get through a whole day without having to say, “If you are hungry you can have a fruit or a vegetable.  If you don’t want a fruit or a vegetable than I guess you aren’t hungry enough.”   

Since we rarely have a chance to eat out without Maya, Ali and I decided to hit the town last night.  And on a Monday no less!  I almost can’t get over how daring we are.  After much debate we decided to embrace our new adventurous personalities and we hit up an Indian restaurant we’d never been to – Flavor of India.   

Located in West Hollywood, Flavor of India is directly off Santa Monica Blvd. We couldn’t believe how much traffic there was on a Monday night at 7pm…I guess we are the only boring people who consider eating out on a Monday night unusual.  

Despite a nearly empty parking lot there was an attendant ready to collect $5 for valet parking.  Valet parking in Los Angeles is such a scam!  We decided to save ourselves $5 plus the $2 tip by parking on the street and scored a spot less than 1 minute to the front door of the restaurant.   

The restaurant was very dimly lit (in a good way) and was very pretty with lots of little lights. There weren’t too many people when we arrived but by 8pm the place started getting busy. 

I was excited to see Idli’s on the menu and we ordered them as an appetizer.  

A steamed cake made with ground rice and lentils, served with sambar (lentil soup) and coconut chutney.

(Sorry for the dark pictures but we’ve already established that I can’t take a picture to save my life.  Enough said.)  

Idli’s are not only gluten-free but delicious too.  They were easily the best thing I ate last night.  

Since we were already $7 ahead we splurged and ordered a second appetizer – The Murgh Ki Chat which I didn’t eat (chicken) and he didn’t comment on.  He didn’t finish it so it is safe to assume he didn’t particularly care for it.  

Tender pieces of boneless chicken tossed with potatoes, three chutneys and chat masala.

We decided to share the Vegetarian Thali:  

Mixed vegetable sabzi and chana masala with dal, rice, raita, kachumber and naan.

The mixed vegetables were good and Ali liked the naan but we really didn’t eat any of the other stuff.  The chana masala was too spicy and the daal was just strange. 

We also ordered the  Tandoori Fish:  

Mildly marinated salmon, served with onion and tomato.

I thought this was pretty good but we didn’t know the fish would be salmon and Ali doesn’t like salmon.  Usually tandoori fish is swordfish or another white fish, so next time we’ll definitely check before ordering this dish.  Ali ate half a piece and went to town on his trusty carbs instead.  

While the service was excellent, overall Flavor of India was disappointing.  Truthfully it is nearly impossible to find a good Indian restaurant in Los Angeles.  We have tried SO many and either they are overpriced or they have average food. Or both.  I’d much rather save my money and hit up my mom’s place for some decent Indian food.  The only problem?  She lives an hour away so I can’t just hop over when an Aloo Gobi craving strikes.  Until she lives closer I remain on the lookout.  Let me know if you live in Los Angeles and have any suggestions.  

Well I’m off to pick up Maya.  In a few hours, when my patience has diminished I will re-read the first paragraph of this post so I can remember how much I missed her.   

On second thought, maybe I should print this post out, photocopy it, and tape it all over the house.  I have a feeling that I will need a few dozen reminders very shortly.