A Palace of pleasing spices
When the weather turns dreary, I often look toward some sort of comfort food. Most recently, the rain and chill had me longing for something warm and spicy. As a lover of Indian cuisine, I set out for Palace of India to improve my mood. Set in a strip of shops on East Fulton, the restaurant is easy to miss and doesn’t look particularly impressive from the outside. But when you open the door, the fragrance of spices wafting out from the kitchen will transport you to another world.
Though the restaurant is small and simply decorated, it feels cozy and welcoming. The server offered to help us navigate the large and varied menu. He answered all the questions we had and also supplied some recommendations. All items included a short description and list of key ingredients, which was very helpful. After spending a few minutes poring over all of the choices, my dining partner and I made our selections. We shared an order of Samosas ($3.95) and Garlic Naan ($2.95). For entrees, I went with the Chicken Tikka Masala ($11.95) with an order of Steamed Rice ($2.95), while Mike opted for the Lamb Biryani ($13.95).
Our Samosas arrived with two chutneys. One was sweet and the other was spicy. Seeing that the Samosas themselves were quite spicy, we used the sweet chutney, which was flavored with brown sugar, spices and citrus. The combination of flavors played off of each other nicely. The Garlic Naan arrived shortly afterwards. Piping hot, soft, and scattered with herbs and garlic, it was one of the best Naan breads I’ve ever had. The chewy texture overall was just right and the crispy blistered edges, courtesy of the clay oven, were perfect.
Chicken Tikka Masala is my go-to favorite Indian dish. Palace of India’s version definitely did not disappoint me. The dish consists of pieces of chicken marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices, then stewed in a sauce of tomato, onion, cream and herbs. It was perfectly spiced; intensely flavorful without being hot. I like to use the Steamed Rice and Garlic Naan to soak up the sauce. Mike pronounced his Lamb Biryani “excellent.” The chunks of lamb were very tender and the rice was spicy, but not overly hot. I tried a few bites of the biryani and I had to agree.
The menu listed several interesting dessert options, which we decided to save for another visit. The restaurant also has a lunch buffet featuring popular menu items that change daily. Palace of India does a good job to help dispel the myth that Indian food is either incredibly spicy and/or has to contain curry. The large menu and friendly staff help to ensure that everyone can find something they’ll be happy with. Overall, our experience was very positive. I’ll definitely be heading back soon to tackle something new.
Palace of India ( Rating:
out of 5 )Where: 961 E. Fulton St.
Hours: Sunday – Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (lunch), 5:00 – 10:00 PM (dinner)
Ambiance: Casual, relaxed
How much it will cost you? Appetizers $3-$10, Entrees $10-$15
Credit cards? All major
Alcohol? No
Reservations? No
Contact: (616) 913-9000
Online: http://www.palaceofindiarestaurant.com
