To end my seven-day stretch of Indian-food cravings, the husband and I went to India Bistro last night for dinner. The fine owners recently added a Roosevelt location (in addition to their popular Ballard establishment). I’m a bit nervous for them, as I’ve seen at least three different restaurants open and close at that location (in a small plaza on 65th, but sort of hidden on the ‘bottom’ floor). However, if any restaurant can stay open there, it’s got to be something like India Bistro, that already has found success in another pocket of the city.

I forgot the camera, of course, so I swiped these photos from the IB Web site.

First of all, we were dressed quite casually, and although this is Seattle and EVERYONE dresses casually, all the time, even to the Opera, it was a little bit unsettling at first because the restaurant really gave the impression that it was fine-dining. We were the only guests in the place when we arrived, so it was hard to gauge what it’s really like by the other customer’s dress. Rest assured, it’s as comfortable and relaxed as the Ballard restaurant and we should leave those silly concerns to rest.

BTW, we are early eaters. We’re like senior-citizens early. We eat early for a number of reasons. In fact, we really try to avoid eating after 7PM. Gives you time to digest, gives us time to walk our pooch, and often times you’re actually able to get a seat pretty easily at nice (and even not as nice) places because you’re willing to eat out when it’s still light out. One of the interesting things I learned from a friend is that early eaters like us are always seated by a window, so that passersby will see the window seats filled with diners and hopefully this will encourage them to dine there as well.

Anyway. We started with vegetable samosas (just like Bina used to make!), then settled on the Seafood Trio, one of their “signature dishes”; Saag Paneer (a favorite of mine which I nearly always order … I should branch out more but it’s hard); rice and Keema Naan on the side; and two Mango Lassis.

The waitress asked how sweet we wanted our Mango Lassis. I looked at her quizzically.
-Well, some guests asked that they not be so sweet. So now I try to cater to your preferences.”
-Oh, I want mine sweet, all right.
-Yeah, me too, says the husband. He normally gets the King Fisher but settled and enjoyed the lassi alongside me. Mmmm. Mango…

The samosas were also presented to us almost immediately, filled with spicy potatoes and peas. A crispy outer shell and a warm, mushy filling was the type of samosa I really craved (not the puff pastry turnover I made last week). Terrific.

The Seafood Trio included King salmon; scallops and nice, big prawns, grilled tandoori style, and (heavily) dressed in a rich and tangy citrus sauce. At times, a little too tangy for my taste. The prawns were quite impressive, the salmon and scallops perhaps had too much dressing for me to enjoy it entirely.

The Saag Paneer was as expected, creamy pureed spinach and that lovely paneer cheese, full of those familiar Indian spices. Sprinkled atop was some fresh cilantro, much to the husband’s dismay. I don’t remember cilantro being part of this dish before, however it put a damper on things for the husband, a bonafide cilantro-hater. Well… more leftovers for me.

I know there are a dozen Indian restaurants closer to us. Just walk down the Ave. in the U-District and I’m bound to bump into one without even trying. But it’s so much easier to go just a little bit farther and know what you’re going to get (ok, the cilantro was a surprise but now we know). We grabbed the to-go menu on the way out … I’m sure we’ll be back.