Anarkali Indian Restaurant

Last Friday TZ and special guest star V were available, so we decided to try something that they had never experienced. We decided on authentic Indian food, and selected Anarkali Indian Restaurant, located at 7013 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038. We had a reservation for 4 for 9:00 pm. V brought her hubby Mr. J with her, along with her baby B, so we ended up with 5. It wasn't a problem as times are bad and it wasn't crowded at all. I got there first and had an India Special (beer) while waiting on them. By 9:20 everyone arrived. The setting of the restaurant was unique, if not ingenious. They made each table looked like an enclosed tent, the center of the restaurant was a long table with two crystal chandeliers, making it feel like a table for nobels. The background was filled with subtle Indian music, soft enough where you can hear it but wont need you to raise your voice to talk. They only serve beer and regular drinks, no wine or liquor, but then again, it would be a challenge to find wine that suits Indian cusine.

We placed our orders, mind you nobody by myself had ever experienced Indian cusine, so I suggested something basic. Tandoori chicken, curry, naan, garlic naan, Z I had recommended the chicken tikka, but she decided to try Chicken Curry Vindaloo dinner(curry with lemon juice, she being new at this ordered it mild). V and family decided to share and ordered Calimari to start, and share an order of Mixed Tandoori Grill dinner, which comes with Chicken Tandoori, Chicken Tikka, Lamb Tikka, and Sheekh Kabab. I ordered the combination platter with chicken curry(hot), it comes with Chicken Tandoori, naan, rice and dessert, and an extra side of garlic naan.

So while we waited for our food, we began joking around on baby B's expense, telling her that we are here to eat monkey brains and beetles(old Indiana Jones sceen) and spooked her silly. Then the calamari came, it was triple battered and in strips, so it looked like cheetos and we told her that its good cheetos, not the stuff coming out of the bag...which caused her to not try it:) Then the conversation switched to the not using the left hand to eat as it was for wiping >-)

Soon our food arrived and filled the table. V and family had the mixed grill, which they thought was too bland, Z had her chicken curry vindaloo, but she didn't like the herb tasting chicken. I on the other hand loved my dish, I had my curry hot, and hot it was, and unlike other Indian places, there were no film of red oil over the curry. The tandoori chicken was just right for me, the naan was kinda weak though, I am used to better flavor naan.

I guess I over did it with the left hand jokes, as toward the end, V kept saying she smell gas....hehehe it probably was from herself, after all, we know that shes been known to lose control before.

Overall

Location/Parking***********************B-, I had mine valet, and he just moved it 5 inches and left it in the street, and just put a cone behind my car... and charged me 5 bucks!

Environment***************************A. I really like the decor/setup. It felt like you are in your own tent.

Drinks*********************************C+. Serving Indian beer was cool, but the menu on drinks were a bit weak.

Food**********************************C+. If it was me, I would give it a B+/A-, but the general consensus was that the food wasn't tasty, but then again I am the only one who had experienced Indian food and knew what to expect, and I did order my curry hot!

Price**********************************B it wasn't expensive to start, and there was a coupon online for 25 dollars off, but then they slap 18% tip on top of it, so it was really about 7 bucks of savings.

Overall......I liked it, but my guests didn't. This one is hard to call, I would have given it a B+ overall, but taking my guests input into the equation, this is a B-/C+ establishment.

For those who would like to see if they agree with me or my guests, please feel free to try them.
You can also see their menu at http://www.anarkali-la.com/