Royal India
329 Market Street,
Downtown San Diego
www.royalindia.com
619-269-9999
Take your family to Royal India and enjoy a feast fit for a king. This elegant, award-winning Gaslamp restaurant is the perfect place for any special occasion.
My mother-in-law, Marie, likes Indian food, so my husband and I took her out for dinner during her recent visit. Street parking was easy to find on a Sunday evening. The interior was beautiful and modern, and our servers were friendly and helpful.
We started with samosas ($5 for two), a sort of triangular turnover stuffed with spicy potatoes and peas, and savory dal lentil soup ($6). The hearty soup could have been a meal in itself.
My husband Frank had the butter lamb curry ($18), a mild, flavorful sauce with cubes of soft lamb meat. I chose mango pineapple curry with chicken ($17), which was sweet, fruity and spicy. Marie and my son James, 6, shared a plate of tikka masala ($18), roasted chicken with a creamed tomato curry.
Garlic nan ($5), flat bread slathered with fresh garlic and cilantro, aromatic basmati rice with raisins, almonds and spices, and chai tea rounded out the meal.
Dishes are spiced to taste, so you can ask for mild, medium or hot curries.
I was impressed by the delicious fresh sauces dotted with whole and ground ginger, coriander, fennel and cilantro. It was a wonderful upgrade from some Indian restaurants, which, I suspect, use premade sauces.
James devoured his food and some of mine as well. We were too full for desserts, but I’ll save room on my next visit. Royal India offers traditional desserts like kheer, saffron rice pudding with nuts and raisins, and gulabjuman, (imagine donut holes drenched in a sweet, flavorful syrup) and innovative twists on familiar dishes, like cardamom crème brulée.
Prix fixe dinner combinations and an array of vegetarian curries, tandoori specialities (smoked over mesquite in a clay oven) and breads, are available.
If you aren’t familiar with Indian food, a buffet is the best opportunity to try a wide range of dishes and discover your favorites. Whether you are a devoted fan or new to the cuisine, Royal India will be a treat.
Lunch buffet: Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Champagne Brunch: weekends from 12 to 3 p.m.
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Kristin Powell plans to visit Royal India again to try the coconut pineapple curry. Mmm…