4/5 for Rasoi. We ventured to a bit of a different area of town than we're used to to try RasoĎŠ, as it is located in Saint-Henri in the borough of Le Sud-Ouest. It certainly seemed like an area that is experiencing a gentrification, as there is about a 50/50 mixture of vacant, run-down store fronts mixed with flashy, beautiful new businesses. RasoĎŠ is one of these businesses. Named as one of the Top New Restaurants in Canada 2013 by Urbanspoon, this place found itself on my hit list.
I had made a reservation in advance and the place did fill up completely throughout the evening, so I would recommend doing so. Entering the restaurant, I was dazzled. This space very well might be the most beautiful, vibrant room that I had ever feasted my eyes upon. I'd never seen anything like it. This experience was like dining within a piece of art. Jewel-toned cushions, exposed brick with ornate mirrors and picture frames adorning the walls, deep woods, and the ceiling! The entire ceiling is a gorgeous, bright floral mural. You could find something beautiful to see in every direction that you look. The menu is written on a chalkboard, and it could be assumed that the items available might alternate regularly. Our server was especially friendly and helpful, answering any questions that we might have had.
The drink menu listed a few yummy-sounding cocktails, so I decided to begin my experience with the La Belle Femme (Lillet Blanc, gin, mango juice, soda, basil & cinnamon - $10.00). This was nice and fresh and tasted tropical and sultry all at the same time - actually, that might be the perfect way to describe Indian food altogether. Only this restaurant is definitely going for a more hip take on Indian food, and not necessarily trapping themselves into a traditional and authentic box.
I am beginning to learn a lot about "table d'hĂ´te" and that many restaurants, even sometimes lower-end ones will offer it here. It's not a new concept; it's a multi-course meal with only a few choices and is charged at a fixed total price. We would normally call something like this a "set menu." This is offered at RasoĎŠ, where you can turn most of the main dishes into a table d'hĂ´te for a higher price, of course. We decided to do this, but began with an appetizer first: Pakoras de Poisson ($9.00). These were nice. While the batter was far from authentic, the flavour was delicious and I loved the presentation. The batter was very crunchy and grainy, but again, they are doing things their own way. The fish inside was moist and tender, and the raita for dipping was perfect. Although I would have liked to have received a second dipping sauce of tamarind on the side. Not the best fish pakora that I've ever had, but a really nice interpretation.
By going with the table d'hĂ´te our meals came with either a soup or salad. The soup was lentil that day, so I selected that. The amount of soup in the bowl was deceiving! It almost seemed bottomless! A really nice and thick soup that managed to be light and mild while packing a spicy punch at the same time.
For the main event we chose two dishes to feast upon; the Poulet de Beurre ($25.00) and the Korma D'Agneau ($30.00). Because we were doing the multi-course meal, these dishes were also served with naan bread, basmati rice, and cucumber raita. These are all things that we would have ordered to accompany our meal anyway, so it made a lot of sense to go the route of having them automatically included.
The entire spread was quite incredible. The butter chicken had a bit of a different flavour than I'm used to, and was a little bit more yogurty - and I loved it. The pieces of chicken were large and juicy. I like putting raita on my butter chicken and curries, and it possessed the desired tangy zip. The rice was mainly standard, but still created the bed for the rest of my food to lay atop. The lamb korma was something different because I'm accustomed to having vegetable korma instead. I also usually like to order lamb curry, so this plate was the perfect combination of two of my favourite dishes. The bowl (kept warm by a candle burning underneath) was refined and the pieces of lamb were cooked to a savoury perfection. I also really loved their naan, which was just a little bit chewy and completely pliable.
To cap off the meal, I asked for a cup of Masala Chai. They make each cup to order, so it takes a little while. Normally real Indian restaurant chai is my favourite thing in the world, but I found this warm beverage to be just a little bit too spicy and bitter for my tastes. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my chai straight and without sugar, but I felt that this chai was a bit overdone.
The spices and depth of flavour of India are abound at RasoĎŠ! They don't offer buffet, so if you're of the Indian buffet persuasion, this is not the place for you. It is worth the visit simply to experience their stunning dining space - but the food satisfies as well.
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