The service may have been slow, but the elegant setting and the flavors at Atithi Restaurant in Rotterdam, located near the Erasmus Bridge, were definitely on point! We started our meal with the Chicken Tikka Angara, which were chicken thighs in a flavorful yogurt marinade, and the Lamb Kakorl Seekh, which were juicy ground lamb kebabs, both served with a simple salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes) and a surprisingly spicy green herb chutney on the side. But the dish that I loved most was the Shahi Veg Thali, centered on a bowl of yellow rice, surrounded by an incredible selection of vegetarian curries. There were chickpeas in a dark curry (with a deep, black tea-like flavor), a thick and creamy dal makhani (made of black lentils and kidney beans), mixed spiced vegetables (cauliflower, potatoes, peas, carrots, bell peppers), and my favorite, the paneer lababdar (paneer cubes in a creamy tomato sauce). Each of these curries were nicely spiced and went perfectly with the yellow rice and freshly-baked naan bread. The thali also came with a simple salad, two balls of sweet and sticky gulab jamun, and a thick, creamy, tart mango lassi to wash down all the spices! Though one of the more expensive items on the menu, this thali was worth the wait and made for an incredible feast of a meal. read more