india rosa in griffintown has a stylish, modern feel that immediately stands out. we had a table…read morefor four, and the dining room was open, airy, and filled with natural light from the large windows. the wood floors, teal banquette seating, greenery, warm pendant lights, and exposed ceiling details give the space a polished but relaxed look. it has a bit of an earls like atmosphere, but with a more tropical, eclectic touch.
the restaurant was slightly breezy while we were there, and there was even a little house sparrow flying around inside, which was unexpected but oddly charming.
the menu looked promising, with a mix of indian inspired dishes and brunch favourites. i ordered the veggie brunch, which was beautifully plated but, unfortunately, the food itself was only okay.
the dish came with a warm root vegetable salad glazed with honey and masala spices, with red beets, carrots, cauliflower, turnips, and onions, along with poached eggs, saffron and lime yogurt, and coriander sprouts. there were plenty of interesting flavours and ingredients on the plate, but overall, it didn't quite live up to the presentation. visually, it was much more impressive than it was memorable.
the mango lassi was another interesting detail. it came in a tiki style glass with a short straw and a single pineapple stalk as garnish, a fun presentation, although a little unexpected for a lassi.
overall, india rosa is a beautiful space with a lively, inviting atmosphere and a menu that looks more exciting than what i ended up experiencing on the plate. the setting definitely made a stronger impression on me than the food.