TLDR:
Honestly, a simply fantastic seasonal tasting menu experience. It's beautifully decorated inside, the food was excellent & fresh, and the service was generally great. Would 100% come back for our favorites, and I'd recommend the meats here over the seafood. My favorite among the Eylan, Ettan, Copra sister restaurants!
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FOOD:
1. [MUST TRY] TARO ROOT CHAAT (5/5)
Wow wow wow. My new favorite way to enjoy chaat. Two crispy taro root chips sandwiching a medley of sauces, then covered thoughtfully in sev (short, crunchy noodles) and topped with pomegranate seeds. It's not only beautiful but also delicious.
2. RIBEYE (5/5)
Had no expectations that this ribeye would be anything special, but it was surprisingly excellent quality. We absolutely loved it and the side of broccolini that came with it (super flavorful).
3. EYLAN CRISPY CHICKEN (5/5)
Crispy exterior without excessive batter, super tender + juicy chicken, and great aioli to pair. The chicken comes out piping hot (be careful) with seasoning that adds the slightest kick.
4. CHILLED GREEN GRAPE CHAAS (4.75/5)
Such a refreshing start to the meal. The flavors and textures were all perfect. The only reason this isn't a 5/5 is because, surprisingly, the semolina balls are slightly different sizes, so some were too big to have in one bite.
5. WOODFIRE CHICKEN SEEKH (4.5/5)
Another chicken dish that comes out piping hot. Again, extremely tender chicken (texturally, maybe they marinaded the chicken in yogurt?). They kept emphasizing that a skewer only comes with 3 pieces, but each piece was actually quite large so we're glad we didn't over-order. Both the chicken and the chutney it comes with are very spicy though, so be prepared.
6. KOHLRABI & PINEAPPLE (4.5/5)
The surprises kept coming. Honestly, had no idea what this was when I tried it, but the best way to describe it for others who have never had something like this before is an unbelievably flavorful Indian version of kimchi (without the fermentation). Thin slices of kohlrabi and pineapple with smokiness, sweetness, and crunch, smothered in a delicious glaze. WOW.
7. FROZEN SHRIKHAND (4.5/5)
Another surprise win! The epitome of not-too-sweet. A very refreshing and easy-to-share dessert that is both light and rich at the same time.
8. KING TRUMPET MUSHROOM (4.25/5)
A simple dish that reminded me of Mongolian skewered mushrooms. Nice smokey flavor paired with a flavorful seasoning sprinkled on top.
9. HISPI CABBAGE (4.25/5)
Another nice vegetable dish where the cabbage is not only cooked nicely, but it's swimming in a thick curry that you can eat with your breads.
10. WOODFIRED NANTE CARROT (4.25/5)
Like a sweet and savory crepe. Small but mighty, and another unexpectedly tasty item where the looks deceived you into think it was a simple item.
11. GULF SHRIMP (4/5)
This was a nice dish but I found the shrimp to be slightly overcooked and slightly fishy. Not bad at all, but probably not something I'd order again.
12. EYLAN CHICKEN YAKHNI PULAO (4/5)
Super interesting flavor I've never had before in a rice dish, and extremely generous with the amount of chicken used in this. Loved the crispy shallots as a garnish on top. Rice was a little dry.
13. CHARRED BLACK COD (4/5)
Crispy skin and piping hot. The fish itself was not tough but it wasn't melt-in-your-mouth tender -- definitely firm. Had the slightest fishiness to it in my opinion but it's still not bad. I think the move here is Eylan's meats though.
14. FLAXSEED POEE (3.75/5)
Loved that it came out freshly-baked, easy to share, and super fluffy. Very high quality but the flaxseed flavor wasn't my favorite and there was something about the avocado saag that made it taste more like a condiment than something to eat with the poee.
15. BERRY MAKHANA KHEER (2/5)
This is just a personal preference. These kinds of desserts are not for me flavor-wise. Also difficult to eat since we were given flat plates and this is a liquid dessert.
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ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE:
* This is a truly beautiful restaurant. It's clear that they put a lot of attention into each detail and decoration, reminiscent of Copra in SF or Ettan nearby (sister restaurants).
* They play music semi-loudly in the restaurant which creators a very lively atmosphere that I actually quite liked, but you can also ask them to turn down the music if it ever gets bothersome.
* The restaurant is located alongside a main road in Menlo Park, but it's a bit more tucked away from the road such that it doesn't feel too exposed.
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SERVICE:
* Maybe because we were a large group, but they gifted us a plate of delicious Naankhatai (Indian Ghee Cardamom Shortbread) after dessert and those cookies were divine. We asked for the last couple to be packed up, and to our surprise, they gave us a whole new batch of cookies! That's excellent service.
* They were diligent about filling our waters, wiping down our tables, and providing enough serving spoons for all our dishes. read more