This is Bangladeshi style Indian food.
Not as spicy as…read morePakistani. Def not as spicy with whole seasonings, as Punjabi, which is moi fave OuiOui.
However, I really enjoyed several things here. Let me break it all down.
First of all let me wax poetic about the papad & three sauces this place does. I mean this place makes the best papad, tamarind sauce, cilantro sauce & onion relish I have ever had in my life. And that is saying a lot. I would come back just for that.
The tamarind sauce is so pungent & citrusy, little sweet, omg just perfection.
The cilantro sauce is herbaceous, creamy & SPICY! WOZA!
And the onion relish, I usually do not like this one, I ate the whole thing. His version is sweet & spicy, full of flavor, it's just magical.
All three of them are just superb. A must order OuiOui :)...
I also got the lamb saag (Indian HOT).
I always get the lamb saag it's my favorite dish. It was indeed hot. Not as hot as the Pakistani or Punjabi versions, but it was hot enough.
The only issues was, for the very first time in my life eating Indian food, I had to ask for the salt. That has never happened before in my life. I have never, ever, had to ask for salt at any Indian restaurant in my entire life.
However, after I added some salt, it was perfect. I really enjoyed it. It was a bit milder than I am use to but it was good & I would def order it again in the future.
I also ordered the Lamb Biryani (Indian Hot).
Again, I thought it was lacking salt. Also, it wasn't as spicy as I wanted & it isn't made with the long grain rice like I like, I'm pretty sure it's made with med grain rice, giving it a softer texture, closer to an overcooked rice.
All Biryani is not equal. Everyone makes it different. This one is def Bangladeshi style.
For instance, there is a place in Palm Harbor, Florida that I love, "Discovery India" they make theirs kinda the same way but theirs is Punjabi style, it's very tomato-e & very spicy.
But, my favorite place, Bawarchi Biryanis in Tampa/lutz Florida, they make theirs with long grain rice. Superb. The best Biryani on the planet.
Dinner India, here in Pensacola, they also make a very good lamb Biryani, theirs is also very good & much spicer, as theirs is Pakistani style.
Anyhoo, my point is, theirs is very good, it's one of the milder ones I have had. If you do not enjoy spicy food, you will love the Bangladeshi style version here.
I also ordered the seek kabob, ground lamb on a sizzling plate. Again, I found it to be lacking salt. However, once I added some salt I really enjoyed it.
The garlic naan was fresh made, very soft & luxurious.
The gentleman that served me told me he has two tandoori ovens in back, so he is making excellent tandoori breads & papad here. Tandoori breads, A must order here OuiOui :)...
The service was excellent, the gentleman that served me was very polite & we had a lovely conversation.
He even brought me some Raita, which was also superb. His version has tiny strips of cucumber. Simple & elegant. A must order as well.
After he told me he was from Bangladesh, I wish I would have ordered differently & ordered some seafood dishes, as I would expect, that is what he does best. Next time.
Overall, I am thrilled to add this restaurant to my hometown lists of fave restaurants in Pirate'cola.
I cannot wait to return & try some seafood dishes with his superbly crafted, incredibly delicious, 3 sauces of Tamarind, cilantro & onion relish & update my review! Winners circle indeed OuiOui :)...
Queen of Pirate'cola approved!
Namaste.