Review #838
2025-010
Food Order:
Chicken 65 (crispy chicken cubes, spicy Andhra specialty sauce), Gobi Paratha, Aloo Chili Puff (spicy potato stuffed in layered patty, topped with chilli flakes)
Pista House is located in a large strip mall off busy Carson St., serving Hyderabadi cuisine, which comprises of a broad repertoire of rice, wheat, & meat dishes, & the use of various spices, herbs, & natural edibles to tantalize your taste buds.
I was searching for "hot & new" in Yelp when this new Indian restaurant popped up. My first thought was ordering aloo gobi because I haven't had it in awhile, but their Chicken 65 caught my eye. I paired it with a side of Gobi Paratha instead of rice so I can eat it like a burrito or quesadilla. Since there wasn't too many pics, it was easy to peruse for order ideas & found the Aloo Chili Puff. It's not on the menu or online POS, so you need to call & ask for it.
My order was ready upon arrival. I can smell the deliciousness wafting from the boxes, & slightly drooled. Hehehe... ヅ My order was still quite warm for the 10-min. drive back to the office. I was worried about the puff (I thought it would be similar to the vegetarian samosa filling: potatoes, carrots, peas, &/or beans -- it wasn't) & unpacked that 1st, since its layers of phyllo dough may wilt from the condensation. The outer layer was slightly moist/wet, but otherwise flaky & crisp; the potato filling packs quite a punch of chili, curry heat! Note to self: order more!!
I'm not sure what to make of the Chicken 65 from the description, as my go-tos are: butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, or tandoori chicken. This dish a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y amazing & generous in portion!! Although it's fried, it's so tender & flavorful... the spices really slaps awake your taste buds! I spread the chicken on the paratha & rolled it like a burrito to eat... nom, nom, nom. The flatbread took off some of the heat, though I was able to eat the chicken by itself. This could dethrone my fav: butter chicken... I haven't dined at any Indian restaurant that serves Chicken 65.
The space is open with 6 booths that could seat up to 6 diners, & 2 4-top & 1 2-top tables. Pista House is new so the restaurant is clean & organized; it's an open kitchen so you can watch your order being prepped & cooked. I'm sure there's a restroom somewhere; I didn't have time to scout for it because I was tight on time. Service was quick & automated, lacking a friendly welcome.
The menu is deep with dishes; 9 sections, including desserts & drinks, with a standalone specialty: Haleem. And a $13.99 - $14.99 lunch special menu that offers an entrée & sides: curries, rice or pulov, bread, dal, sweet, & a drink. That's a steal!!
My meal was great but haven't fully explored the menu to recommend anything other than what I tried. But I'm definitely planning on coming back for more!
Recommended: Aloo Chili Puff (this is a must!), Chicken 65, Gobi Paratha. read more