Madras Masala ( South Indian )

I was skeptical about taking my extremely picky toddler, Logan, to a South Indian restaurant, but dining at Madras Masala was more pleasant than I anticipated. I played it safe and ordered Logan a plain Cone Dosa (lentil and rice crepe). She was impressed when her bread arrived looking like a “birthday hat” and ate a good chunk of it. Tasty, with a pleasant texture, it was a great way to sneak legumes into her diet. The chef, Damu, has over fifteen years experience in Madras, India, and with Carnival Cruise Lines. The dishes are based on fresh masala and herb mixtures that boast medicinal value. My adult companion, Paul, and I shared Badaami Chicken (creamy almond sauce) and Lamb Hyderabadi (in saffron and yogurt). Our server assured us that the lamb would be mild, but it was a little spicy for me and there was no way my Scottish/English editor could handle it. The chicken, however, was mild enough, even for Paul. Both dishes were tasty, but I found the spices with the lamb a touch overbearing- granted, I don’t eat Indian food that often, so that could have something to do with it. The chicken was fantastic and we both really enjoyed it. For dessert, we tried Badam Halwa (ground almonds cooked in honey, butter and cardamoms, served warm). It had a rich, interesting taste; too rich for more than a few bites, but a pleasant treat to end dinner with. Logan wouldn’t touch it (big surprise), and Paul just thought it was weird, but he’s probably just too English to appreciate it. Very reasonably priced for good food in a classy restaurant- fifty bucks would cover dinner, dessert, a couple of beers and a doggy bag.

Review by Melissa Peters