Madras Mantra Awards

Madras Mantra Restaurant Review:

About the décor: Brightly painted walls with artful embellishments and a mural of regally adorned elephants all shimmer under a cool blue light emanating from ceiling coffers.

Food & Drinks: At the lunch buffet, eggplant and lentil dishes and most of the other hot items vary daily. A crunchy salad comprises apples, carrots and other elements dressed in simple citrus juice. Spicy sambar that's always on the buffet is just one of a couple of soups, and we like the thick raita and coconut chutney. At dinner, table service prevails. Start with a cheese uthappam, a rice-and-lentil flour pancake topped with cheese and onions and served with sambar and chutneys, sort of the Indian answer to pizza. Next consider one of myriad standout vegetable curries, although there are an equal number of dosai (crisp crêpe-like pancakes with a wide variety of vegetable fillings). We opted for the aloo gobai, a cauliflower and potato vegetable curry with onions, tomato and masala gravy. House-made kulfi (Indian ice cream) in various flavors makes a fine dessert. There are beer and wine, but choices are limited, although the list is due for an upgrade, we're told. Failing that, bring your own, as corkage is a mere $10. Better to choose a lassi, a cold beer or savor a hot tea.