Taj
Mahal, the real thing
Having
lived in Los Angeles for many years and eaten at some of the finest
Indian restaurants this side of Mumbai, I must admit I approached
this review of Taj Mahal warily. The reason is that the spices and
specialized techniques required to produce authentic Indian cuisine
are not readily available here and the last thing I wanted to eat
was someone’s idea of Indian food…say curry a la corvina
with a side of patacones with chutney dip. What I discovered, however,
was a restaurant whose very beautiful interior is matched, perhaps
even surpassed, by the quality and authenticity of its food.
Open
only ten months, this wonderful restaurant is authentic, from its
charming owner and host, David Mander, to its Indian chefs and authentic
tandoori oven in the kitchen. Even the service staff are dressed
in native costumes. From the moment you enter and smell a hint of
incense mingled with a whiff of curry, you know you have found "the
real thing". And, my friends, Taj Mahal is "the real thing".
While
we sipped on Lassi’s, a rich yogurt-based drink that comes
in many flavors, we nibbled on a delicious variety of Chicken Samosas,
and Fish and Shrimp Pakoras. While all were quite good, the shrimp
was truly outstanding; the shrimp meat tender, succulent and rich
with flavor. Then the main meal began…and it was almost overwhelming.
Lamb,
beef…two kinds of chicken, vegetarian dishes, three baskets
of naan bread….the generous portions just kept arriving, as
did an outstanding vegetable rice dish used to contain the sauces
so that not one flavorful drop would be lost.
We asked
for "medium hot" when ordering, and that is just the way
it arrived….a slight bite of spicy heat, but not overly much.
If you want to avoid the heat, you can also order your meal sans
the fiery spices used in this centuries-old cuisine, but I think
you are missing something when you do this. The heat is often an
interesting counterpoint to the smooth sauces, tender meats and
herbs.
Hands
down, the Tandoori Chicken was one of the best I have had…tender
morsels of boneless chicken cooked to perfection. Wrapped in a piece
of garlic naan bread with a dash of one of the many condiments provided
(I chose mango chutney), it was fit for a king. Which is just the
way you are treated when you dine at Taj Mahal. The service is swift
and efficient, the décor regal.
There
is a wide variety of vegetable dishes for those who eschew meat,
and if the two we sampled are an example, then you will not be disappointed,
as Indian cuisine reflects its culture and vegetarian dishes have
a very long history
in that country.
Taj Mahal
has something to offer everyone.
The Panamá
City version of this restaurant has an older and highly successful
sister establishment in Costa Rica and their proud owner oversees
both.
The source
of this pride is based on the effort he has made to guarantee Panamá
has a fine Indian restaurant: an excellent and highly experienced
chef he brought to oversee the kitchen, the tandoori oven he installed
to ensure meats are cooked properly and the varieties of naan bread,
a staple of Indian cuisine, is prepared the traditional way, and
a well-trained staff.
Prices
are moderate; a very wide range of appetizers runs $3.95 to $4.95,
main courses $8.95 to $11.95, with the most expensive dish an elegant
Tandoori Jumbo Prawn for $17.95.
To say
I highly recommend Taj Mahal would be an understatement. If you
like authentic Indian food prepared by a master chef in beautiful
surroundings, then this is a place you must try. I plan to return
many times.
