This Indian I have never seen before opened up, near my home. This little Indian seemed cute, colorful and rather inviting, so I went inside this Indian and tried the Indian out.
This Indian I was just inside was not at all large but rather cosy and nice and warm inside. I was half expecting my eyes to water or the intense flavors to go to my head. I had to blow my nose, near the end.
I was left feeling satisfied after about 30minutes.
I was told to 'come again', and indeed I may. But not tonight.
The Indian I'm talking about is a new restaurant, opened up near my home.It's name is the Raj Laxmi.
It's a tiny place, with seating for about 14 (at a squeeze). 3 people seem to work there. An Indian cook, waiter and a Japanese looking lady with a nice Sari.
Nice staff. Friendly and polite. Service is prompt, friendly and not too pushy.
The second thing you notice (after the size of the place) are the prices.
Not expensive. Very reasonable, especially for Japan.
A dinner set of a curry with rice or naan , with a salad and drink (oolong tea) for 1000yen. Not bad. Draft beer is 300yen a glass or 500yen for a big glass. They have Maharaja and Kingfisher (both very good Indian pilsners) for 500yen. Not bad at all.
Here is a photo of the menu. It's in Japanese and English. There are, of crouse, the obligatory mistakes. You can see the famiLLy set choice.You can choose two curry (curries) from bellow (does the chef scream out the choices?).
What I liked the best is that with this meal, you get a glass of bear! I've never had a bear in a glass before. Come to think of it, I've never had a bear. Great stuff.
This was the most expensive thing on the menu. a family set, 2500yen, for at least 2 people.
The meal I choose was the 2nd most expensive thing, set B.
For 1500yen, I got:
A drink of oolong tea and a salad. The salad was very basic. Just cabbage, a slice of cucumber and some corn and dressing. Not even a tomato. But it tasted okay.
Next came the chicken tandoori. Very nice it was. too. Plenty of meat on it. Very good. Not too spicy but still it had plenty of flavor.
Then it was... something else. I can't remember what this was called. I was too scared to ask, in case it was a bear's appendage or something. But it tasted good. It came with a little of the strange salad, too (I got another slice of cucumber).
Then the main course arrived. But what?
Where's my curry?
Have the naan and rice been served, without the curry?
What's going on?
A quick inspection under the naan revealed my curries! Hello, boys!!!
The green one was the special curry. It was a saag chicken curry (with spinach). A little different to most saags I've had before. Not very think and creamy. Slightly 'soup'ish. But it grew on me. No pun intended. Not very spicy. A hint of garlic, perhaps? The chicken was good and soft.
The curry to the left was the mutton curry. This was my favourite of the two. Slighlty more flavor and spicier. Went well with the naan. The naan was an ample size (as they always are) but a little plain tasting. Not the most flavoursome naan I've ever had.
Flavour was a little lacking.
Not as thick or creamy as I would have liked.
Simple salad but it tasted fine.
Plain naan was just that.
Service was good and friendly.
Price is very reasonable.
Nice selections. Maybe next time I will try their mango lassie for 450yen or perhaps a few beers.
All in all a nice meal for only 1500yen.
Not bad for Japan.
I will come again, but not tonight. I need to recover.
Verdict: 7/10.
Can't argue with value for money: 8/10
Food: Not great, not bad. 6/10
Overall: 7/10
