Murray Hill is the crazy kind of place that New Yorkers don’t know whether to love or hate. Although it’s residents are notoriously drenched in the scent of Long Island’s south shore, it’s convenient to midtown & Gramercy Park, and is home to the ever-so-tasty patch of Indian restaurants that New Yorkers cleverly call Curry Hill. Curry Hill is home to a vast array of Indian restaurants that offer regional delicacies, but few really shine through with particular must-eat dishes. Tamba, on the other hand, is a true undiscovered gem.
image via yelp.com
When Steve and I walked in early on a Wednesday night, the modern restaurant was about half full. The crowd was a mix of young locals just out of the office, actual Indians (that’s a good sign), and people you could tell traveled a distance to get there. We started with a mango martini that was delicious if you like a sweet, refreshing cocktail. It’s a sort of perfect-for-summer-if-you’re-wearing-a-dress kind of drink that can help balance the spice of some of the more intense dishes at Tamba.
Although the restaurant offers some delicious variations of the typical standby favorites like chicken tikka masala and saag paneer, the chef at Tamba created a dish that had Steve and I licking the plate: lasani ghobi. Neither of us had ever tried this fried cauliflower dish before, and in fact, I’m not even a cauliflower fan usually. Florets of cauliflower were lightly battered, fried, and coated in a garlicky, tangy tomato sauce that will make you lick your plate, your fork, and anything else the florets come in contact with.
Steve loved it so much that he walked out saying, “So when i hear the term cauliflower, I often get apprehensive. I cannot remember a time when I have thought, you know what? I want me some cauliflower, bring it on. On an equal and opposite note, there has never been a time when I have thought “that fried ___does not look delicious. So bringing these two concepts together in the holiest of matrimony, the lasani ghobi was a match made in Curry Hill Heaven. This could stand alone as an entree. The crispiness of the fried cauliflower with the sweet and spicy tang of the sauce was enough for me to consider going vegetarian, well, while waiting for some Chicken Tikka Masala.”
If you’re a chicken fan, the Tamba Murg Delight ($16.95) is a stuffed chicken breast that’s bursting with spinach, cheese, and nuts. Although it may seem like an unconventional combination, the flavors and textures work well together, and the portion is big enough for two people to share with a couple appetizers.
Tamba is a moderately-priced success story in a sea of Indian restaurants that are hard to distinguish. Stick to the lasani ghobi, chicken dishes, and the velvety saag paneer and you’ll be a happy camper.
Tamba
103 Lexington Ave, New York
