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Dosa Grill Review
Dosa Grill NJ Review :Decent Dosas; Indecent Service
Like a Pavlovian dog, we reflexively start salivating at the very mention of the word Dosa (hey look, there's already some water on our keyboard).
So it was no surprise that we marched into Dosa Grill the other day gluttonous as only an Indian gourmand at lunch time can be.
Dosa Grill is a no-frills joint on RT 27 in North Brunswick (New Jersey), close to the Regal Commerce and AMC Loews theatres that screen Bollywood movies.
The place was fairly crowded, with the overwhelming majority of them desis (for some reason, South Indian restaurants in the U.S. don't attract as many American diners, who tend to frequent the Punjabi restaurants).
Besides the Dosas, we tried a variety of other items.
Dosa Grill North Brunswick - Decent Dosas
First, let's focus on the Dosas, the express purpose of our visit.
We tried both the Mysore Masala Dosa and the regular Masala Dosa.
Both (particularly the Mysore Masala Dosa with the chilli paste smeared to the insides of the Dosa) left no room for complaint.
Spicy and crisp with an aesthetically pleasing reddish-brownish tinge on the outside, Dosa Grill's Mysore Masala Dosa with a tasty potato filling inside (not the bland monstrosity we usually encounter) was a worthy offering.
The two Dosas were not the best that have touched our lips but they were more than adequate.
Fine Sambar, So So Chutneys
While the carrot and doodhi Sambar was a treat, the accompanying Chutneys were a mixed bag. You see, the Coconut Chutney was alright although it could have done with a few more chillies.
But we ran into a bigger pothole with the Tomato and Onion Chutneys.
These Chutneys were cold monsters since the lazy boobs at Dosa Grill restaurant (North Brunswick, NJ) had not cared to even heat them up. Yes, we admit they were still tasty.
Dosa Grill Indian Restaurant - Yummy Rasam, Horrid Idly
Idli, another staple of the South Indian meal, was not merely disappointing but bad. It was hard and obviously not cooked properly. Worse, it was not even lukewarm.
But the yummelicious Rasam more than made up for it. Hot and tasty and with a pungent taste, it was what the current cold season called for.
Good Biryani, Delicious Bhindi, Beans Korma
The Vegetable Pulao was tasty although the rice was slightly overcooked.
Bhindi Masala and Berry Beans Korma were so delicious that we felt like walking into the kitchen and giving the chef a peck on the cheek (Kannathil Muthamittal).
Dosa Grill North Brunswick - Bad Naan Bread
The Naan was a disaster, as it usually is in most South Indian restaurants here. Too thick and cold, it was a perversity that no self-respecting restaurant would dare place before diners.
Medicore Ras Malai
The Ras Malai (cottage cheese in rose flavoured milk) didn't send us into raptures and the milk was way too watery.
Dosa Grill North Brunswick - Disservice
Our waiter at Dosa Grill was a bozo (the fair, slightly shortish, balding fellow with a thick mustache. Not the tall, dark guy from the Marthandam area in Tamil Nadu) completely unschooled in the basics of service. We haven't checked the neighborhood zoos but if some cage is empty you can rest assured that its missing occupant is our man with the sullen face of a monkey deprived of its banana.
Throughout our meal, he seemed to be in an irate mood. But what got our goat was when he brought us the Badam Halwa with Vanilla Ice Cream (instead of the Mango Ice Cream we ordered). When we gently pointed out the error, instead of apologizing or offering to replace it this ape in trousers looked at us and told us it is ok? After we politely told him no, the fellow slunk away and returned five minutes later with the correct item.
Overall, service was sub-par at Dosa Grill and it was hard to catch the attention of the wait staff.
Also, we have never figured out why it is that at most Indian restaurants in the U.S. all the staff gather in a group near the cash counter. Maybe, since most Indian places here serve lousy food perhaps they think security lies in numbers if they are confronted by irate diners.
Oh, we almost forgot the fine Madras Coffee ($1.95). Piping hot and flavorful, the Kapi prepared us for the long drive ahead. - © NJIndia.us
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