If you like curries or Tandoori cooking, then this Indian restaurant will delight you. Their cuisine, billed as "Royal Indian" or Mughlai, can be ordered mild, medium, hot, or spicy, in ascending order of bite. Every entrée is served with basmati rice, but if you want a side of mango chutney, it’s extra charge (a modest $1.25). One extra, ranging in price from $1.50 to $5.95, is the Roti Wali Galli, fresh baked Tandoori Breads-try the Garlic Nan; it’s only $2.25.For main courses, they have lamb, chicken, seafood and vegetarian entrees, with an average price of $12.95. Our favorite meat is lamb, so I like the Shahi Korma, lamb in a creamy sauce covered with fruit, and my son had the Lamb Saag, lamb in creamed spinach flavored with ginger and other spices. Then, we shared, which was easy to do as the two entrees and the basmati came in small dishes to the table. Both of us preferred the Lamb Saag and did not dislike the other;it was good. We had 2 extras, the garlic nan that was excellent, pungent and of almost flaky texture, and the mango chutney. For the same $12.95, you can have Chicken Saag.
Among the vegetarian dishes, the Baingan Bharta is charbroiled eggplant with tomatoes and onions, or one could have the Malai Kofte that consists of vegetable rolls stuffed with nuts and spices and served in a cream sauce. For dessert there’s five items, each priced at $2.95; someday, I’ll try the warmed carrot pudding, but, usually, especially when I’m ordering a la carte, I don’t have dessert. And we were full; my son had a Sam Adams ale and I had pink lemonade. They have Indian tea, sodas, a limited but reasonably good list of beers and wines to imbibe with your meal.
Service was very attentive, but I did notice they suggested drink refills twice, and we declined both times. The décor is pleasant, an attempt to convert what had formerly been a Chinese restaurant into one with Indian atmosphere. I did notice that the backs of the booths were quite worn and needed replacement.As we were leaving, I noticed that several of the diners were Indian-usually a good indication that the food is authentic. Their Lunch Buffet from Mondays to Fridays from 11 to 2:30 is a bargain at $6.95, and a good way to discover what Indian foods you like. Or, try their Sunday or Saturday Champagne Brunch from 11-3, for $9.95. And, if you like lamb as I do, order their Lamb Curry and have it with the mango chutney. This is a relatively new restaurant in the Row, so, they have coupons in the Sunday North County Times, and you can download one from their new web site, www.indiaprincess.com. The tab was a bit pricey, $36.53 before tip, but a la carte always costs more.BONUS: Just got 425 miles because this restaurant is on American's dining program, a pleasant surprise as I didn't know it was.