Thursday, January 5, 2012
Restaurants A flawless lunch at Cardamom Hill
Posted by Cliff Bostock @cliffbostock on Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 9:04 PM
- www.cardamomhill.net
Chef/owner Asha Gomez became well known in the city's "underground" dining scene with her Spice Route Supper Club. She specializes in the cuisine of Kerala, a state in southwest India, where cardamom is a predominant spice.
Lunch at the restaurant is limited to classic thalis — a selection of one meat or vegetarian dish with three sides like today's lentil soup, fluffy pilau and a salad of shaved tropical fruits and radishes. Perhaps the sides sound unexciting, but wait 'til your palate is singing in three-part harmony.
I chose the chicken curry for my meat. Believe me. This ain't your yellow curry from the House of Madras. It's an amazingly complex creation that plays with spicy heat by, apparently, bringing the sharp flavor of cinnamon sticks together with other more directly piquant ingredients. Coconut milk figures in the mix.
My friend Tommy chose Gomez's well known Kerala fried chicken. (Whoa. Abbreviated, that's KFC!) It's a classic dish — not the take on Southern fried chicken that people seem to think. Just try it. You don't eat it with your hands, but if you did, it would be finger-licking good.
Tell all your picky friends that the food here is not spicy-hot. It barely even borders on slightly stinging.
The dinner menu at Cardamom Hill will change regularly. I do suggest you call for reservations. The dining room is small and the place is going to be a super-hit. Check out Eat. Drink. Repeat. for some great pictures.
(Disclosure & apology: I was recognized at Cardamom Hill. Moreover, their computer system went haywire during our visit, so they weren't charging the few customers for their meals while we were there. Embarrassingly, Tommy and I mindlessly walked out of the restaurant without tipping. So I want to assure our server that I'll bring him the tip when I go to dinner.)
Comments (5)
Showing 1-5 of 5
we had a pretty disappointing experience there last night for dinner. our overall impression was that they were not prepared to open. a single appetizer took thirty minutes to get to the table (when there were only two other tables in the restaurant), mains took even longer after we finished the app. we were hoping for some big, bold, flavors; only got dull, confusing dishes. wait staff also seemed confused most of the time. apparently they were only comping the meals of recognized guests . . . we were held hostage for over thirty minutes while they worked out computer problems to swipe a credit card. a free glass of wine was not worth all the waiting. sounds like lunch was much more successful. we will wait a while to go back, and sincerely hope they can work out the kinks. would love to have tasty indian food in the neighborhood.
like
dislike
Didn't they just open their doors like 3 days ago?
Ash, are you seriously taking the time to post a mostly negative experience at a brand new restaurant?
You might want to think a little bit before you publicly ridicule a new restaurant as they get themselves together in their first few days.
If you require the best effort from a new restaurant on a night where it isn't so busy, just return next month on a monday or tuesday.
I totally agree: it's tough to judge a brand new restaurant. Honestly, I hesitated to post. I ended up writing because I would hate for someone to read Cliff's glowing review and have unnecessarily high expectations. I also felt it important to share that they weren't comping checks due to computer delays, contrary to Cliff's experience at lunch (and no, I didn't expect or want a free dinner).
I went in without much expectation, knowing it's new. The problems we experienced had nothing to do with the place being packed; we arrived early I believe we were the second table seated. It sounds like there's a stark difference between lunch and dinner service.
I would love for the place to succeed, but think they have several large kinks to work out.
Sorry but don't open and take people's money if you can't even get a check straight.... A few small kinks are ok - a series of big blunders is not excusable if people are paying full price for it. Being new is not an excuse. Do more friends and family nights then. I know plenty in the business who spend a lot of time and money on pre-opening nights to ensure these issues don't occur.
Latest in Omnivore
-
Willy Wonka & the Tapas Factory: a meal at é by José Andrés
What happens in Vegas may blow your mind
-
Would you eat a test-tube burger? 4
The time of in vitro meat is (almost) now
-
King & I changes hands
Tyson Wong Ophaso is part of the change
- More »
Author Archives
-
Gu's Bistro doesn't torture the mild of palate 4
Checking out an alternative to Peter Chang's
-
Can you please eat some pork fat 5
Visits to the Shed and Eclipse di Luna
- More »
