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The weekly dish: India Sizzling
Posted: Feb 27, 2008 in Dining
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VENUE INFO
It doesn't get much better than fighting a cold winter's night with a spicy bowl of hot curry.
And there's no more exotic escape to find it locally than India Sizzling, a cozy, lovingly decorated retreat tucked into an unassuming strip mall off Allisonville Road in Fishers.
Owners Parag and Zeenat Joshi did more than just open a restaurant here. They transformed the single dining room into an elegant eatery, reflective of Parag's native Bombay.
Billowing white canopies drape gracefully from copper ceiling tiles, while two walls are lined floor-to-ceiling with rich chocolate-brown drapes and sheers. A third wall shows off sleek wire art depicting Bombay's cosmopolitan skyline. Chandeliers illuminate the overall space, while gold, cube-shaped droplights dangle over each table.
My husband, Pete, and I took in the sumptuous atmosphere on a recent weekday evening. Recipes here represent a variety of Indian regions, blending authentic spices with vegetables, poultry, lamb, goat and seafood -- but no beef.
To start, we ordered two appetizers: garlic cauliflower and vegetable samosa (both $3.95).
The cauliflower dish is spiced in mild, medium or hot. Hot won out, and the result was tasty indeed. Lightly breaded and fried cauliflower was tossed with onions and garlic in a zesty sauce reminiscent of that served over buffalo wings, then topped with cilantro sprigs.
The mild samosa would appeal to those who don't have a hot streak when it comes to food.
Two pockets of housemade dough were stuffed with peas, potatoes and more cilantro, then fried for a hearty starting bite.
For entrees, both of us decided to go the poultry route. I headed right for the curry dishes, selecting the chicken Chettinaad ($11.95) for its description as a "spicy chicken curry from South of India." To ensure the spice factor, I ordered it prepared hot. Pete ordered the Balti chicken ($11.95), also hot.
Both of our meals arrived in pretty hammered-copper bowls with handles; our servers set them atop individual warming trays "powered" by votive candles.
My curry craving was promptly satisfied by the thick, rich sauce that held large chunks of chicken and tomatoes, seasoned with onions, pepper seeds, fennel and a large bay leaf. The smoky/sweet sauce (I tasted cinnamon and perhaps a hint of chocolate) had a spicy kick as well, but not so much that eating it became a challenge.
Pete's Balti chicken also contained plenty of zesty spice, but a completely different flavoring mix. His tomato-based sauce contained flavorful chicken chunks, green peppers, onions, tomatoes and diced cilantro. We passed a large side bowl of rice between us.
A side order of garlic naan ($2.95) arrived warm, with a soft, chewy center and plenty of garlicky, buttery coating on the exterior.
Service was prompt but never pushy. We felt welcome to linger over our meals, savoring the spice as we surreptitiously dabbed at our noses and cleared our throats, reacting to the sinus-clearing properties of the seasonings. For once, I didn't feel like rushing winter away.
Taste Test
Appetizers:
Vegetable samosa, $3.95
Garlic cauliflower, $3.95
Side:
- Garlic naan, $2.95
Entrees:
Chicken Chettinaad, $11.95
Balti chicken, $11.95
- By Julie Cope Saetre / Indy.com correspondent
We are Indian food fans. Tried this place based on the review in Indy Star, we are amazingly surprised that India Sizzling exceeded all reviews. India Sizzling seems like hidden treasure of Indy, food authenticity & aura other standard Indian restaurants in Indy don't even come close.
We have tried all (Shalimar, India Garden, Amber, Masala Something, India Palace...), diff names same standard food.
India Sizzling Rocks!!
The lunch buffet is definitely worth checking out. Service was excellent, we had way more fresh, hot naan than we knew what to do with and our glasses were always full. The buffet items were kept covered, so they stayed warm; there was an excellent variety of flavors and textures to try. Highly recommended!