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Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
1/2 off any bottle of wine with purchase of 2 entrees every Monday. Not valid with any other offers.
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Mmmmmmm. Avatar's.
Chic, cozy atmosphere in this intimate little Indian/Mexican themed restaurant.
Their amazing vegetarian friendly food is the perfect balance of flavors packed into every bite. Tried the pumpkin enchiladas----BOMB!
Great service here, too. The owner's passion for his food & running a great business really shines through. Nice atmosphere as well.
I highly recommend this place!
Swing by when in Sausalito for some delicious fusion cuisine!
5 STARS :)
I don't even know where to begin with the review, this place is so different and daring and tasty and and and....
The staff was awesome, the man that took our order (forgive me for not remembering his name) asked some questions about our likes, and gave us suggestions on what plates to order.
He was right on with the choices and the food was great. The spices and cross pollenation of Middle East and Latin American made for a flavorful, spicy, celebration on my taste buds.
He also introduced me to "the best dark beer you'll ever have", and darn it if he wasn't right again! It's called Xingu, and it is good.
If you're in the area, say visiting Mt. Tam or Muir Woods, GO TO THIS PLACE.
... I'm so going back.
Interesting. Veeeery interesting.
Their menu shares the story of their orgins and quotes a food critic's description of their food as "ethnic confusion." I would say that's a fair sentiment.
But not in a bad way.
I had mango lassi and some curry quesadillas. That's right - you heard me. Curry quesadillas. Not a bad premise at all, but certainly caused some thoughtful chewing on my part.
I will return to Avatar's and sample some more confusion soon.
good decor. emphatic owner/service. great fusion mix to their indian food. their mango lassi had some special herbs in it that that you usually don't get.
The food, the service, the owner with his charming, welcoming manner. All outstanding. The owner ordered for us after we told him what we liked and what we were in the mood for: samosas, flat bread and great dipping sauces, juicy, perfectly pink lamb atop a crisp bed of greens and the punjabi enchiladas. Whoa, like WHOA. There's a special place in heaven for those enchiladas. The melding of the flavors of tamarind and curry and yoghurt sauce and the tortillas and the cheese paired with fluffy basmati rice. And then there was dessert: Avatar's Dream. Whoa, like WHOA.
I'm not giving it a 5 just yet because I have to go back and pig out on everything else on the menu first. I am a huge fan of their sister restaurant in Mill Valley, Avatar's Punjabi Burritos. They're both, like, WHOA.
Never order off the menu!
Let the owner know what you're in the mood for and "wa-lah" some food master piece will land on your table that will perfectly satisfy your craving. After showing up too many times on Sunday when Avatars was closed I finally made it on a Saturday afternoon right when the restaurant opened for lunch. My expectations were met, our group of 5 sat down and the waiter came up to us right away promising us awesome dishes that we have never tasted before.
I was happily surprised by the dishes we got - some Indian-Mex enchilada, a lamb dish wish rice, and spicy prawns. He started us off with 3 plates which we scarfed down happily and left us craving more so we ordered 2 more - another spiced meat dish and a wonderful cheese ravioli in curry sauce - SOOO GOOD. The Indian-Mex fusion food was awesome, the flavors were strong, vibrant, and the food was fresh. Overall, my favorite was the enchilladas and the ravioli.
The owner then offered us a never before dessert (meaning if we didn't like it it would be complementary, and if we found another restaurant with this concoction it would be complementary) - still I haven't quite figured out what the heck the dessert was, all I know is that it was sweet, icy, chocolate crusted, and had pistachios on top. Taste was mediocre for the dessert, next time I'll skip the sweets and order another entree dish in its place.
I'll definitely be back!!
Check out http://enjoyavatars.com
My friend and I were greeted by a man who was presumably the owner. He was very welcoming and explained that his goal was to bring us there again. Further, if we didn't like our food, we could eat for free. Now of course, that would be awkward to accept, but in no way did we need a refund as we were quite pleased!
We let him talk us into the specials, which sounded droolingly great. One was a, Indian enchilada with crabmeat. The sauce, with some raita-looking yogurt on top, was delicious. The other special was grilled lamb and veggies on top of rice. He called it "risotto" but to me it was more like biryani. But it was fantastic. Each veggie was well-seasoned and not overcooked.
They also had an eclectic beer list. We told him what kind of beers we liked, and he chose. I went for an ale and my friend went for a light beer. Bother were delicious and had a picture of the devil on them... hey any beer recommended by satan must be good! And they were.
Then we finished off with a fantastic desssert... a kind of ice cream cake, Indian and Italian style... I say Indian because it was like Kulfi... and I say Italian because it had pistachios and a pistachio frosting layer. It also had a fine crumb layer. Scrumptious. Oh, almost forgot that it was on top of tangy and sweet mango sauce.
It was a perfect lunch, but it was rather hot today and they didn't seem to have air conditioning. By the end I felt like I was in a tasty smelling sauna. But that's not as great when you're full and hot. Anyway, you should give this unique place a try for sure! They have qquite an interesting menu and fantastic service (from our server and the owner.)
They call this place the home of "ethnic confusion" food for a reason. Eggplant enchiladas, Jamaican jerk chicken, and traditional Indian curries all share the same menu space, and they are all made fantastically.
Ashok and his family run a top notch joint with fresh ingredients and warm welcoming smiles, just the way I like it. Granted it was a little cramped in the restaurant, but it made it feel more cozy and personal, like everyone was celebrating my Mom's birthday instead of just our table.
The prices are reasonable, the service impeccable, and the food delicious. Seriously, it was "lick your plate clean" delicious. I'll definitely be back soon for seconds.
Thirds....maybe fourths....
Marindian --- loved it. A combination of Marin county style with Mexican and Indian basis. There are enough reviews so I'll just add - the flavors are sublime and the food is very fresh.
What stood out even more was the service - they are very friendly and helpful with suggestions and questions - looks like they will customize things if you ask as well. Totally worth a visit.
It's not the best of fusion styles, but certainly an entertaining one.
Ashok, the owner, and his wife arrange a homey eating experience: food is cooked without too much heavy sauces, people are friendly and will often recommend dishes to suit the mood and climate.
But with that comes a limited selection of ingredients. Once, I was there with four people and we all ordered different things, yet ingredients were pretty much the same that day and there's only that much you can do make it all taste truly unique.
Desserts are great!
Overall, I think this place is exceptional for the location. 'Simple and nice' is not common place in the upscale lands of Sausalito.
I keep coming back there, whenever I go to Muir Woods.
My friends from Saus have raved about this place for awhile now. I finally had a chance to try it over the weekend. The service was friendly, quick and efficient.
The mixed flavors of Indian and Mexican is interesting. I had the crab enchiladas smothered with a curry and yogurt sauce...plated with basmati rice. It was mouth watering delicious. I tried some of my friend's venison dish and found the meat to be a bit tough.
Oh..one thing I regret that I did not try is the tostada served on Pratha bread..it is definitely next on my list!
Spectacular.
First, the family who runs the restaurant are the kind of people you would say are made of the "salt of the earth" and always accommodating, polite, and professional.
The service is welcoming and fast. This is generally a busy place and the kitchen is always bustling.
My last meal request may very well be the lamb curry with Avatar's assortment of fresh vegetables. I'd like to emphasize fresh because you will not find the soggy variety on your plate here. The crispy papadum has a delicious spice kick and I basically drink the sauces if they've not been finished by the end of my meal.
Ask for it spicy if you want it hot. They will not leave you hanging, wanting more.
I hunger for authentic Indian food so often and still consider Avatars's the best. This also means I have not tried the fusion dishes. I stick to my favorites of which I never grow tired.
Definitely try the Masala Chai!!! Reminds me of every little plastic cup I enjoyed in cities across its motherland.
Lets just go straight to the breakdown:
Concept: 5 stars
The owner is Indian, his wife Mexican. This place not only successfully but courageously fuses the two cuisines. They are definitely not afraid to take a risk.
Service: 5 stars
Ashok, the owner, was friendly, funny and fast. 3 things I love in a restaurant.
Ambiance: 4 stars
Warm, casual, lively.
Food: 3 stars
First a caveat, I'm extremely picky about Indian food. My mom's a fantastic cook and I've grown up with home cooked meals so I'm definitely going to be more critical. So, with that said, the jerk chicken had a tangy flavor that I didn't like and the punjabi burritos were good but not great. The sweet lassi was decent but again, not great.
I know that should come out to a higher rating but I put more emphasis on food so deal. In all I would go back to try out more dishes. This place has quite the following so it's more likely that I'm missing something than all of them. Check this place out at some point, even though I thought the food was decent I enjoyed the experience.
I was totally freaked out at the prospect of eating at Avatars. I love mexican food and I love indian food, but I could not figure out how they would ever taste good together. One bite of Avatar's crab enchiladas and I was sold. Were they amazing? Nah. But they were VERY good. This place is super charming and family-run. Free nibbles while you wait for your entrees and really nice waitstaff. A fun and casual place to catch dinner after work.
Us 3 girls visited Avatar this month, part of our monthly girly get together. I can go into details, but here's the gist - ITS SUPER!! I WILL go out of my way from east bay to San Rafael to come back here and try the other menu items.
Let me get a few possible misconceptions out of the way first:
1. In yelp, its classified as Indian/ Mexican fusion.... doesnt sound very authentic, but you'll get over that
2. the name of the resturant: Avatar, doesnt really speak "indian" to me....
3. None of the diners were indian here.... But I took it with a grain of salt... we are in Marin - maybe there isnt a population for Indian up here.
4. The owner takes the order and assures us he makes everything from scratch (which is great!), then he says, everything can be customized to your liking.. this can be taken 2 ways - you'd either really appreciate it, or you're like me, and when i hear this, i immediately get suspicious... I think you should be confident in what you serve and stay true to whats authentic. I'm not a fan of changing things up if it takes away from the experience.
Ok so with that being said.. i had no expectations of anything to challenge my previous Indian dining experiences - to which i'm fully content with so far....so the bar is set very low...
1. Between the 3 of us, we ordered: chicken curry, minced lamb enchalada, daal curry (everything is served with basmati rice), apps were samosas, drinks - mango lassi (mango flavored yogurt drink) and another savory drink of sorts, i cnat remember what it was called.
2. Everything was AWSOME!! I have to say it was one of the most tastiest chicken curries i've ever had, the minced lamb in the enchalad was amazing... and even for the daal curry which is just a simple type of bean curry, it was soo good!
3. seems like the chicken curry and the enchaladas are the thing to order here. i saw so many other ppl order these dishes. And I know why now :)
4. the samosas and drinks were OK.. there's room for improvement for the samosas - it lacked flavor for me, but the pastry shell was perfect - they fry it right when you order it - that's a PLUS. The mango lassi had a funny stale after taste.. not sure if its supposed to be there, ive only had this drink one other time, and I liked the other place (Vik's Chaat in Berkeley) better.
5. The service and the owner was sooo humble, geniune, sincere... its enough to come back just for that!
I really will go out of my way to come back here....
Went here after bad service from le Garage. Avatar's offered wonderful hospitality and service. Not to mention the food! I will surely return.
I think the concept is so unique, Indian and Mexican fusion.
My boyfriend and I came here for a date. We ordered the samosas, which is really good. The dish only came with two, which is enough for us. We also got the baby romaine salad, and it was really yummy! I actually really like their dressing. For entrees, we tried the pumpkin enchiladas and Jamaican jerk chicken. I actually never like eating enchiladas, but since it is such a popular dish here, I decided to give it a try. My boyfriend really enjoyed it but not so much for me. The Jamaican jerk chicken was good, but wish there was a bit more sauce, it was a bit dry.
Oh, the mango lassi is REALLY good too. Service is great, and we had a great experience.
Its Unheard of!!!!!! Five of us came in for a monday lunch. It was a gorgeous day so we sat outside. We were joking with the head waiter/owner and he did something totally unheard of. First he made wonderful suggestions on what to order. Ok..that part may be common...but here comes the shocking part. While ordering he made a comment that if I directed more people into the restaurant my lunch would be on him. When some other people did come into the restaurant he did one better and not only brought us a coupla appetizers...on the house...he also brought us a very nice bottle of champagne. We were flabbergasted but what better way to celebrate a birthday and two new people joining the staff. Are we in Sausalito? Oh...and yes, the food was delicious. I had a buffalo enchilada. Yum yum.
I don't know what's so "confusing" to people about this place. You read the menu - if you like the combination of ingredients, choose your meat, choose a drink - and BAM - INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
This place is unlike any other. We came to Sausalito looking forward to eating at Gaylord's Indian Cuisine. Got there, it was closed (as in not in business) - so I pulled out my trusty G1 phone and yelp'd "Indian food, Sausalito, Ca" and the first place that came up was "Avatars" on the other side of Bridgepointe Blvd. We drove there - straight shot from what used to be Gaylord's parking lot. On the way, we discussed the description of Avatars since it was described as "Mexican and Indian food". I thought to myself - well which one is it? Mexican and Indian food are so very different, but we loved them both, so we decided to give it a shot. That and the 4 1/2 stars helped us decide as well.
I'm glad we trusted our fellow Yelpers...we parked (their private parking lot is a plus), walked up to the door (the front of the restaurant looks like an industrial building office). Opened up the door and immediately smelled the spices and got excited. We were greeted within the first 15 seconds of stepping in the place and the restaurant was PACKED. He promised a table would be ready in no more than 5 minutes. We sat & looked at the pictures and all the awards they've received since 2002.
We were seated in 3 minutes, given menus and a smile. We quickly looked through the menus and decided on 2 mango drinks (one ice-cream based and the other yoghurt based), lamb curry and the lamb enchiladas. The owner (I supposed he was the owner) was very nice when he took our orders, however was very enthusiastic about making a 'special' dish if that's what we wanted to try. We opted to stick to the menu
This place rivals any Indian food place I've ever been to. It was absolutely amazing. Everything was cooked to perfection - there was just enough sauce to go around (my enchiladas were not drowning in a stew of sauce like most places prep their food). It was so good, very tender, well done with the tortillas and the cheeses (even though I couldn't put the two types of food together in my mind). The curry lamb was great, the saffron rice was perfect with just the right amount of spice. I wanted to order another plate, it was fantastic.
A main concern that Yelpers have discussed about this restaurant is the portion size, however, if you refrain from inhaling or annihilating your food within the first 3 seconds the plate hits your table, you will be more than satisfied with the amount of food the serve, if you chew before swallowing. I refrained from attacking the food, and ate at a normal pace and by the end of my meal (lamb enchiladas), I was VERY full - and I can usually eat my guy friends under the table, no joke. If you follow these steps, you will leave very satisfied and not with a food comatose. My friend was satisfied as well, we both gave it a 2 thumbs up and it is already on the calender for our next date night.
They brought out an array of chutneys (complimentary) and naan. Whatever the hell is in that green sauce/salsa stuff, you'll want to go to bed with it - it's so good.
Try this place, stick to the menu - do not stray or else you may get charged a smidge extra (which they do not mention), get the mango shake thing (I liked the ice-cream one), and enjoy. The food will be out before you know it - service was fast, excellent and so was the food.
BTW - the price range is about $8-$17 per plate (main dishes).
one more thing...THANK GOD GAYLORD'S WAS CLOSED DOWN. :)
I live in Cambridge, MA where Indian food is way more plentiful than hamburgers. Within a three-block radius of my home are four different Indian places, two of which regularly win top honors. (Fortunately the tourists find their way to the ones that don't) And we have enjoyed amazing Indian food in London and New York.
But as a native northern California, my palate for Mexican is finely tuned as well.
So when my sister found this place on Yelp I knew that we had to go.
I became a convert on two fronts. First my sister wanted Samosas and I am not a big fan because they often taste like fried mashed potatoes with "brown sauce." These were great and clearly handcrafted and served with chutneys. My husband ordered the lentil soup, of which I am typically not a fan of in general, but this was made with yellow lentils and was popping with flavor and also served with curries.
The three of us went for the enchiladas since they were so well reviewed. I also viewed this as a test case for the "fusion" concept because so many Americans view Mexican as topped with a lot of cheese, more cheese, and then some sour cream to top it off. (Eventually, if you are lucky you will find your entree once you get past the re-fried beans.)
A) No re-fried beans
B) A gentle dusting of cheese
C) An Indian rice pilaf for the side
The filling stands front and center as it should. I had the curried rock shrimp filling. I don't know why someone has not figured this combo out earlier. Best yet, I took half of it home and (as good Indian food seems to do) it was even better as a leftover. And I did not even heat it up.
Certainly not the first place to tune someone into Indian food. Also a foodie disposition is very helpful here. Yes, you do have to do through the kitchen to get to the bathroom and it is in an industrial park. Would I take my mom and dad here, no.
Oh! Food orgasm!
Everything on the menu looked so good that M and I were staring glassy eyed, when Ashok came up and said, "Can't decide? Put away the menu! Tell me what you like." Or perhaps he said, "Tell me what you are like."
He--and I don't say this lightly (okay, I DO say it lightly, but I swear it's true enough)--he looked into our souls. Looked right in there, asked us a couple of questions and came up with the most perfect meal.
M can't handle any kind of spice, and her dish was just amazing, with a blend of fabulous flavors but no hint of fire. Nothing on the menu, mind you. As I said: must have been written in her aura or something.
Great meal. Must go back. It's worth the trek to the Sausalito strip mall.
Be hungry, though. It's very easy to get way too much food in this place by the time you add bread or an appetizer. And avoid large groups--the restaurant is very small and very crowded.
Dessert was amazing. They only have one on the menu: the owner said he'd come up with it 20 years ago and has never come up with a better one. I can believe it.
This place is fantastic! The menu describes it well: Marindian. The only thing Mexican about it is that they serve enchiladas, but Indian style.
I never get tired of it; I've taken more people then I can count there. They push the enchiladas but after my first visit, I've never had one again. My absolute favorite is their Kama Sutra -- a plateful of lamb, prawns, veggies, chicken over a piece of naan bread, with spicey sauces and a drizzle of cheese. I cannot describe it very well, so all I can say, is try it and let me know what you think. It's also a good dish to share. Their samosas are delicious, too. Everything is great. The services is perfect. It's small, so get there early (I usually go for lunch). They close at 2:30 after lunch and re-open for dinner. Yummmmmmm!!!!
The owner is friendly and remembers the dishes you like, whether you like it spicey or not. This place is definitely one of my favorites in the Bay Area!
Dont be fooled by the ambience. Both service and food was fantastic.
We were greeted by the owner and once we decided what we wanted to eat, we just told him our likes/dislikes and voila!!!!!! we got pumpkin enchiladas, salad with grilled panner and veggies with a side of hot sauce.
Drinks - I had an Australian ginger beer and hubby dear had a mango lassi - both were pretty good.
Food and customer service - exemplary.
Will I go back - I am already planning my next trip.
Definitely unique. They do a great job combining Indian and Mexican (think enchiladas filled with pumpkin & turkey curry), but they also do jerk chicken and other dishes inspired from different cultures. You can also design your own dish, or they'll help you out and do it for you!
Clean place, quick and friendly service, decent price.
Though a longtime fan of sister restaurant Avatar's Punjabi Burritos in Mill Valley, I am a relatively new fan of Avatar's in Sausalito, the original restaurant. I had my third meal there last night, and I heartily recommend it. I won't rehash all that's been said already about the place, but just suggest that you try it.
I have long thought that few U.S. Indian restaurants bring any creativity whatsoever to the dining experience, as they seem to think that we consumers are compelled by immersion in Indian cultural memorabilia and warbly-voiced music. Avatar's avoids all that cultural baggage, and gets out there on the creative edge with their Indian-Mexican-Jamaican fusion cuisine. If you can avoid using judgmental words like "weird" or "con-fusion," you'll probably really enjoy it.
By the way, the reason I'm not giving them five stars is that they're not trying to be a "five star," or Michelin "2-3 Star," restaurant, and certainly are not priced that way. It's a great restaurant for its genre and price range.
Been here 5 or 6 times and have yet to look at the menu. Tell Ashok what protein (veggie too) you're in the mood for and how spicy you like it- then sit back and enjoy the ride. You won't be disappointed. Today for lunch, I had the lamb- tender, with great texture and seasoned to perfection. Right amount of heat ( I asked for 8/10). Guests had pumpkin enchilada and fish. We paired all with a bottle of Kunde Sauvignon Blanc- reasonably priced and perfect on a hot day with spicy food.
Bread was served with a sauce made especially according to our spice quotient.
Very unique mix of foods. Creative and delicious I must say. Very polite and friendly place. Don't rush in for a quick try because you might have trouble getting to eat quickly because the place is so popular.
Delightful! Outstanding service and very interesting mix of flavours, this is going on my best of Marin list straight away.
Don't be fooled by the business park style building and generic navy blue awnings out front. Though this place visually blends into the background, the food is a standout. Inside the decor is a little more thought out, and cozy. The menu isn't huge but it bosts the most unusual fusions of mexican and indian cuisine I've ever dreamed of. To be honest we didn't really read it, our server came up to us and with utmost confidence said "tell me what you feel like and I'll bring you something you'll love."
They made me seafood dish with a wonderful mix of spices that will last in my memory for quite some time. I look forward to coming back for more. In the meantime this is a local hole-in-the-wall gem worth checking out.
On the way back from Stinson Beach I stopped in with, my lovely lady friend, Yasmin to try this crazy Indian Mexican Caribbean "confusion" restaurant which had come highly recommended by one of her friends. This was the finish to an unexpectedly Indian experience in Marin County. As we were parking in Stinson beach, we both noticed the Indian family barbecuing next to the parking lot and then we parked our beach blanket next to another group of Indians enjoying the beach. I made a comment about how I must be noticing the presence of Indians more now since my travel companion is of Indian descent, but then we both noticed that the population of the normally overwhelmingly white Marin locale was overwhelmingly Indian! It became a running joke of the day. We're still trying to figure out what was happening that day. There must have been a conference or something.
So, back to Punjabi Mexican food. I chose the most confusing entree they had: an Indian jerk chicken enchilada, which was Jerk chicken in a Jamaican spiced, curry like, sauce, wrapped in tortillas with melted cheese on top and drizzled with tamarind chutney and yogurt, served with papadum and cilantro pickle on the side. Curry with melted cheese, where have you been all my life!?
The food at Avatar's is extremely fresh and made to order. If you have any particular dietary needs (i.e. low carb, veggie, vegan, etc.) - the friendly staff at Avatar's will meet your needs. I was pleasantly surprised at the successful marriage of Indian spices with Mexican style cuisine. Not to mention, the added Italian flare of a tasty veggie ravioli coupled with seafood and curry. In all honesty - the flavors somehow worked really well!
For me, it's important to realize that it is not at all a typical Indian restaurant. If one wants authentic Indian food... Avatar's would not be my first choice (though they are so willing to make food made just to the customer's order... maybe I should just ask them for something more authentic - I bet they would do it). Also, it is a bit expensive... my first time there was with a group of three for LUNCH... no alcohol... and the bill was around $50 before tax and tip. So be aware if you order something different than what's on the menu... it can quickly add up!
So - all and all, I liked it! Avatar's is unique! The food was good. The price a bit high. The atmosphere casual.
The owner/waiter asked what we were in the mood for and he would create something for us. Sure enough, creative and delicious! So amazing that I am looking forward to going back. One of the best restaurants next to Moxies in downtown Sacramento. Very reasonably priced too.
I ate there recently because of the high yelp ratings and all I have to say is that I am SHOCKED by all the 5 star yelp reviews for this place. No offense but I think only 'gori' people who haven't had exposure to top quality home cooked Indian/Hispanic/eastern foods could truly appreciate this place.
Service and ambiance: Wait staff are friendly, service was good, good intentions, beautiful b&w photographs on the walls. The owner was nice enough and of course gave us the typical Indian restaurateur line...that he would create anything we were in the 'mood' for custom for our tastes...nice line, but no cigar:
Although impressive to know they could custom cook our food (with no oil, vegan, no wheat etc.)...the food was sub par and nearly inedible. For a place that claims to do 'fusion' food...I was truly disappointed and left with a sour taste in my mouth from both the uninspired and overpowering Hispanic and Indian flavors (tasted like someone hand thrown a fist full of spices from both regions into whatever plate happened to be on hand).
I have been to some good Mexican-Indian-fusion restaurants in the past and enjoyed the soulful balance between Hispanic cinnamon, chili and adobo flavors fused with curries, mint and tamarinds.
We started off with samosas (pictured above)- which were heavy and filled with the regular potatoes and peas. Fusion? I think not. I was expecting the samosas to be filled with some creative interesting stuffing and at the very least with some Hispanic flavors. Instead their 'innovative' samosas included a plate dripping with yogurt and a sugary sweet mango syrupy sauce with the standard samosa chutneys on the side.
Next we were served 'complimentary' flat bread with dips. In an attempt to be 'innovative' they served peach pickle instead of mango pickle but unfortunately they used ripe peaches which made the chutney null of any tang, mealy in texture and way too sweet for beginning a meal (but too much of a hodgepodge of undeveloped spices and sweetness to enjoy for dessert either). The best 'fusion' idea they had was to serve pickled carrots on the side (like they have at the regular salsa bars in Mexican restaurants), although I don't really see how warm flat bread goes with cold hard pickled carrots?
Still willing to give it a try we moved to the entrees:
We ordered the eggplant shrimp and the yogurt chicken.
The Eggplant shrimp was nearly inedible. It included a bowl full of soggy over cooked spinach pasta sitting in a watery eggplant mash with overpowering cumin and masala flavors topped with shrimps that had not been properly cleaned (if you know what I mean).
The yogurt chicken was equally disappointing- the same sugary sweet mango 'base sauce' that was used for the samosas unfortunately made a second guest appearance on the chicken plate- entirely coating the chicken and very charred roasted veggies on the side. A splash of yogurt was sliding around on top of the saccharine mango syrup sauce accompanied by a mound of white rice with a single green pea on top. What was fusion about this plate? At least stick some Spanish rice on the side in an attempt to appear more 'fusion'. After tasting this dish I had to gulp down my entire glass of water in a feeble attempt to get the overpowering flavors out of my mouth.
Indian fusion? Where were the different flavors, innovative ingredients? No forethought, no soul, the two regions have delicious flavors and great potential to meld nicely together on a plate but this place doesn't have the skill or creativity to do it.
The food whether Hispanic, Indian, fusion or otherwise was sub par no mater what category you put it under. I am a lover of food, creativity and new ideas, none of which this place had.
The Bay Area is diverse but unfortunately Marin is not and I guess people have not have enough of the real thing around here, which would explain all of the 5 star reviews.
Unless you haven't traveled much or your only exposure to 'ethnic' food and Indian food includes the run of the mill restaurants that use 'base sauces' (not seasonal or freshly made chutneys and sauces) this restaurant is not for you.
Not my cup of tea, here's hoping I can save at least one other person's taste buds from the experience I had the other night.....
Went back today to try the famous "Punjabi enchiladas." As I sat down, the owner (I think) plopped a plate of warm, buttery paratha with an *assortment of homemade chutneys!* on my table--free of charge. This made me very happy. The chutneys were delicious: one with pear, pineapple, peach, and apple. I want to slather everything I eat in that chutney from now on. The other was a nice cilantro/mint sauce with a good amount of acid. There was also a small plate of carrots that I didn't much care for to complete the chutney trifecta.
The enchildadas were ok. I'm not a big fan of tamarind and they were covered in a slightly spicy tamarind sauce with yogurt. I didn't get much Indian flavor since the enchiladas themselves consisted of chicken, corn tortillas, and jack cheese--all traditional Mexican elements.
Everything was well-seasoned and the service was EXCELLENT. They even boxed my food up for me without being asked, which is a classy move for a not-too-classy (read: pricey) restaurant.
I plan to return yet again to try the dessert and the curried mushroom appetizer. I loves me some shrooms.
I should love this place. It's a block from my office and they fuse two of my favorite food genres:… Read more »
I finally got to try more items on the menu.
The Mango Lassi for $3.50 is really good and refreshing.
The Vegetarian Samosa Plate for $4.95 was OK. You get 2 deep fried samosas resting on a collection of sauces.
The Pumpkin Chicken Enchilada for $12.95 was really good. The Pumpkin Wild Salmon Enchilada for $14.95 was OK.
The Avatar's Dream desert for $5.95 was OK. At first glance it looks like a slice of cheesecake. However, it is basically a wedge of vanilla ice cream pie. The bottom of the pie is a ground chocolate crust, the top of the pie is a layer of pistachios set in a sweet frosting (like you'd find on a petit four). The slice of pie is set in a mixture of mango, yoghurt, and some sort of sour red sauce.
They still have the greasiest naan I have ever had. Additionally, if the rice is really seasoned with saffron I still can't taste it or see it. To me, it tastes like plain pure white basmati rice.
Overall, I just don't get the wow factor for the price. Between this location and their Punjabi Burrito place in Mill Valley, I'd much rather go to Mill Valley. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Thanks to Yelp, I had to try this place.
I ordered a Pumpkin (only) Enchilada with all the trimmings…
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OUTSTANDING! Headed over here with some friends who know the owner. The food is fantastic. The place is small and it's popular so don't try it if you are in a hurry. It's a family owned and operated restaurant and they will make whatever you want to eat. Yes, there is a menu but if you tell them what you are hungry for, they make it. All I had to say was "prawns, spicy, vegetables" and I was served an amazing curried/jamacian prawn, vegetable & rice dish. Good wine, good appetizers and warm and friendly staff. We live about an hour away, but I will make this a place to go with friends and family. It's good, you won't be disappointed. We did come with kids (2 & 4) and there was quite a long wait for food which was a bit hard but the kids, who are picky eaters, did eat! My daughter ate salmon and rice, which made me very happy!
I can't believe I lived in Sausalito for over a year before hearing about this place! The food- my god. A combination of flavors that you could never imagine together in your mind, but can't seem to forget afterward. Your taste buds will drag the rest of your body back in.
I have never been there where the owner wasn't there to greet me.... He will tell you to look at the menu if you'd like, or just tell him what you like and he'll create something for you. A couple times I just told him to go for it- and have never been disappointed. But I have a really hard time not ordering their crab and pumpkin enchiladas- I could eat them once a week.
Been meaning to go to this place for a long time and finally got to on my way back from wine country. Only took us about 5 minutes to get seated but it turned out we stole a table from some friends of ours who had a reservation unbeknownst to us. :-)
The host, Ashok, seated us with the claim that this would be our best meal ever. He even pointed out that Indians are hard to please when eating out Indian food (quite true) but that we would come away amazed. Boy did he come through.
Having checked out Yelp beforehand, I knew about the off-menu pumpkin enchiladas and ordered the veggie edition. Ashok didn't ask if I wanted it spicy but rather how spicy I could handle it. Clearly, he hasn't forgotten how Indians like their food with all the gringos around. I said I could handle a lot of spice and he delivered in spades.
The enchiladas were phenomenal. I'm not a fan of pumpkins in general but the combination of sweet and spicy was perfect. Leaves a great after-taste as well. I didn't know what to expect from combining Indian and Mexican food but, given these two are my two favorite cuisines, this is as close to culinary perfection as I've witnessed at a restaurant.
Accompanying my meal was the Chaas which is a perfect complement to the spicy food. This is how I make lassis at home (with all the spices and chilies) so it was great to finally see something similar at a restaurant in/around SF. I did have the lentil soup as well and it was decent but nothing to write home about. I wish I were hungrier so I could have tried their Dream dessert but that will have to be next time. I will definitely make Avatar's a post-wine-country fixture from here on out.
I've been going to Avatar's for years. It's been my absolute favorite restaurant since the day I tried it -- if only it weren't so far from Oakland...
Is Avatar's the perfect restaurant? It's damn close. Let's start with the basics: they will accomodate any dietary requirement you may have. Vegan? No carbs? No problem. If you tell them that you can only eat foods that start with the letter V, they will find a way to do it AND make it delicious, and they will do it without any attitude.
The food is amazing. The Punjabi enchiladas are all great -- I like Jerk Chicken and Lamb. If it's your first time, ask for the Salmon/pumpkin enchilada. It's not on the menu, but it's pretty much always available and is absolutely spectacular. I always start with the Samosas, which are very good as well. Even though it says the Samosas are served 2 to a plate, they will give you an odd number if you have an odd number of people; another way they will go out of their way to accomodate anyone. They also have burgers, and possibly some other menu items that would be good if you want to go with someone who is not so adventurous or if you have young children. They only have one dessert, but it's awesome -- a soft of pistachio ice cream cake with a mango sauce. Delicious.
Also, the day before Thanksgiving, they give out free dinner to everyone who shows up for it. I don't necessarily think that's the best way to give back to the community -- I would expect that most of the people who show up to this are from somewhere in Marin County and don't exactly need the free meal -- but the thought is there,
Only downside is that they are closed on Sundays. I've gone a couple of times and forgotten this. Fortunately, the Chinese restaurant next door is passable.
I've heard the buzz about this place, so I got around to checking it out.
Modest interior, staff and a menu with no shortage of unusual combinations.
The service is very quick and incredibly welcoming, and the location is also accessible. The whole atmosphere, including the food and the way it's serviced, is very homey feeling. My issue with the food, is that it does taste like it was made at home, and that's not why I go out to eat.
There's a lot of good traditional and non-traditional tastes and combinations (including a lot of heat and spice), but I found no particularly shining elements about the food that stood out to me.
I found the samosas to be very dry, yet soggy on the bottom from the plate full of yogurt and tamarind sauce. Without the help of a lot of water, they were plain difficult to eat. They are also quite large in size.
The jerk chicken was juicy and extremely hot, but I found the basmati rice to also be very dry and the vegetables were just okay. My biggest complaint is really that there is a severe lack of presentation to the plates. I found most of them to be careless and unappealing, and some were just plain sloppy. I really found myself wishing for something green on the plate.
I must emphasize that the service is exceptional. If the spicy food, cosy atmosphere and friendly service is enough for your tastes, it's a great spot. With my particular tastes, I don't have motivation to return for a second visit.
Just like the man says, this really is the best food you will ever eat.
Me and the girlfriend were staying at the Marin Headlands hostel for valentines when she mentioned she had heard good stuff about Avatars, some Mexican/Indian fusion place. I thought it sounded interesting, so we stopped by.
As a vegan, when we went in, I asked the host if anything there could be prepared vegan. The owner came to us immediately and asked "Excuse me, would you be offended if I told you I am going to give you the best meal you've ever had in your life?"
A bit, confused, I said no, of course not.
Seating us immediately, he told us not to worry about the menu, that he would bring us something, wouldn't tell us what it was, other than that it would be vegan, and that we would be licking our plates by the time we were done.
In quick succession, he brought us some samosas (cooked in olive oil, as opposed to butter, he told us later), followed by an enchilda filled with what I thought was sweet potatos (but turned out to be fresh pumpkin! Mmm!), and this fantastic sweet rice and tofu plate, which was out of this world.
After our meal, he asked it how it was, and we had to agree, he was right on every account. I told him this was a fantastic place and next time we were in town we'd be back!
He thanked us, we paid our bill, and as we were leaving, I heard him ask someone as they sat at their table "Now, are you ready for the best meal you've ever had in your life??"
FANTASTIC!
Sausalito, CA
Category: Indian
Sausalito, CA
Category: Thai
Mill Valley, CA
Category: Indian
Sausalito, CA
Category: Seafood
Sausalito, CA
Category: Thai
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