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Avatar's Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Mexican Indian, Mexican [Edit]
2656 Bridgeway BlvdSausalito, CA 94965
(415) 332-8083
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 3 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
474 reviews for Avatar's Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I'm still dreaming about my pumpkin enchiladas."
(in 71 reviews)
"I recommend the mango lassi and Xingu beer."
(in 24 reviews)
"The samosas and chutney were just outright yummy."
(in 62 reviews)
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474 reviews in English
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Review from Lily K.
Sausalito, CA
Updated - 12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is so amazing. I am uncertain how to describe it's amazingness in other terms.
First off: they host Thanksgiving dinner on the house for anyone who wants good food. -AMAZING.
Then, when you go for dinner and order off the menu the waiter actually takes his time with you and makes sure you are getting what you want. On top of that, if you come with people who have been before, he remembers what they had and suggests something that would be just as good.
I love this place. The food tastes so good no matter what you order. (Although, crab pumpkin enchiladas currently are my favorite) and the people running it are so generous whether it be with food advice, their time, making sure you get what you want, or in giving back to the community. Yep. AMAZING!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2011
After hearing friends rave reviews of both locations, I finally got my chance to eat there for their… Read more »
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Review from Blanka K.
Raleigh, NC
1/21/2012
Food - I ordered the basmati lamb dish. The lamb in its sauce was actually tasty - very flavorful, but the rice itself was old and dried up quite a bit so I am biting into hard pisces of rice - not so crazy about that myself..
Priced - my plate was $15.00 and just the right portion - kind of small for the male friend with us who ordered the basmati chicken ($13.00)
The restaurant itself was clean but I had to walk through the kitchen/dish washing area of the place - not at all appetizing - I actually wanted to walk right out and forget about it...
okay, so we got here late - the place closes down after lunch at 3pm. We ordered our food by 2:45-ish...the waitress was already not too happy to see us - didn't blame her - but she could hold it back more, after all it was their choice to let in a party of four so close to closing. Then one of our party friend went outside to take a long call, which made the waitress pretty upset - she went out after him to remind him that they are closing soon... okay, so he should have not taken that long ass call...
And what did the restaurant folks do? As we were eating, they shut off all the lights! We thought this was rude! ...
Even though the food was good, the restaurant atmosphere was less than friendly...will not be coming back. -
Review from Stephan H.
Oakland, CA
1/4/2012
The menu is eclectic but we were willing to give it a shot.
After telling us the specials, the owner (manager?) gave us his apparently standard spiel, "If it's not the best thing you ever tasted, no charge!"
But our group of four agreed that the food was mediocre. And the full charge was still there, even though I had complained about my eggplant/buffalo enchiladas being lacking in eggplant flavor. (We didn't call his "no charge" bluff, but he did volunteer more eggplant filling.)
My dad ordered the same enchiladas hot and I got them medium hot, but they had the same level of heat. Oh, and they had the same flavor as my mom's sweet potato and turkey enchiladas, too.
The food and the owner's bravado combined to leave us disappointed. I didn't see the bill, but I bet the price of the specials (which he didn't share) wasn't cheap, either. -
Review from khader a.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/30/2011
I've never eaten at a place and felt so scammed in my life. As I can now see from all the other negative reviews, the owner gave me the same schtick and said that we should tell him what we liked and that he would customize our food for us. What came out was average food for my wife and I and a barely edible burger and fries for my 3 year old son. The real shocker was the prices, where they tried charging us over $60 dollars (the breakdown was $19 for one of our customized dishes and $13 for the other. My kid's burger, which was on the menu for $6.50 turned out not to include the fries he asked me if we wanted, which was another $3.00. These where inferior to what you could get at McDonald's and I don't like McDonald's). Add a couple of teas and a soda and it came to over $60. Basically the owner, who has the charm of a used car salesman, charges fine dining prices serving diner food in a diner atmosphere. I initially paid up and included a tip out of habit, but ended up going back and protesting the prices with the intention of removing the tip, and they ended up refunding us $13.00. Someone seriously should consider reporting this guy to the Better Business Bureau, as it appears that this is standard operating procedure at this place.
I am shocked that this is considered to be fine dining in Sausalito. My advice for anyone going here for the first time is to be wary of letting the owner customize any food for you off the menu. -
Review from August K.
Mill Valley, CA
2/8/2012
A locals gem!
It's also a great place for bringing our vegetarian/vegan friends. My wife almost always orders a blackened vegetable dish that she loves! I often go for a variation on the "pumpkin enchilada" or the Jamaican Chicken enchilada. If we feel like a more special meal, the Samosas are a natural and the seafood specials are wonderful.
Lunch is a good way to try out this fusion restaurant, or "Marindian" style as they call it, as the prices are lower and the portions smaller. Oh, they can spice the dishes from bland on upwards for your palate. So a mixed group can dine there without fear. -
Review from Apoorva B.
Fremont, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
The chef is a genius! The meats and flavors were combined beautifully. Will definitely keep coming back!
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Review from Ilena A.
Sausalito, CA
2/3/2012
I recently have changed my diet to Ayruveda (an Indian Holistice system). Anyway, Indian food is my savior and I also LOVE it! The curry chicken is divine and the chai is really good as well. It is a small casual place, and the staff are very helpful and friendly. I have tried many Indian restaurants in Marin and this is the best one yet!
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Review from alan b.
Rodeo, CA
2/2/2012
Amazing food and amazing people. Do yourself a favor. We were a large group and waited a little bit for a good table. The service here is best described as attentive and charming. The food is creative and delicious. I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Luke S.
Novato, CA
12/18/2011
The guy keeps saying, if it's not the best meal I ever had, I wouldn't have to pay. Well guess what!?! I didn't like it.. and I still had to pay for it!!
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't notice that this dish came with LAME SAUCE!!!! -
Review from Mack D.
Bay Area
2/4/2012
Amazing food and outstanding service. Words cannot describe how tasty the food is. I started with the blackened jumbo prawns, then moved onto the jamaican jerk chicken punjabi enchiladas. The food was so good that I even ordered the dessert, Avatar's Dream, and I don't eat sweets. I recommend all 3 items. An amazing twist to my favorite cuisine.
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Review from AnnaMarie J.
Corte Madera, CA
12/17/2011
Amazing!
My boyfriend and I went to Avatar's for dinner and were swept away by the charming staff, the easy going pace of the meal, and the delicious food! What a treat. The manager/owner assured us that we wouldn't have more tender chicken or lamb anywhere for less than double the price...and he was right! We have the vegetarian samosas, lamb curry and jamaican jerk chicken curry enchiladas. We honestly cleaned our plates down to using naan to scrape the remaining curry and other sauces off the plate. It was delicious! Go there now and be ready to taste a flavor profile you've never had before. -
Review from NDA A.
Napa, CA
1/2/2012
I really really really wanted to like Avatar. I LOVE fusion food, I love hole in the wall, hidden gems, under the radar restaurants. All that I hoped and thought I was finding in Avatar.
Pros: THe owner/server was so kind, and you could tell he loved his restaurant, he loved people and his food (maybe a little too much)
Here is the confusing and difficult part, Yelp usually never lets me down, but I really have no idea where all these positive reviews came from. I order what the owner said was "lick your plate good" a slow cooked beef with vegies and rice. My boyfriend ordered the Jamican Jerk Chicken. We were asked how spicy we liked it, me on the mild side, my boyfriend likes spicier food. Both came out in less then 10 minutes. My slow cooked beef took me forever to chew and was so flavorless, I thought there was a mistake. The Jerk chicken was just ok, but definitely not deserving of a rave review or plate licking good!
I'm hoping that we came on an off night, or ordered the wrong things, I just cannot rank this hihg on my list of places I will return... I wish you all luck I guess order the pumpkin enchiladas, I think that thas gained them all the stars. -
Review from Lai T.
I came here about a year ago and still, this is hands down the best meal I've ever eaten in Sausalito! Typically fusion food makes me weary because it can go so wrong, but Avatar's is a beautiful example of how fusion food can be so amazing if done correctly.
It is located in a small strip mall, which faces the street. You can easily miss it if you aren't looking for it. Make sure you look for it :p
While dining, we met the owner, Ashok, and struck up a conversation with him. He whipped up a special pasta for my boyfriend who couldn't decide what to get. I surprisingly had no problem deciding what to get and ordered the pumpkin crab enchiladas. Just looking back on these photos makes me salivate!
I cannot wait until my next trip to the Bay because I will definitely make it a point to try and dine at Avatar's again! -
Review from Randy M.
Lodi, CA
10/6/2011
Ok so we had Indian for lunch yesterday in San Rafael and we didn't purposely target Indian again today but we were close by and the reviews on this place looked to good to pass up.
We arrived an hour before lunch was over and there were only a couple tables occupied. The place is rather quaint and unassuming.
The menu looked terrific and Ashok came to the table and after we talked for a bit he said "put down the menu and you won't be needing them.". He interviewed us( me, my wife, and two daughters) and said he would bring out something that he guaranteed we would like and if not we wouldn't have to pay. Who does that???
Anyway, he brought out chicken and pumpkin enchiladas, curried lamb and prawns, with grilled vegetables over basmati, and a curried salmon. This is not your standard fare! Every bite was a surprise and a flavorful experience. Definitely lived up to the reviews I had read. We also split the only dessert item that was a pistachio covered somewhat frozen thing like a cross between ice cream and cheesecake surrounded by a pool of mango purée swirled with a bit of raspberry sauce, I believe. It really was outstanding. We will definitely be back! -
Review from Joshua M.
Mountain View, CA
10/17/2011
On our 1 year anniversary weekend my wife and I left Mountain View, Ca after work on a friday and began the drive up to Sonoma at about 6pm. This was the beginning for what ended up being an awesome 1st anniversary weekend getaway.
Part of what made this weekend so great is the fly by the seat of our pants form the weekend took on. During our drive we started to get hungry and happened upon Avatars after reading some Yelp reviews. Having called in prior to arrival and been told to tell them that "Akosh said he has seats for us", we met Akosh! The passion he put into greeting us, seating us, taking our menus away and deciding our meals for us and following up to make sure we were happy with what the kitchen surprised us with, this meal was fantastic.
We had the Pumpkin Chicken Masala Enchiladas and Jerk Chicken, the food was cooked to perfection, the presentation was stellar and the creativity was fantastic.
As we left the restaurant that night we both were grinning ear to ear and had officially started our 1 year anniversary weekend with the perfect meal.
We both look forward to going back to Avatars in the near future and seeing Akosh.
The experience at Avatars is a Foodies paradise. -
Review from Brandon B.
San Bruno, CA
One word.. Amazazing
Pumpkin enchiladas are so good. They come with a choice of crab chicken or steak. The service was actually outstanding from start to finish. We were the only ones there at 11:00 am though. -
Review from Ryan M.
Redding, CA
12/29/2011
Crab pumpkin enchiladas are fabulous... and their dessert is one of the best things I've ever tasted! You must try this place... Yum!
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Review from Sherry K.
Berkeley, CA
11/11/2011
We love this place! It's packed on a rainy Friday night. Good thing we got there early so we could get a place without a reservation and left before the crowd descended.
At first, I was skeptical. Indian Mexican?! The one at the corner of Shattuck and University Avenue in downtown Berkeley looked a bit sketchy. I was told not to study the menu too closely by our friend. Minutes after we were seated, the owner came out and asked us what we would like. Or anything dietary restriction. He would arrange for some dishes to share among the 3 of us.
The samosa was wonderful. Plump and moist. The cilantro sauce was fresh and tasty. The 3 entrees were amazing: turkey enchilada, fish curry and grilled seafood/beef/vegetable with light sauce. This is not the typical place where you order something that they scoop out of the pot that's been around for days or just toss some meat into various sauces and call it a dish. Fish curry was FRESH. The curry was just perfect spiciness. The guys loved the turkey enchilada accompanied by ginger beer from Australia. The portions were generous but we weren't stuffed with plenty of left over to go.
There was a family of four seated next to us. Looked like parents with their teenage children. They went in for the "manager's specials". They had similar dishes - fish curry and grilled seafood/vegetables, and cleaned the plates.
This has been a great meal. I love we can count on chef's recommendations and not having to worry about which dish to order. The owner came out to ask for feedback. The service was impeccable.
Although the walk to the bathroom is a bit awkward - through their kitchen to the back hallway, but the facility is clean and well lit.
Will definitely go back if we are back in the area for another visit!! -
Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
8/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ashuk, the owner/chef/mastermind behind the menu has the warmest., most engaging, unique personality I've ever come across in my life.
The rest of the wait staff was very accommodating as well. Like a doctor, Ashuk diagnosed my diet restrictions (for that day): gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, oil free, vegetarian, and came up with a special dish just to my liking. He didn't tell me the name until after...
It was a mix of Tofu Pumpkin Curry with a side of grilled vegetables, but it was like nothing I have ever had before... each bite was bursting with flavor.. No grease.. Perfect proportions... Everything Absolutely Amazing!
While the food and the staff are off the charts, this particular restaurant is kind of a hole-in-the-wall, it looks like it used to be an old grease and spoon diner. It's a clean, well kept hole-in-the-wall, nonetheless, it's definitely rocking the original decor and furniture from whatever it used to be seating and everything.
Avatar's is quite the little gem in Sausalito! I will be returning soon for some more of that one-of-a-kind food and service. -
Review from Katherine G.
Washington, DC
11/27/2011
I was thrilled about Mexican / Indian fusion, but it just doesn't live up to the hype.
The pumpkin/crab thing was okay, but nothing I would ever order again. Samosa was just okay (and not noticeably fusion). My partner had something with lamb, shrimp, and mussels. Billed as "lick your plate good" by the waiter, and I assure that it was not.
Also, expensive. $100 for the two of us, inclusive of tip. We both ordered specials without knowing the price, but one would assume the prices would be in line with the menu. Not so at all. -
Review from chris l.
Alameda, CA
11/23/2011
BRILLIANT!
Avatar's is an absolute gem of a little restaurant. Its so called "marindian" cuisine is creative, delicious, and really defies being pigeonholed into any culinary classification. The mixture of indian dishes constructed in a mexican style really makes for a uniquely flavorful experience. If you have never been there and are maybe put-off by the thought of mexican-indian food, don't look at the menu and don't over think it, just go and try it. The host and main waiter Ashok is incredibly engaging and friendly. I recommend just letting him know what type of thing you are in the mood for, any dietary restrictions, and letting him decide what to bring out to you. You can do the same with your beer order too. They will make just about anything you want there. Then, after your meal, just order dessert. Don't ask what it is, or look at the menu... just order it. It is called Avatar's Dream. That is all I can write. -
Review from Katie W.
8/3/2011 ROTD 9/23/2011
If an aroma can slap you silly, that's what happens the moment you open the door at Avatar's.
The tiniest kitchen making the most intoxicating scents that further infuse your food with flavor so great, so delectable and so completely enveloping you in spice and savor that you are almost drunk on fumes. I wanted to walk back out and then in again just to experience it all again.
If something smells this great, you know that you are surely in for nothing less than fantastic at the table.
You are served complimentary crispy flat bread that I swear tastes like spicy chicken soup in a cracker form, then a type of chewy flat bread that comes with three types of dipping sauces. All are great.
One cannot go to Avatars and not get the Punjabi Enchiladas. Pick an enchilada, any enchilada. Crab and Pumpkin, two of my favorites on one plate, rolled up in a delicious tortilla, smothered in lovely red sauce and cream? Sign me the hell up. The tastes are subtle, but they are so wonderful and so expertly prepared. It's impossible not to make this place a habit.
As if all of that weren't enough, the service here is second to none. You are taken care of promptly, warmly and as if you are a guest in someones home that just happens to have extremely talented chefs that are there to attend your every Eastern Culinary wish. AND little sprinkles candy that tastes like licorice. Top THAT.Listed in: My Fifteen Minutes
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Review from Vikas B.
Palo Alto, CA
12/20/2011
Despite the great reviews, or maybe because of them, I was ready to be disappointed, since the bar had been set so high. On top of that, Ashok did his usual (by the looks of other reviews) bombastic thing of if this is not the best meal you ever had, it is free. He basically asked us to not look at the menu, just asked us our likes and dislikes, and rustled up some dishes. They were all very good. Not sure if it was the best meal I ever had, but it was right up there, so I am not complaining. Went here with some friends. Can't wait to go back with the missus, even though I live about 50 miles away.
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Review from Jason C.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2011
Food:
I had the New Zealand Lamb Curry. Meat was tender and juicy. The curry was not overwhelming or waterd down. THe curry was fairly creamy. Everything tasted great with the basmati rice. No complaints here, just very comforting food done right without trying to wow with oddities. I havnt ventured out to their more fusion dishes, but they look delicious and its popular with Indians (its always a good sign to eat ethnic foods when the patrons are of that ethnicity)
Atmosphere:
Felt like a small 50s diner, kinda cramped and humid. But food was good and appears it was prepared with love by grandma. Staff was fairly attentive and was willing to strike a conversation with us.
I will have to comeback and try some of the other fusion items. -
Review from Shreya O.
Fremont, CA
8/30/2011
I came here after a nice long drive/hike through the Stinson Beach area. We were freezing, starving and Avatar's did hit the spot.
I got the pumpkin enchiladas (not only the menu) and I really liked them. The pumpkin filling was spicy and savory and came wrapped in tortillas, smothered in a Mexican-Indian hybrid enchilada sauce and a sprinkle of melted cheddar cheese and accompanied by some raita (yogurt sauce) and tamarind chutney. It sounds really weird but you have to give it a try. If you're ordering only 1 thing, I recommend this one. It's their most popular item and it really personifies the Mexican-Indian fusion concept.
Service was great, just as I remembered. I love that this place is entirely family owned and run (and it really shows in their attitude). You feel like you're eating at a friends' home and that vibe is the perfect complement to the homestyle food.
My only gripe is that tt's a bit overpriced. I got an order of chai and an order of enchiladas (which was a decent portion, but I certainly didn't have leftovers) and paid $22. That's a bit too much for this casual of a place. -
Review from B C.
Alamo, CA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is friggin awesome! Okay, let me start off by saying that I probably had the same first reaction as you are when first hearing about the type of food it is... Indian/Mexican? wtf? Trust me, give it a try!
So, my girlfriend is gluten free and it is always difficult for her to find places where she can trust the people when they say "This does not have gluten." That is not the case with this place. All she had to do was mention that she was allergic to gluten and the owner swooped into action! He let her know exactly what she could and couldn't have, and surprisingly, she could have just about everything. If something normally had gluten in it, he could make it a different way to accommodate her needs. I was truly impressed! The owner rocks!
Now, on to the food. DELISH!!! I ordered one of the Indian enchiladas, SO GOOD! It had the look and feel of mexican food with all the amazing tastes of Indian food! I want to go back to try everything on the menu! And the prices were great too!
This place is the definition of 5 star for food and service!!! -
Review from Devils T.
Sausalito, CA
1/20/2012
Delicious and for a fair price. I'm not sure if it was the best thing I ever ate, but it was up there.
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Review from Toni M.
7/7/2011
I've had this place bookmarked for a while now, but I had no idea what an experience it would be. We followed our visit to the Marine Mammal Center w/ lunch here today. We entered and were warmly welcomed and guided to a table for two by the man who would be our server. He gave us menus and explained the specials when Alan told him we'd not had a chance to read them on the whiteboard as we walked in. He was charming and energetic. Magnetic, even.
I had already looked at the menu Alan had printed out at home and had been intrigued by the smoked eggplant enchiladas. One of the specials was the smoked eggplant w/ buffalo meat. I didn't opt for that and later wished I had because I've not had buffalo. Alan opted for the crab enchilada special. We agreed to share. We started w/ vegetable samosas and they were delicious. I ordered masala chaas, a yogurt drink native to Punjab which I'd never had before. It's made w/ homemade yogurt diluted with sparkling water and a mixture of cooked and crushed cumin seeds, green chilies, minced ginger, salt and black pepper. It was amazing, a little sour, a little salty w/ an interesting melange of spices. I had two. Alan had iced tea. We were a brought complimentary plate of roti w/ small dishes of a green sauce, chutney and marinated carrot sticks, a delicious combination.
The enchiladas had a flavorful sauce, seemingly the same one. Alan loved the crab enchilada and found it spoiled him for the eggplant. I found the sauce overpowered the eggplant and the crab, so I didn't taste the smokiness and I didn't taste the crab. They were good, but they were all sauce. They were accompanied by rice which absorbed the sauce nicely. The menu is enormously inventive and diners are encouraged to suggest combinations of their own. It's the opposite of the "no substitutions" rigidity I've objected to in other restaurants. They proudly advertise their "ethnic confusion" cuisine and it's definitely worth trying. The restaurant has been around since 1989 and I wish it many more years. -
Review from iliana b.
San Lorenzo, CA
12/2/2011
I went here about a year ago and still remember how great the meal was!! To start we had the samosas which were pretty good.
For my entree I had the chichken enchiladas with veggies added and it was sooo great! It was spicy and really flavorful.
My bf had the Curry trio which I loved so much!!! It was too spicy for him but for me it was amazing!!
I'm sad that I live so far from Sausalito othwerwise I would come often!!
The only down side is the portion sizes, they are a bit small. I could probably have eaten my bf's dish and mine! And for the prices, I think portions could have been better.
Loved it!! -
Review from William G.
Sausalito, CA
10/13/2011
I have been going to this place for years, It's excellent, most healthy food in town. The service is excellent, people and locals that are there always friendly, congenial. I would recommend whether you be alone, with family or for a romantic evening..
Prices are very reasonable, especially when you consider the service and quality, you will never regret going here.. -
Review from Kat M.
San Francisco, CA
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes forgetfulness can be a blessing. The in-laws forgot their pillows, so we opted to meet half way, landing us in Sausalito. But enough about the why, let's talk about the "Say what?!"
We eat Indian food weekly. Yes, weekly. No, we are not Indian. So we are sent this menu and of course you are thinking, "Yumm, wait yuck, wait yumm wait, WTF? Indian, Mexican, Italian and...?" So by looking at the menu you know this has the potential to either be oddly wonderful or a disaster about to hit your mouth. Like any good student your' comprehension skills are up there so seeing a 5 star review, you know where this is going, don't you?
It was difficult to decide what to eat because, well, you couldn't do your go-to dishes. Now here is the fun part which will be highlighted with "fun" all in caps to grab the attention of those skimming this page.
FUN: Yes! The owner came over and asked if we had ever been there before. We replied "no" and I proceeded to ask him what was good on the menu. He had one heck of a sense of humor and told asked me "What are you craving? What do you want?" So I looked at the menu and he said, "no, don't look at the menu. What do you want? Don't worry about that". I was in shock! Wait, was he going to make me anything? Too many choices. So he said, "What do you like? What kind of meat, veggies, etc.?" "Ummm...I like eggplant, I don't eat beef or pork, I like spicy and no dairy" "Got it" BRAIN IN OVERDRIVE: "What did I just order?" He went around the whole table and asked us each this question. This was exciting! We had no idea what we were getting, but it had things we liked. He did the same with the beer, "I'll take a dark beer", etc.
(Warning, lots of caps for attention) SURPRISE! We ALL LOVED our food! OMG it was SOOOO good and right on the spot! We were all very IMPRESSED by the combinations of cuisines and flavors.
Needless to say, we WILL be back! We even talked about doing more meeting half way weeknight dinners just to go to this place.
I can't say enough good things about it. Oh right, some of you want the other specifics.
1) Can cater to any dietary need unless you need a live chicken
2) Has beer (crazy collection. I had a Brazilian beer) and wine
3) Service was outstanding
4) Food (Umm...read above or acknowledge the 5 stars)
5) Parking Plentiful
6) Ambiance: Smaller restaurant, nicely decorated and could be romantic or a nice group.
7) Price: $10-$15 range. You get your money's worth! -
Review from David F.
Mill Valley, CA
12/9/2011
What a great place. Quiet. Tasty, unique, pretty food. Owner on premise, and he's a very cheerful, inviting guy. Finally, it's priced right.
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Review from Laura Lee B.
Sacramento, CA
11/6/2011
Stopped in here, tx to Yelp, onour way to SF Exploratiorium yesterday (easy access & ample parking off the 101 in Sausalito). Although, worth noting that somehow on the Yelp phone app, Avatar's came up as a Mexican (vs Indian) venue. So, suffice it to say, not at all what we were expecting. HOWEVER, a very pleasant surprise. VERY friendly owners (especially kid friendly) and wonderful food. Especially enjoyed the side of herb green sauce (craving the next day). Husband and I shared the pumpkin lamb enchiladas (wow!) and the grilled curried chicken salad. Brilliant combination. Everything from the iced tea to the sides they offered us was lovely. Will make this another stop on our way in/out of the City in the future.
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Review from Jonathan C.
Calabasas, CA
Don't leave Sausalito without trying Avatar's!! The owner's passion for his food is unbelievable. He customizes each order according to what the person feels like eating "in that moment"! Perhaps you felt like eating beef one night and the next were feeling more like curry, he knows exactly what will satisfy you!!
He cares so much about his customers and their experience with his food, that he says that you don't have to pay if you don't like the food! Ashok (the owner) is incredible. I wish more restaurant owners cared about their food and their customers as much as he does. -
Review from Lauri C.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
Easily the best food in the North Bay...and best Indian restaurant in the bay area. All these years, I can't believe I've driven by and never knew what magic lies behind these doors.
Bottom line: A unique and rare find. Authentic, close knit family-run restaurant, you will be treated like an old friend invited into their home. Charming, gracious, friendly staff-they will make whatever you want, off or on the menu. Get an appetizer- we loved the vegetarian samosas, and ask about their specials- I had the grilled lamb with mussels, prawns and mixed veggies on a bed of basmati with a delicious mango, passionfruit, mint sauce that was to die for. Next time I go I have my eye on the Jamaican jerk chicken---yes, they have that too. This is "ethnic fusion"- a mix of flavors and dishes inspired from Mexico, Jamaica, and India (they have traditional indian dishes too). As they say here, you will lick your plate clean, so don't expect to leave with leftovers but come back and often...it will warm your heart... and stomach. -
Review from Pallavi A.
Fremont, CA
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Avatar is a dainty little place tucked in the quaint town of Sausalito. Need I say more - the restaurant has close to 500 reviews and it still has maintained a 4.5 star rating and I think that says it all :)
And if you still have doubts , they are put to rest when you meet Ashok, the owner and the host. I loved his approach , he asked us to list all the things we did not like and said "Let me surprise you" . The food was a fusion of Mexican and Indian served with lot of love. A must go if you like to experiment with food. I was served pumpkin enchiladas and indian style quinoa and steaming hot samosas. -
Review from Don N.
San Diego, CA
11/1/2011
Great find. Decided to go here based on Yelp reviews and we weren't disappointed.
We rented bikes and peddled from SF over the GG Bridge to Sausalito. Great ride and then to end up at this gem of a restaurant that, given its location, is making it off of locals, not tourists. It's about a 20 minute easy ride from the ferry station.
The samosas were great, as were the chicken and lamb enchiladas.
I'd give it 5 Stars, but the portions were just a little small for the price. -
Review from Grace K.
Orange, CA
6/16/2011
I'm surprised that no one is writing more about the owner! He WAS the show. He approached our table (of four) and told us to put down our menus. He explained the background of the restaurant, his cooking philosophy and told us that what we were about to taste was going to be the best thing in the world. I could not take my eyes off of him, except for the moment when I looked at everyone else at the table to see if they were as mesmerized as I was. They were! He told us that he could have any of the dishes prepared gluten-free, vegan, low-carb, etc. Being a vegan, I was thrilled by the offer.
His menu was titled "Marindian." Pretty clever, I thought. There really is no real word for the type of cuisine. It was a fusion of Indian, Mexican, and Italian. When he came to take our orders I told him that I have had an incredible Indian dish a few times that I could not remember the name of. I explained the dish and he replied with, "I will make you a dish... a dish that will make you forget all about what you just told me." I didn't know what to say except, "Bring it on!"
The busboy was also the host and phone-order guy amongst other things. He was hustling... I mean, seriously. I really wanted to help the guy out. He was amazing.
Anyway, just a few short minutes later our appetizers came out- vegetarian (and one vegan) samosa. YUM! The sauces that it came with were delicious! We also got the button mushrooms in red curry which were fantastic. The owner brought me my special secret dish and wouldn't tell me what it was. They looked like enchiladas. After tasting, I thought they were butternut squash or pumpkin enchiladas. Freaking awesome, btw. But they weren't. After many guesses, we finally discovered that they were taro enchiladas. How cool is that?! I've never had anything like it before and boy, were they yummy.
The owner told us that if all of the food was not the best we've ever had in our lives, that we wouldn't have to pay the check. I loved that type of passion and belief in his food. Unfortunately, it was not "the best" food ever but it was way up there, for certain. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. The staff is reason alone to visit again and the food is the why I'd stick around. -
Review from Kristin K.
Sausalito, CA
10/31/2011
Don't be fooled by the random, stripmall-esque location. This place is a diamond in the rough! The food is stellar and the guy that runs the place is amazing...I am a sucker for a guy that just asks what you like and then says "leave the rest to me". I do love putting my taste buds in someone else's hands and he did not dissapoint. In fact, I rarely order anything other than that first dish I had (which was a sea bass, I think). See! I don't even know what it is...he just KNOWS what it is I like! I wish I could give it 5 stars but I do still react to the random, stripmall-esque location. I would like to give it 4.5.
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Review from Tim P.
Sonoma, CA
5/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I Haired that!
Driving back from SF around lunch time I wanted to see what I could find outside of my usual fare. And Avatar's came up with 4 stars, and you rarely go wrong with a 4 star Yelp restaurant. I ordered a baby romaine lettuce salad and the Mahi Mahi Indian Enchiladas.
They forgot about my salad, not that big of a deal it happens, then I got my enchiladas. The presentation was good, the enchilada had a very unique flavor and I was mildly impressed, then it happened. I found a thick black HAIR in my enchilada, which in the old days would have been it for me. However, with my new mind over matter skills I cut the piece aside and powered down the remainder of my lunch. I couldn't get the idea of the hair sliding down my throat out of my mind and wanted to make sure I mentioned it to the restaurant manager(Owner?).
He came sauntering up to my table, "You better hurry up and eat that last bite before I grab the plate away from you!"
"You mean the piece of my lunch with the hair in it?"
His face turned red, obviously not sure what to say I said, "It happens, I just wanted to make sure I said something to you." After that, nothing, not a heart felt apology, nothing. Thus they earn the very difficult one star from an other wise 3 star experience.
