Bombay Bistro

 

1

28

Hopeless Coffee A.

Loveland, CO

I like exotic food and a good environment to eat in and this place understands that but it falls a little short in the food department.

The Nan was thick like a tortilla, filling and okay, but it's not what I am use to. Most Nan I have had has been pretty thin. I would have liked more garlic on it but you have to understand that I consider garlic its own food group.

My wife and I ordered the grilled chicken breast skewers with the peanut dipping sauce for an appetizer. The chicken was very bland and the peanut dipping sauce was on the sweet side.

Next we ordered the Korma with chicken. You could taste the spices in this dish but they were still over powered by the sweetness of it. Also, the spices didn't seem balanced. You would get over powering taste of clove then garlic there wasn't a good marriage of the spices.

Our service was good and I did like the environment.

Although, I would consider this place average I have to say serving this type of food in Colorado has to be really hard work. This style of food is extremely exotic to most Americans and probably other worldly to Coloradoans and the poor college students that live near by. To have a successful business you have to walk a delicate type rope of pleasing everyone and not making dishes that would offend a "meat & potato" pallet. I am sure the owner is an extremely excellent cook but unfortunately he is probably restrained by his demographic.

I think this place could go to the next level. I personally would have liked more spice and flavor in my dish like I have had at Indian restaurants in Birmingham and Seattle. It may have to be set up more like a Thai restaurant where you give your order a rating.

Example: a 1-5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the hottest.

The owner could even use this to his advantage by coming out and greeting tables that have dared to order hotter and spicier dishes who seek what he probably wishes to unleash upon Boulder. This type of networking as well would create a loyal following by creating a memorable experience for the people he really wishes to attract.

In fact when my wife and I ordered our food our waitress asked us if we had been in before to which we replied, "no". Our waitress then rambled something about having never tried Indian food herself but now was instantly hooked; imply this was our situation as well. Perhaps my blue jeans and black hooded sweat shirt suggested a slack of sophistication that I otherwise do poses. However, this is not our case and I do wonder how the waitress will feel when she finally has real Indian food also.

Bottom line is I will keep an eye on this place. It has tremendous potential but you cannot serve average food so as to please everyone or you'll just end up with an average clientle at an average restaurant.

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Elite '08

16

79

Ramon G.

CO

Fun place, good decor and warm ambience.  The food was tasty and the service was great.  We had a birthday party there and they accomodated us nicely.  Very easy going staff, water always plentiful and naan was never-ending.  Very nice owner and a place I would love to go back.
Great date place btw.

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22

194

Amanda W.

Boulder, CO

I've been here several times with rather large groups and have received excellent food and service each time. On the most recent visit the owner's charming and friendly wife was our waitress and recommended drinks and dishes to individuals in need of guidance. She even brought out her husband, the head chef and owner, to say hello. The menu is fairly small but they do a good job with the entrees they offer.

The ambiance reflects modern India, with Indian music videos in the lounge near the bar and deeply pigmented rich fabrics adorning the furniture. The patio is particularly nice in the summer, where you can watch people strolling around the Pearl Street area.

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12

71

nick w.

Boulder, CO

They bill themselves as "modern Indian fusion" food.  Never heard of it?  There's a reason.

Things start off well enough, with a plate of naan (gratis) with an unusual, but tasty, dollop of spicy hummus.  The wine list was sparse and not inspiring, and after choosing a common red wine and was told that "they're in a transition, and if you would like red, we have three choices."  Hmm, well I'm not a wine snob, but a choice of three mediocre wines...  There IS a wine store across the street; there's really no reason to embarass yourself!

Next I glance through the menu, which only has 12-14 entrees.  It reads okay, but there are some unusual items for such a small (and supposedly Indian) menu: a filet of sea bass?  Capellini?  Various steaks and pork?  I ask the waitress if they have Bengan Bartha, my beloved standard staple that I use to compare north Indian food.  She gives me a seriously confused look, and, um, no, never heard of that.  I realize the staff is composed of cute and friendly CU students, but totally clueless about Indian food, and of food serving in general (we humurously watched EVERY plate of food get offered to 2-3 tables before finding a home).  We ordered more naan with our entrees, which never did come, even after asking about it twice.

The food turns out to range between okay and far miss.  Our appetizer (samosas renamed "dough pastries" for some reason) came with a tasty chutney.  The actual Indian entrees are okay, but below average despite costing ~$24.  The "fusion" entrees simply don't work at all and should be avoided.

The style of serving is unusual for an Indian restaurant too; the large plates are difficult to share.  Entrees are served european-style, with little sides of mixed vegetables, a small dollop of poor, watery, white rice.

So they're trying something different, and I salute them for getting rid of some tired norms, but unfortunately this just doesn't come together.

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