Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Indian in Davis Square

My experience with Indian cuisine is severely limited, I'm afraid to admit. Before this year, I'd only eaten at 2 or 3 Indian restaurants, and only from buffets. I'm from a small town, and went to college in a small town, where any type of ethnic cuisine was always at least a 30 minute drive away. My relocation to a big city has been overwhelming in multiple ways, not least of which is the availability of a stunning array of dining options. I'm just beginning to explore Davis Square in Somerville, just a mile from my new apartment, and one place that caught my eye was Diva Indian Bistro.

The Boston Globe's only complaint regarding this restaurant is unreliable service. I have some advice for anyone wishing to avoid this particular nuisance: eat at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Sunday. The dining staff just mills around your table, ready to fill your every need. This was not actually a planned strategy on my part; my Sunday schedule (by which I mean "what time I roll out of bed") can be strange.

So! I ordered the vegetable pakoras (pictured) and Shahi Navratan Korma, "nine different fresh garden vegetables cooked in a creamy sauce w/ almonds, cashews, raisins and spices." The pakoras were crisp and served with a tangy sauce. The main dish, served with rice, was amazing. I have no photo with which to present you, (a) because the ingredients are combined in a such a way that a picture would not be altogether enticing--the whole dish is really only one color--and (b) because I was busy eating. This dish was amazing. I love any combination of cashews with vegetables, and this was no exception. The raisins became plump and sweeter when cooked, and were a sweet surprise in almost every bite. The portion is also larger than sufficient, and (I think) Indian food, particularly curries like this one, make great leftovers.

My omnivore dinner date ordered chicken naan and the Tandoori chicken and was also noticeably pleased.

246 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 629–4963

2 comments:

Ashley M. said...

That looks really tasty! I'm glad you now have access to the wonderful world of Indian food. I don't know what I would have done without it all these years! I've tried making nan several times with little success . . . might be a good baking challenge to add to the list.

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