Amber India
Buried underneath the drudgery of a plain strip mall in Mountain View lays a golden jewel often overlooked by the ordinary observer. However, those seeking the rich delicacies of fine Indian food need to look no further than this traditional North Indian restaurant to satisfy their appetites. I have had Indian food in New Delhi, New York, London and San Francisco and few places are comparable to Amber India. While most Indian restaurants produce food indistinguishable from one another, Amber takes North Indian cuisine to the next level.
When you enter this restaurant, you forget for a moment that you are at a strip mall. Rather, the intricate decorations of the cozy Amber has an authentic Indian feel. Everything from the walls to the plates to even the forks bear an Indian design. The curry dishes come to you in brass vessles while the tandoori dishes will come to you steaming and smothered with lemons and onions on a skillet dish. To complement the meal, a soft bhajan or ghazal music can be heard in the background. The only drawback to Amber’s ambiance is that the restaurant is a bit small, making it difficult to get a table without reservations. In fact, I have been there on many a Friday night when the line is actually out the door. My advice: make reservations.
Amber’s service is above average. All the waiter’s are friendly and accommodating. They are generally very responsive, although occasionally this critic has had a tough time ordering more naan when his table’s little breadbasket is filled only with crumbs. They offer excellent recommendations and the menu has certain set dinners to ensure you receive an authentic Indian experience.
Now, we get to the food. Yes, the food, the part I know all have been salivating for. Let me tell you, the myths about Amber are true. The food is so good it makes people capable of eating more than you thought was physically possible for them. Even the skinniest of Indian kid will find himself setting personal eating records.
You may find yourself starting off your meal with a traditional mango or sweet lassi, which is the equivalent of a milkshake or smoothie. The taste of a lassi will complement the taste of the rest of the meal. Amber also has a wide variety of soft drinks and for those over 21, an excellent beer and wine menu.
With your drinks, you can choose from a wide variety of delicious appetizers. If you feel like a light snack, I recommend either the Reshmi Kababs (minced tender Chicken kababs) or the nice and spicy Aloo Tikki’s. If you want a more varied meaty taste, the Assorted Tandoori dish is excellent (although you might want to save the Chicken Tikkas for the main course). If you have had some experience with Indian food and like Samosas or Pakoras, Amber has excellent Chicken Samosas and Chicken Pakoras. I prefer the Samosas which are light and crispy, filled with spices and not too greasy. If you feel on munching on something in anticipation for the assortment of foods to come, the crunchy and spicy Papadum is plentiful and tastes great with Amber’s homemade Chutney’s.
Once finished with the appetizers, the food does take a bit of time. It can be a wait that feels an eternity (especially for your stomach). However, when the tray filled with hot Naan baskets and the smell of the Tandoor hits you, you will be forgiven by your stomach.
The sizzling Tandoori dishes, cooked from an authentic Tandoor oven, are a must have at this restraunt. For the vegetarians, the Paneer Tikka’s are the way to go. They are crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and filled with herbs and spices to make your taste buds tingle. For the meat eaters, the question is: What’re your favorite type of meat? For those who like it all, the Tandoori mixed grill gives you some chicken, fish, lamb and shrimp. Chicken lovers will delight over the tender, juicy boneless Chicken Tikka’s grilled to perfection. The Seekh Kebab’s, ground lamb mixed with spices, are delectable and one of my personal favorite dishes. One of the more pricier dishes, the Frontier Kebab (pictured), is rack of lamb served as good as it gets. The lamb literally melts in your mouth.
The elegant curries provide a nice contrast to the grilled meats or vegetables. An Amber fan favorite is Butter Chicken, boneless chicken cooked in a tomato/butter sauce that is rich, creamy and exceptionally flavorful. The Rogan Gosh is a lamb dish in a more tangy, textured sauce. For vegetarians, the Malai Kofta, deep fried cheese and potato dumplings mixed in the Butter Chicken curry, and the Bindi, a seasonal specialty of spiced Okra, are the way to go.
The Naan’s are excellent. They are nice and puffy, but not too soft or flaky either. Their texture enhances the taste of the meats and vegetables. I recommend going for a Garlic Naan, a traditional Naan smothered in garlic and butter.
So now that you’ve ravaged through basket after basket of naan and left many bronze vessels and skillets on the table, you probably have no room for dessert. Good thing too. One of Amber’s drawbacks is the lack of quality desserts it has. If you are tempted, I would go for an Indian specialty like the Galub Jaman or Moong Dal Halwa.
One thing to note before I leave you. Amber has an excellent buffet. For $11.95 a person on weekdays, you get an excellent buffet of about 10 dishes with unlimited naan and rice. Usually, the dishes include Tandoori Chicken, the famous Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer, Pakoras and more. But if you have an extra two dollars and a free Saturday, the weekend buffet is even better as it offers traditional Chaat items like Papri Chaat and Pani Puri.
A quick disclaimer: The food is a bit more expensive than the typical Indian place. However, the food quality is noticeably better. Go right now, eat, drink, be merry and then worry about the bill. Just don't get too merry or you may be doing dishes for the remainder of the night.
OVERALL RATING
Overall- 4.5/5
Health: Depends really on what you order. You can go healthy or go totally unhealthy. The quality of meat and vegetables though are impeccable.
Price: $$$ (yeah, save it for special occasions)
QUICKLINKS
Amber's Webpage
Mountain View
Santana Row
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