A Taste of Something Different

From the outside Guru Palace is an unassuming storefront parked at the end of a strip mall featuring Trader Joe's and Michael's crafts with the usual mom-and-pop businesses that keep America running in between. At 5:30 on a Sunday evening, parking spots await right in front of the door, though by 6:30 patrons had to walk a little further. Upon entering, guests are greeted with an ornate (and probably hand-carved) solid wood swing to the left and a run-of-the-mill bar straight ahead. This contrast sets the tone for the physical establishment as well as the meal. Tables and chairs available at any restaurant supply store arranged in typical fashion adorn the left side of the dining area while alcoves with floors covered in pillows bedecked in rainbow silks, beading, embroidery, and gold trim live on the right side. Standard florescents are softened with fabric boxes that give a reddish hue to the light and a hushed feeling to an otherwise industrial room. The Indian tapestries and artwork featuring lush colors and glistening sequins create a sharp contrast to the scrubbed concrete floor.

In the moment our eyes took in these opposites and adjusted to the lighting, we were greeted with a friendly hello that began excellent service during our outing. Since I had perused the menu earlier in the day, I suggested to Jeff that we order a couple of the complete meals to sample a variety of dishes. We informed our server that this was our first trip to the establishment and that we lacked experience with Indian cuisine. He seemed excited to tell us about the dishes and he agreed that the meals - which came with an appetizer, several small entree selections, dessert, and Indian chai tea - were indeed the route to go. He even nodded approvingly when we voted for mildly spiced dishes, seeming to say that all novices should begin there. In an effort to help us, whenever a choice occured, he gave us some of each. For example, he brought both plain and garlic naan, and for dessert he ordered both a rice pudding and cake balls in rose syrup - but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Before the appetizers arrived, we were presented with a heavily peppered cracker bread and a thin spinach-based dipping sauce to cut some of the burn on the tongue. Next, the appetizers were placed between us. Since we had ordered a vegetarian dinner and a tandoori dinner, we had several morsels to sample. Our first bite of succulent garlic chicken with caramelized onions was deluxe. The subtle spices gave off a faitly exotic aroma that enhanced each morsel. The vegetarian plate included small bites of vegetables drenched in a spiced breading and deep fried, as well as a large samosa - a crusty dumpling filled with gingered potatoes and peas. These items sang when dipped in the accompanying fruit sauce (perhaps plum?).


Samosa and fried vegetables

Garlic Chicken (We had a few bites before the photo!)

When the tandoori entree arrived, sizzling and popping fresh from the flames, the aroma enveloped the table and piqued the senses. The plate, lined in more of those lovely caramelized onions, included a mix of sheesh kabab, tandoori chicken, lamb tikka, and a vegetable curry accompanied by basmati rice, raita (fresh yogurt with cucumber, tomatoes, and spices), and palak paneer (curry style spinach with fresh cheese and spices). The vegetarian plate included daal (a lovely, thick, spiced lentil soup), bengan bhartha (roasted eggplant that was to die for) and palak paneer accompanied by basmati rice and plenty of naan to soak up all the juices from the lentils and clean your plate after the eggplant. Needless to say, Jeff and I could not actually eat all of this food in one sitting, so (with the knowledge that dessert and Indian chai were still forthcoming) we (reluctantly) packed up the leftovers of our feast and gave our tongues time to recover. (The tandoori dinner was spicier than the vegetarian dinner, but the raita served as a cool respite to the dishes.)


Tandoori dinner

Tandoori with basmati rice, raita, and palak paneer

Palak paneer, bengan bhartha, and daal with naan and basmati rice







After boxing up our remainders (which I might have for breakfast, soon) plates were cleared and chai tea presented. A couple of sips into the tea brought dessert - gulab jamun (two dense cake balls soaked in a chilled rose syrup) and kheer (a thin basmati rice pudding with almonds and pistachios). The rose syrup was sweet and subtle, giving a light floral scent that coupled well with the dense cake balls. (Jeff pointed out that they had the texture of small cake donuts, and we discussed how to replicate it at home.) The rice pudding, not as sweet as the gulab jamun, was delicious. Though thinner than any rice pudding I've eaten, the nuts added a nice contrasting crunch and the pudding itself had a smooth vanilla finish.


Indian chai tea

gulab jamun and kheer

As the splendid meal ended, we promised each other to return soon. (It looks like there is a buffet at lunch, and the tasting opportunities intrigue us!) In addition to the excellent food, we were treated to outstanding service - our glasses were never more than a third empty, food was delivered promptly, explanations were offered genially. Finally, our bill (before tip) came to $40 and change - a bargain for the amount of food and interest factor alone. All-in-all, dinner at the Guru Palace set the tone for a wonderful evening of entertainment at the Mesa Arts Center, where we saw Shatner's World - a one man show featuring an energenic William Shatner (who is about to turn 82!) who made us laugh and made us think about life, love, and what we do with our time on Earth.