10/19/2006, India Sweets and Spices
Masala Dosa, Idli, Pakora, Samosa, Oh My!
We both have a dear place in our hearts for Indian food. Cheap, expensive, fast, slow, north, south, greasy or delicate, I almost always enjoy it. This place came with highly qualified recommendations, and after a few trips there it's obvious why. The food itself is a mixed bag - some is simply great... I love the sambar, a spicy lentil/tamarind soup, often served with idli, or as a side with virtually anything, for breakfast, lunch or dinner (or all three!). They also make a great masala dosa, but again, I don't think I've ever had a masala dosa (big crispy crepe stuffed with an aromatic potato/chickpea mash) I didn't just love. I remember Todd introducing me to masala dosa about 10 years ago, telling me it was basicallt the Indian hamburger, meaning cheap, fast, not entirely healthy, but filling and yummy. But what really sets this place apart is the truly awful service; I don't mean they are slow - though in fact the various items on your order typically arrive randomly spaced out, so you just have no hope of eating simultaneously with the rest of your party. What stands out with the service at this place is the supremely bitter, annoyed attitude of the husband and wife who own and operate the food line (the place is also a market). These people are serving nonstop to a packed house of grateful, friendly customers, and we tend to get nothing but grief and spite from the two behind the counter - have you seen the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld? Ok, you're getting warm.
So why do we go back? Well, for Julia it's the fact that we can get more purely vegetarian food than we can eat, and a mango lassi to share, for less than $12 for two people. Seriously, it's about the cheapest edible food in LA, and it's way better than the next best thing. On this night I got a masala dosa with sambar and Julia got a no. 3 special, which we shared along with maybe 1/3lb of pakora and a lassi. For $11.35. Another bonus? I think the owner's anger towards the customers tends to lead him to serve spicier food than he would normally to the gringos in the crowd, having no idea that for me when it comes to Indian food it's all about "no pain, no gain".
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