Tabla Bread Bar- Delicious but Hit or Miss Value
I decided to go for my birthday dinner to Tabla Bread Bar based on many reviews I had read on chowhound. (Tabla was out of my friend's price range as he was treating) The Tamarind Margarita was pretty good but I would not have been able to detect the tamarind in a blind taste. The seviche (featuring cilatro and peanuts in a vinagrette) was supurb. The lamb naninni was outstanding- crisp rosemary nan with spiced mashed potatoes and crispy tandoori fired lamb...dunked in their raita- it probably ranks as one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Now for the OY part: the waiter brings out a HUGE copper pot with our fish curry. We peer in side, our mouths watering from the smell and see...4 TINY (I mean tiny) pieces of white fish swimming in a sea of orange broth. Not a vegetable or parsley sprig in sight. I swear our waiter was laughing at us! :} If the restaurant was known for insanely small portions I could almost understand (I've unfortunately been to places like that in LI where I found many a "Lady who lunches") but their naninni was ample enough for 2...I felt ripped off. I would definitely go again but would be very wary of ordering something else- I do not mind paying and I do not expect diner size portions at all at fancy restuarants- but $20 for 4 miniscule fish chunks and nothing else does not seem justifiable to me- if we had gone upstairs to Tabla perhaps I wouldn't feel as cheated because it is supposed to be more expensive but I was downstairs in the "casual" bread bar. Any thoughts on this?
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Eaten at Bread Bar a number of times & always had great food. Tend to go w/larger groups and order for the table though so there is a lot of variety & the meal/service is tapas like in that the server just keeps bringing the food/drink at a proper pace. I agree w/RGR in that it isn't a pure Indian food experience-it is a fusion-Table upstairs otoh is very upscale & I wouldn't call it Indian either... As far as small portions-since I always get a lot of different items I've never looked at it that way but I guess they aren't entree size. Normally would order 4-5 items plus nan for 2 people...
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First of all, I don't think the Bread Bar or, for that matter, Tabla, belong in the same category as Devi and Tamarind. The latter two serve *Indian* cuisine, while the food at Tabla and the Bread Bar is what I would call "Fusion Indian."
We have not been to Tabla, but we have eaten at the Bread Bar a couple of times. The food is quite tasty, and we've never had a problem with portion size. However, in no way does it even come close to the superb cuisine at Devi, where we had an absolutely amazing tasting dinner a few days ago. And I agree that the $24.07 lunch prix-fixe is stellar and a huge bargain.
As for Tamarind, our experiences there have been mixed. We have had some very good food there, but our last dinner a couple of years ago was *very* disappointing.
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re: keith
I deliberately chose to go to Tabla Bread Bar because it was "Indian Fusion" and not authentic as I wanted to try something new. Looking at menupages I would like to try Tamarind (for the price, Devi does not seem to be worth it). I tend to stick to more authentic Indian restaurants because one, I love the flavor and two, it tends to be cheaper! :} (Obviously by looking at the prices of Devi, not always:} )
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re: Simon
I have been to Tabla several times (up stairs and at the bar) and have jet to be disappointed. I am just wondering if the kitchen went through a major makeover. When I ate there last time I started with Foie Gras done several different ways and the dish was superb. To bad if indeed the place is sliding in the wrong direction.
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