Thali Too-Now Open
Picked up a menu, guess it opened this week but not yet open for lunch. I've eaten Indian food all over the country, and I've never seen a menu like this--a lot of the stuff I've never heard of! Indian vegetarian street food, some items:
Panki: Lentil, Rice Garlic and Green Chili Crepe between banana leaves
Mirchi Bhajia: Long chili peppers, cumin sesame tamarind filling
Avial: Yam, eggplant, carrots and banana simmered in coconut
Sabji manchurian: Cabbage, cauliflower and carrot fritters in hot cilantro garlic sauce
Safe to say there's nothing like this in CT: Any one been yet?
By newhavener07
on May 9, 2008 03:09 AM
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Oh, and the highest price on the menu is $10!
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Are you complaining or praising re the uniqueness? :)
When you say you've eaten Indian food all over the country, which country do you mean? The US?
Most Indian restaurants in Western countries offer a very narrow menu based on stereotypical cliches of North Indian / Pakistani type cuisine. Some may do Bangladeshi, more so in the UK.
So it's good that some establishments are beginning to scratch the surface of the tremendous diversity and variety of South Asian (=SA) cuisines and dishes.
Panki is a popular snack (e.g. with evening tea) food, in Western India (Gujarat).
Mirchi Bhajias (or Mirchi Pakoras) are indeed very standard and delicious snack / street foods in most parts of SA. You can even have them for breakfast, alternating bites with jalebis and hot milk.
Avial is a Kerala / Tamil dish of starchy veggies with a coconut-cumin-etc dressing. This is not street food. It can be eaten with rice, or hoppers, or adais or similar.
Sabji Manchurian (sabzi = veggies) The word Manchurian refers to a dish of Indian-Chinese fusion invention. Some people like it, some don't. This is also not street food.
So, all the dishes you mention are well known in SA, and CT is lucky they are to be found there, if the restaurant is good quality. The descriptions look accurate. Hope the restaurant is good, and that you enjoy it. The management and chefs should be encourated to step out of the envelope like this.
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Not complaining at all, looking forward to trying it! I've eaten lots of Indian food in the U.S. and some in India, but this menu looked unique in its combination of things.
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I Googled this and found that it is at 65 Broadway in NH.
Hartford Courant says: Thali Too at 65 Broadway will open in the courtyard behind the Yale Bookstore. The restaurant will feature a lassi bar with a menu of yogurt-based fruit drinks, a rice bar, outdoor seating in the warm weather, and a menu of all-vegetarian dishes created by Chirnomula after a recent trip to India.
We love Thali!
I am looking for Indian groceries recommendations in the NH area...
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Scargod--
There's an Indian grocer off Dixwell in Hamden...the name escapes me...it's kind of behind the Sears driving school. If you're on Dixwell going towards NH, it's on the right hand side near the diner. The're also in the process of building one on the post rd. near the old barnes & noble.
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The Acropolis Diner? I can't find a "Sear's" Driving school listed in Hamden...
Is this around Benham, and that shopping center?
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There is a little Indian grocery just off of exit 8 on 91 North, its on Middletown Ave. just below the Cine 1234 in a little strip mall on the right. The lady that runs it is very friendly and helpful. She has a great selection of grocery's, frozen and fresh veggies.
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Thanks, that's on my Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF... but I haven't been there yet. I added your comment about the store to my map note. It's the same distance (but a slower drive) as the little Indian store in Naugatuck on Rubber Avenue.
I show one on York Street in West Haven. Ever been there?
I just bought "Vij's: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine", my first Indian cookbook. I've dabbled in Indian cooking for years but now I'm going to try and develop a repitoire beyond chicken tika masala...and vegetable curry!
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Yes, from Dixwell, take a right onto Benham and it's immediately on your right. You mentioned you just bought your first Indian cookbook--you should try to find the book "Classic Indian Cooking" by Julie Sahni--it's from the 80s, but it's my favorite. Madhur Jaffrey is another notable cookbook author.
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Thanks, for all info. I can't stop with just one cookbook. I've had a slight disappointment in the one I bought in that I wanted to do a vegetable dish and the quantity of vegetable recipes are very limited.
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I also recommend the cookbook "Classic Indian Cooking" by July Sahni. It's my favorite. And, since I'm in Branford, I always go to Darbar restaurant for Indian food - love their food!
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"Indian Regional Cooking" by Sumana Ray is a wonderful cookbook. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to experience authentic Indian recipes.
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As you know this is the same chef who brought Thali to many SE CT towns. And if the food is as great as in those restaurants, NH is in for a real treat.
http://www.thali.com/
Can't wait to hear the feedback from the NH hounds.
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The "grand opening" is today - Thursday, 5/15 between 6-8pm. Free food!
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went to the grand opening. A great selection of apps went around, not a dud in the bunch. great interior. I can also recommend the spiked lassis. I had a lemon grass and a mango, both with spiced rum i believe. it get's kinda fuzzy after that. can't wait to go for a meal.
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I was there too, East Rocker, a fun if crowded event. I've been a few times now and had some amazing dishes--best so far is the andra korma, which has a nice mix of spices with a very fresh taste and appealing texture from poppy seeds and ginger. Bhindi masala was also great, with fresh okra and veggies in a spicy sauce. The panki was interesting but a bit oily, Mirchi Bhajia was very hot but well done and definitely unusual. Atmosphere is modern, multiple seating options including stools, benches and booths. Can get a bit noisy. Lassis are tasty, with lemongrass and strawberry the best. You can fill up easily for about $15 per person. Great new addition to NH scene.
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I just went to this place last night for the first time. Maybe I had bad luck, or something, but I really didn't like my experience there. The atmosphere is nice and the lassis are good, but unfortunately, that was the only thing I had that I would recommend without hesitation. I had the Poori Bhaji, which was ok, but not spicy and not particularly flavorful. My friend had Andhra Korma, which she said was ok, but not great. She was a bit weirded out by what looked / tasted like curdled milk in the dish.
The bit I really had an issue with, though, was the service. They may have had a busy night, which I can understand, but they forgot to package my leftovers to go, and instead of being honest about it, tried to hide it! They fried up a new flatbread and packaged up what looked like a couple of tablespoons of the potatoes in curry from who knows where (it was mostly just the sauce). Given that I had half the dish left, I was a little bit angry about this, especially as I'm a student on a budget. But as I said, everyone has a bad night ... Unfortunately, I probably won't give them another chance to redeem themselves; I just don't go out often enough to choose a place that's not guaranteed to be great, when there are so many other awesome places to choose from in New Haven.
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I encourage you to return. The food is really great. I've had consistently good service. The waiters/waitresses are young but they try hard. The Andhra Korma looks as it should - love that dish!
The one slip up I had was the waiter mistakenly assuming we wanted the large, oversized Mojito (12/16 oz.) which they charge $22 for instead of a regular sized one. We initially ordered two but when the first one was delivered - we gasped at the size and promptly cancelled the second order which they nicely complied with.
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YES- many times! We love it so much we keep going back AND the price is right!! Baigan Burtha is phenomenal- eggplant with green peas and tomatoes; Malai Kofta- potato and cheese balls in a delicate, creamy cardamon sauce; Samosa Chat adds a new twist to this standby. Avoid Sabji Manchurian which tastes like Chinese Sweet 'n Sour, nothing special.
We sat outside, enjoyed the sunshine. Oh - if you order the Mojito, make sure you specify 'regular/small' size. Otherwise, they bring it too you in this massive margarita like glass 12/16 oz. for $22 which is ridiculous.
Food is fantastic. Highly recommend it!
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