Review of India Palace Restaurant in Downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico

India Palace's downtown location is and has been the measuring stick for Indian-food excellence in Santa Fe for as long as I can remember. If you're not greeted with a smile or a soft-spoken "namaste" upon entering India Palace, then you're not in the bloody India Palace. Don't let the name and location fool you, either. The decor is East Indian kitsch with a few fabric accoutrements thrown in to soften the mood, and the bilingual menu is as accessible as one could want. The focus at India Palace is the comfort and satisfaction of guests without too much doting by the staff.

We took our chances on a liter of Taj Mahal beer - with great results. This potent lager has an underlying bitterness that, when served cold, complements Indian cuisine quite well. The vegetable samosas stuffed with potatoes and peas were light and airy, a welcome change from most versions I've been served in the past. The mixed-grill tandoori dinner was enormous and simply prepared. Clay-oven baked chicken, lamb, white-fleshed fish, and prawn were all cooked to perfection with just a hint of spice. The eggplant, pakoras, and a traditional onion bread (a variation of naan bread with herbs and minced onion) that accompanied the dinner were all top-notch, too.

The kamhi prawns with bell pepper, onion, and tomato were served in a slightly sweet, creamy sauce that contained a complex but delicious combination of spices. The flavors melded so genuinely that we decided not to take a guess at the ingredients, opting instead to just pig out. The chicken vindaloo was oh-so-tender, with a slight vinegary kick behind the subtle sweetness. With a side of saffron rice, this dish is among my new favorites. After this generous and memorable meal, we skipped dessert.

Here is the Price Breakdown of our Dinner for two at the India Palace (downtown). One liter of Taj Mahal beer- $ 7.95

Vegetable samosas-$ 2.95

Mixed-grill tandoori-$17.95

Karahi prawns-$12.95

Chicken vindaloo-$10.95

Saffron rice $-2.95

This brings us to a grand total of $55.70 before tax and tip. The India Palace-Downtown location, is located at 227 Don Caspar Ave, 986-5859. They have a lunch buffet available from 11:30 AM until 2:30 PM daily. Dinner service takes place from 5 until 10 PM nightly. Beer and Wine are available unlike their sister location inside the general store; take-out is available as well. All Major Credit Cards and local checks are accepted.