So, it's a Saturday night, the game is away this weekend and you and your roommates are picking a place to go out to dinner. There is no doubt that the Corner has a plethora of good restaurants from which to choose -- it is one of the trademarks of this university. However, if you are ever looking for something a little different, a little crazy, we ask you to take a short trip down Rt. 29 to a whole new world -- Maharaja.
As soon as we walked into Maharaja we knew we were in new territory. Upon entering the restaurant we were severed from the hustle and bustle of the highway and transplanted into a dimly lit dining room filled with 17 booths and tables and soft Indian music in the background. The walls were not cluttered with U.Va. sports paraphernalia, but rather were covered with authentic Indian artwork. Neither of us ever had eaten Indian food, yet we felt welcomed and comfortable. Although it wasn't too crowded, there was a diverse group. Once seated, a couple next to us guessed our naivete and suggested items to try for our first Indian food outing.
We were a little taken aback with the overwhelming and extensive menu. However, every item was described, and any remaining questions we had our lovely waiter Billy was quick to answer. Each dish is made to order and prepared "mild," "medium," "hot" or "Indian hot." The menu is separated into different areas of specialties --chicken, lamb, vegetarian and seafood -- a wide variety to satisfy all palates. Also, each dish is numbered to bypass any embarrassing pronunciation mishaps with the Indian-named entrees.
We decided to try a little of everything off the very extensive menu. We began with the appetizer sampler, an assorted variety of all available appetizers. We were most delighted with Batata Wada -- mildly spiced potato patties, dipped in chickpea flour and deep-fried. There were two sauces that accompanied the sampler. One was chutney, a brown, sweet sauce, and the other was a green mint sauce. Both sauces complemented each of the appetizers. The only blemish of the appetizer sampler was that each appetizer was fried, which made it a bit greasier than we were hoping.
We then ordered the Mulligawtawny soup, a spiced chickpea lentil soup. It was a large portion, especially for the inexpensive price. However, it was a bit tart and not our favorite item.
The couple next to us and our waiter, Billy, both had recommendations for first timers to the restaurant and Indian food. They suggested the Butter Chicken or the Chicken Tikka Masala. However, we found other dishes that seemed interesting and decided to order Kadai Chicken, Garlic Lamb and the Fish Tandoori. After trying each, we decided that the Kadai Chicken was the best. The Kadai Chicken was boneless chicken with bell pepper, onion, ginger garlic and tomato cooked in herbs and spices. It was a bit spicy, but it was made to order. The Garlic Lamb was very potent and the Fish Tandoori was a bit dry but had a very interesting cucumber sauce.
Maharaja also has an extensive variety of drink choices. In addition to the standard soft drinks and iced tea, they also offered authentic Indian beverages. Our waiter recommended the Indian beer, the Kingfisher or the Flying Horse. However, we ordered the Mango Lassi -- a refreshing yogurt and mango shake. While this drink was enjoyable, we decided it would better serve as a dessert than a beverage to drink during one's meal. At the end of the meal, we also ordered the chai tea, a hot tea with masala and cream. This drink was incredible and we highly recommend it as a perfect end to a meal and night.
While the food was new and different, what made our dinner incredible was the experience. We decided to try something outside our comfort zone and were pleasantly surprised. We walked into an Indian restaurant knowing absolutely nothing about Indian cuisine and left trying a little bit of everything. Our waiter, Billy, was extremely helpful. The menu is a bit overwhelming but Billy was always attentive and present to answer our never-ending questions -- not only about food choices, but also about the history of the restaurant, the artwork and Indian cuisine in general. So, anytime you feel you've overdone Take It Away or maybe you've tried every sandwich Little John's has to offer, we highly recommend Maharaja. It is an experience you will not forget.
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