(No website found at time of publishing) – Pioneer Square
How I heard of this place: My friend Robin suggested this restaurant as a conveniently located spot for good Indian food after a yoga pow-wow.
Type of cuisine: Their menu boasts that Maharaja is a “house of exotic Indian food”, homemade and fresh. The menu offers everything from Thali style dinner options to tandoori specials, curries and a substantial vegetarian list of options.
Ambiance: The establishment is large and very spacious, with booth and chair seating available at nearly every table. Glass-top tables show off Indian artwork and restaurant specials, while atop the table can be found a small container of sugars/sweeteners and a brass vase displaying one, lone, plastic flower. Sparse decor on the pale-colored walls and windows across the front of the venue allow for a brighter atmosphere when the sun shines. Service is slow and few patrons (only one other table was occupied) graced the space, adding a level of quiet intimacy to our dining experience.
What I ordered: Among the four of us, one dining companion had already eaten dinner, so he enjoyed a Thandi Lassi ($2.50), chilled, sweet yogurt drink, and a rice pudding ($2.50), freshly made with crushed rice drenched in thick sweet milk and laced with grated pistachio chips. One dining companion ordered the vegetable samosas ($2.95), which three of us enjoyed with two accompanying sauces. For our main entrees, we selected butter chicken ($11.95) and chicken korma ($11.95), with two sides of fluffy, white rice sprinkled with fresh parsley flakes.
What I loved: I loved the spice-factor in the butter chicken, just enough to feel, but not too much to mask the flavor of the curry. The rice was light and fluffy and the Thandi Lassi sweet and creamy.
Why I loved it: The quiet and unoccupied space allowed for us to choose our seats and speak freely, without disrupting neighboring diners.
Cost: Low to average ($9-$20 per dinner entree)