After reading my review last week, an Indian friend of mine approached me and said that if I thought Indian-Dhaba was good, I absolutely had to try India Quality, which he claimed was the best Indian food in Boston. In fact, it appears that my friend isn't the only person who thinks this, because Zagat has rated it Boston's Best Indian for the last six years. Just down the B line at the Kenmore stop, India Quality does not look like much from the outside; however, its cuisine is definitely worth a try.
The inside is dimly lit with Indian decor and soft Indian music playing in the background. The interior is classy, but the focus is clearly on the cuisine. We were seated in the back, in a booth by the window. Although we were there early on a Sunday evening, there were many patrons (mostly couples) and more continued to come in after we were seated.
When we were seated and our drink orders were taken, the waiter brought out a plate of flat bread, almost like large tortilla chips, known as papadum, with three sauces for dipping. One sauce was like a salsa, one was a sweet brown sauce, and the other was a spicy green topping. It was the perfect pre-dinner snack for our hungry crowd.
Once again, I was overwhelmed by the number of unique offerings, but luckily this time, I had my Indian friend with me to help navigate the menu. I warned him that I like it pretty simple, with not too much spice, and he proceeded to order two appetizers and four entrees (and of course a naan bread basket for dipping) to share among the six of us at dinner.
For an appetizer, we had a vegetarian pakora and chicken pakora, which is essentially a crispy shell with vegetable or chicken filling, similar to an egg roll. They were light and the sauces on the table made the subtle flavors pop.
We ordered one vegetarian entree, called Aloo Chole, which was pretty plain, a basic combination of chick peas and potatoes in a sauce of herbs and Indian spices. We also ordered Lamb Vindaloo, which is described in the menu as very spicy, cooked with potatoes and a touch of ginger. The people I was with decided to order this dish even spicier, and I was only able to manage a tiny bite before my mouth was on fire. However, the lamb was tender and the sauce was very tasty.
The favorite entrees were the classic Chicken Tikka Masala, which is cooked in a creamy tomato sauce, and Chicken Curry, cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and spices. People were dipping their naan in the dregs of the Tikka Masala sauce, cleaning the bowl completely.
Entrees ranged from $10 to $14, which seems a little pricey, but the portions are a good size for sharing and are served with delicious basmati rice. For an even better deal, look at their lunch specials, which are roughly $8. India Quality provides an impressive selection of classic and unique Indian offerings, with many vegetarian offerings, daily specials, a variety of traditional desserts that we didn't even get to experience because we were so stuffed.
While I will admit that I don't have the most refined taste or trained palate for Indian food, I would argue that last week's review at Indian Dhaba provided just as "quality" of a meal as India Quality at a much cheaper price. India Quality is a nicer dining experience, provides delicious meal, and is worth giving a try if you are in the neighborhood. B-
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