A Restaurant With A Cuisine As Diverse

As All Of India

India Raj, an Indian tandoori restaurant in the Clock Tower Square shopping center in Monroe, has been serving the country’s cuisine in that location for four years.

From the outside, Indian Raj looks like a typical storefront, except for the light gold fabric that covers the door and windows and was added to defuse the bright afternoon sunlight. Inside, the 50-seat restaurant transports visitors to another environment; its peach-colored walls are decorated with handmade Indian textile art pieces and a large replica of a Seventeenth Century royal wedding processional painting featuring platters of food dominates one wall; four booths are on the opposite wall. Fabric umbrellas and other decorative items are suspended from the ceiling.

Owner Shahi Choudhury says that rather than focusing on the food of one or two of the nation’s regions or states, all are represented on his menu and in the specials, which change weekly. The restaurant’s tandoori ovens are used to slow cook the popular tandoori dishes — of which there are seven, including chicken, mixed grill, and salmon, ranging in price from $13.95 to $18.95 — as well as fish and to bake the flavorful Indian breads.

Tandoori dishes are among the mildest in Indian cuisine. Others are chicken korma, which is prepared with cream and almonds, $12.95, and the slightly spicier korai delights, entrees cooked with onion, tomato, green pepper, and ginger and served in a hot pot, $13.95 to $15.95. Spices can be adjusted for taste.

For those who like the opposite end of the heat spectrum, Mr Choudhury recommends chicken vindaloo (hot spices and potato), $12.95, and chili chicken, cooked in exotic Indian spices and green chilies, $13.95.

He noted, “We present to our customers food like it would be served in India; we don’t ‘Americanize’ the cuisine” and that portions are generous. Both vegetarians and nonvegetarians can find plenty from which to choose. The vegetarian offerings are listed separately in the appetizer section and the vegetarian entrées are further divided by dairy — six selections, $10.95–$12.95 — and nondairy — ten selections, $9.95–$11.95.

Chicken, lamb, beef, and seafood are all available in a variety of preparations, which are described on the menu, ranging in price from $9.95 to $21.95. Diners can also choose from ten breads and four traditional Indian side dishes, $2.95–$4.95.

The restaurant has full bar service and is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with lunch served from noon to 2:30 and dinner from 4:30 to 10, 10:30 on Friday and Saturday. Lunch specials are offered Monday to Friday ranging from $6.50 to $13.95 and an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet is available Wednesdays for $11.95. The menu is also available for takeout and for catering.

All prices given are from the dinner menu.

India Raj, 477 Main Street (Route 25 in the Clock Tower Square), Monroe, 261-1898 or 261-5573.