Ha! It was our 9th anniversary last night which means we get to go out for a night without the chillins. Something, so far, we’ve only done once a year (going out to eat without kids in tow). I was giddy with thrill of getting something to eat that has flavor. Something spicy, wild and I didn’t have to prepare.
The upper portion of Solano Avenue in Berkeley usually pulls us in. There are a handful of places to dine or spend time in a book store pouring through the cookbook section. That type of stuff. Or try a dumb over roasted or stale cup of coffee at Peet’s or Starbucks. We parked a few blocks away and hiked up. We could see across the street one of the Indian places was pretty darned busy, I suppose 8pm is dinner time for some. I poked my nose over into the Boran indian restaurant, but since both my wife and I have already been there and done that … maybe the Indian restaurant with the fancy white curtains would do. It looked pretty upscale and maybe we should have had reservations. They didn’t look nearly as busy, so we made our way in.
Again, I want to make sure you understand since we only make it to one nice restaurant a year, maybe I shouldn’t be writing a small review. Clearly I have nothing to compare it to.
Even so, my initial reaction was that we had chosen the right place. The decor was pleasing, welcoming and well, damn they had huge color murals on the walls with naked women sporting huge round breasts. I had arrived. The staff were very well dressed, very attentive and all had a purpose with where they were going. Not just madly dashing or meandering. They are professionals and their timing was perfect from the very first moment we walked in to handling of the check towards the end.
After a few moments with the menu it was clear there wasn’t anything on there I wasn’t willing to come back time after time for. I was going to try some new dish they had with simmered chicken, but noticed they have a tandoor oven. That sealed it, I had to try the swordfish dinner from the tandoor oven. I can’t remember what my wife had … why? Because I’m a bad note taker and my memory fails me at every turn. She was happy with it though, I can tell you that.
The appetizer was some very light and flakey deep fried wafers with cumin seeds. I don’t know how they got the seeds to stay in there, the seeds were thicker than the wafer. Since we were having a nice quiet dinner a bottle of Indian white wine was necessary. The fish came on a loudly sizzling cast iron platter I could hear from ten feet away. This I wasn’t expecting, so it was a nice suprise. Both meals came with fluffy basmati rice and a little sauce action. The naan smelled great! The pieces of fish were done just right. The temperature of the tandoor oven was apparently right on and chef was watching.
Between the food, the wine and the company it was a wonderful evening out. Oh and don’t forget those delightful murals, I really liked the murals.
Ajanta
1888 Solano Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707
510.526.4373
www.ajantarestaurant.com