Everything about Masalaa -- except the food -- is understated. There are decorations, but the adornments and overall atmosphere lean toward the plain side of the spectrum. The effect showcases exactly what Masalaa is -- a restaurant tucked inside a strip mall in the suburbs; nothing more, nothing less. But it clearly is more, which a glimpse inside the menu confirms. Masalaa offers a dizzying spread of Indo-Chinese food, combination plates and traditional Indian food that will make any vegetarian (and gluten-free folks, and many vegans, too) leap with delight, because the vast menu is wide open to non-carnivores.
Pictured above is the aloo mutter ($9.95), potatoes and green peas in a creamy gravy. The peas were so fresh they burst on the teeth, and roasting the potatoes before adding them to the curry gave the dish a richer flavor than you might usually find.
The appetizer menu alone offers more than a dozen veggie-friendly plates, including these mulaga bajji (on the left, $3.95) and panner pakoda (on the right, $4.95). The mulaga bajji are jalapeno peppers dipped in chickpea batter and deep-fried; the panner pakoda is house-made cheese given the same treatment. (Fair warning: The mulaga bajji is really spicy, but the panner pakoda is just the thing to cut through some of that heat.) A perennial favorite is the palak paneer ($10.95), fresh spinach and that creamy house-made cheese in a curry. And besides these delicious entrees, there are several crepe-style items, dessert, bread, traditional beverages and three combination thalis that combine the best of all worlds. For a look at the full menu, visit www.masalaausa.com/menu.php?r_id=1.
