Left: Served in a stainless-steel, compartmentalized tray, this thali showcases (clockwise from top left corner) mandarin orange and mixed bean salad; jasmine rice pulao topped with papadam (lentil crisp); raita (spiced yogurt with cucumber and tomato); alu gobi (potato and cauliflower with a ginger and tomato sauce); goat curry in a ginger, garlic and onion based sauce; and bhindi masala (sauteed okra with caramelized onions). Above: Samosa Chat combines potato-and-pea samosas with tamarind and mint chutneys and cool yogurt.
“After two meals at this North Indian restaurant, I’ve come to admire the flavorful, long-simmered, aromatic home cooking.” tainly do the trick if you want something sweet. We loved the more traditional gulab jamun, a donut-like fried dumpling floating in a beguiling rosewater syrup. Bhojanic announced its Buckhead satellite more than a year ago, but time and again, the vagaries of construction and permitting delayed its opening. We are delighted that it’s finally here. Like many just-opened restaurants, it still seems to be working out the kinks. I dined here with a friend who used to live in India and another who frequents the curry restaurants of London, and both were perfectly satisfied but never wowed. Servers seem distracted, not very engaged by the food, and a bit insecure about answering questions. Still, Bhojanic Buckhead is already doing a brisk business, and it’s easy to get in and out and have a solid and affordable meal. For years, Atlanta’s Indian offerings were basic, and basically all the same, so it’s exciting to have newcomers like Chai Pani, Cardamom Hill and Bhojanic. In Decatur, Becker seems to have her own built-in cheering section, and we expect she’ll conquer Buckhead, too. For now, I’ll just have a mango lassi and a thali, say a toast to Sonny Boy and curry on. n
Left: For the traditional dessert gulab jamun, donut-like dumplings are dunked in rosewater syrup. Above: The Pisco Float is topped with a splash of Malbec; the mango lassi is a healthy yogurt shake that will make you slurp-happy. Below: Pistachio cheesecake is drizzled with mango coulis.
Bhojanic Buckhead 3400 Around Lenox Drive, Suite 201 Atlanta 30326 404.841.8472, www.bhojanic.com Lunch and dinner: Tapas and appetizers: $3.95-$8.95. Entrées and thalis: $11.95-$17.95. Bottom line: Casual North Indian spices up Lenox.
July/August 2013 | Simply Buckhead
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