Curryish Tavern earns a solid 5 stars from me since it's the kind of playful, high-skill dining…read moreexperience I'll happily trek to downtown for and plan an evening around. Ambiance was casual and comfortable. Service was friendly and very attentive. Food was served with a good tempo and our used plates and utensils were cleared in a timely manner. Our server explained each dish well and she also answered any questions we had on the ingredients or the dishes.
We opted for their seasonal Maple tasting menu which featured special off-menu dishes centered around Maple as the cohesive ingredient across the dishes. The whole progression felt thoughtful and transportive, showcasing the flavors and spices of Indian cuisine using modern culinary techniques.
First up, the Maple Coconut Stuffed Medu Vada was crisp on the outside, tender inside, and the combo of peanuts and maple gun powder with tomato chutney hit all the savory, spicy and sweet notes. The Maple Leaves Patta Chaat was a delightful explosion of flavors. Creamy maple yogurt, a little heat from the mirch maple, sweet potato for comfort, and crispy barley and sev for that perfect chaat texture party. Then, the hay-smoked maple glazed tandoori quail was packed with aroma and depth-- smoky, slightly sweet, and the goat's milk raita cooled things down just enough before the ghost pepper heat kicked in.
The Nagaland Akhuni Maple Turmeric Sablefish was the stunner course for me: buttery, rich fish with those earthy fermented soya bean notes, plus black lentils grounding everything so it felt bold but balanced. The maple glaze added just the right tinge of sweetness. For the fifth course, I loved how the Maple Dates Glazed Lamb Ribs leaned into indulgence and was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The green pea mint malai made each bite feel extra cool. Though the lamb samosa was golden fried to perfection, I didn't enjoy the lamb filling inside due to the offal taste and mushy minced texture.
For dessert, the Maple Mishti Doi Custard was creamy, tart, gently spiced, and the candied nuts added a crunchy texture to keep it interesting.
We also did the non-alcoholic pairing, and I'm so glad we did. Three drinks total, and every single one was refreshing and handcrafted to match the food. The Lemongrass Coconut Paani (rice water, cinnamon, cardamom) was bright and cooling with courses 1 & 2, and it made the fritters and chaat feel even more snackable. For courses 3 & 4, the Rose Sharbat (non-alcoholic gin, blood orange, lime) brought a floral-citrus lift that played beautifully with the smoke, spice, and richness of the fish and quail dishes. The Coconut Mango Lassi (Alphonso mango, cardamom syrup) with courses 5 & 6 was a creamy and sweet, perfectly bridging us from the rich lamb dish into dessert.
If you're into food that's adventurous, inventive and packed with exciting flavors, add Curryish Tavern's seasonal tasting menu on your must-try list. Curryish Tavern delivers a creative, cohesive tasting menu that honors Indian flavors and local ingredients. It's a memorable, travel-through-flavors kind of meal I'd gladly repeat!