Saint-Henri's Modern Indian Kitchen

The Pitch

Reliable backup plans are a must in the absence of reservations.  Such was our story on this late-spring Tuesday night as our first choice, the popular Sumac in Saint-Henri, was filled to the brim.  Not wanting to linger around praying for a table to free up, we headed to Rasoï next door for what would be our second visit.  We were pleased to find both a parking spot in front and several tables readily available for the grabbing.

tagged:  NO NEED TO RESERVE TAKE THE CAR

The Mood

Visually-speaking, the three-year old Indian restaurant is unlike anything you've seen in Montreal.  The modern, ornamented space is divided into two dining areas featuring exposed brick walls and painted ceilings, separated by a psychedelic passage in the middle.  The ambiance is hip and sophisticated, catering to the young Saint-Henri demographic, in sharp contrast to traditional, low-key Indian eateries.

tagged:  EYE FOR DESIGN

The Food

Rasoï's menu follows convention while incorporating fusion elements; chicken tandoori, biryani and butter chicken are mingled with madras poutine, tuna tartar and paneer pizza!  The more inventive items did not appeal to us much – let alone the bad rap they received from a certain food critic – so we stuck to familiar classics.

The restaurant bills itself an "Indian tapas bar", so sharing is part of the game here.  Portions are smallish – though accordingly-priced – so make sure you order abundantly.  The taste and quality are there, but some dishes lack that extra spice and fragrance we typically expect from Indian food.  Hits included finger-lickin' good tandoori chicken and fall-off-the-bone goat meat in a fiery vindaloo sauce.

Starter

Starter

$6

$6

Onion Bhaji

"lightly spiced onion fritters served with tamarind & date and cilantro chutney"

Starter

Starter

$13

$13

Venison Samosas

"flaky pastries stuffed with ground venison served with mustard, mango chutney and a beet & arugula salad"

Main

Main

$19

$19

BBQ Tandoori Chicken

"1/2 grain-fed marinated chicken marinated, cooked in tandoor oven, brushed with American style BBQ sauce, served with grilled onions, peppers & pineapple"

Main

Main

$11

$11

Butter Chicken

"boneless chicken breast in a rich and creamy curry sauce with dried fenugreek leaves, topped with grated parmesan cheese & sliced almonds"

Main

Main

$14

$14

Goat Vindaloo

"halal goat leg & marble potatoes in a sherry vinegar based curry sauce topped with a fried chili pepper, garnished with fresh cilantro"

Side

Side

$6

$6

Masala Aubergine & Potatoes

"Chinese eggplants, caramelized onions, diced tomatoes & marble potatoes sautéed with Indian spices, garnished with fresh cilantro"

Side

Side

$7

$7

Aloo Ghobi & Broccoli

"cauliflower, broccoli, marble potatoes, green peas & diced tomatoes sautéed with Indian spices, garnished with fresh cilantro"

Dessert

Dessert

$7

$7

Mom's Gulab Jamun à la mode

"Indian beignets in rose water, saffron syrup served hot, with a side of vanilla ice cream, candied pecans & fresh berries"

tagged:  GOOD FOR SHARING

The Service

Our waitress for the night was to the point, quick and efficient – leaving not much to either grumble about or particularly applaud.  On a prior visit late last year, we recall having an issue with our wine bottle's serving temperature.  Alas this may be a lingering concern – either that or we have the worst luck – as tonight a couple of glasses of red had to be sent back for being too warm for our liking.

The Verdict

Always with the aim of assessing a restaurant against what else is out there in its own space, we deem Rasoï a standout because it did to Indian cuisine what its Saint-Henri cohort, Cho, did to Asian.  Both made their respective ethnicities' food fun, contemporary and creative.  And while we thought a couple dishes fell flat, we still enjoyed the overall proposition, from the attractive décor to the tasty food.

tagged:  SOLID

Price per person:  $26.33