Have you ever wanted to travel to the Taj Mahal, or at least get a taste of the delicious fare offered in India? Well, the Taj Mahal is a long way from Brunswick, but Bombay Mahal, located on Maine Street, offers locals a bite into delicious Indian cuisine overflowing with curries, spices, and herbs.
Bombay Mahal is similar to many other Indian restaurants. It is decorated with Indian paintings on the walls and intricately woven tapestries. Even the ceiling is embellished with fabric tiles.
The menu at Bombay Mahal is extensive, offering many different soups, appetizers, and a wide array of chicken, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian entrees. There are also a few combination platters available, perfect for the indecisive and those new to Indian food. On Saturdays and Sundays, the restaurant offers a buffet for $8.85. Normal dinner prices are a bit high for most college students, but lunch at Bombay Mahal is quite affordable and a good idea for lazy weekend afternoons.
The Dal Shorba soup, a lentil and vegetable soup with curry, ginger, and garlic was good, but excessive garlic made it a bit overwhelming towards the last bites.
The samosa appetizer consists of two samosas. These triangular, deep-fried potato-and-pea dumplings are best enjoyed with their accompanying sauces: tamarind, a yogurt mixture, and spiced onions. The samosas were of average quality; the potatoes were shredded, rather than cut into the more traditional cubes.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was somewhat disappointing. Normally a favorite dish, the "spicy creamed tomato sauce" was chunky and bland, even though it was advertised as having "medium" spiciness. Also, the masala was made with roasted chicken instead the more standard tandoori chicken, which would have given the dish more flavor.
The Lamb Shami Korma, described in the menu as, "an exotic treat with cashews, almonds, and light cream," was just that. There was a good amount of lamb cooked and simmered to perfection in a sauce with just the right amount of spices.
However, it was the Malai Kofta, a vegetarian dish, that was the definite highlight of the meal. Described as, "[a] true Mughlai delight?balls of freshly minced vegetables simmered in cardamom saffron, garlic, cashews and a light cream sauce," this entrée was simply fantastic. As ordered, the vegetable balls were drenched in a spicy sauce balanced out by the deliciously sweet cardamom and golden raisins.
Accompanying all entrees is a large plate of white rice with peas, shredded carrots, bay leaves, and cardamom. Be sure to order some delicious Indian-style bread with your entrees?it's good for mopping up the extra sauce at the end of the meal.
The poori was not the traditional, balloon-like bread Indian-food aficionados might expect. Bombay Mahal's poori came to the table deflated. It was still useful for absorbing the leftover condiments.
To round out the meal, be sure to order the famous Indian tea, masala, which includes chai, cardamom, sugar, and light cream. It's a sure way to sooth those jumping taste buds after a meal of exotic flavors and spices.
Overall, Bombay Mahal, while not an elite Indian restaurant, offers Brunswick a satisfying taste of the country's native cuisine.