So, yesterday I went out to dinner with my friends Mary and Drew. We had all heard about this place called G'Raj Mahal (pronounced garage), and we were all eager to try it. Let me just say: this place is pretty magical, especially if you love Indian food! It's all outdoors except for the kitchen, which is in a trailer. When you first walk up they have the menu posted on a little fence, and then you seat yourself and a server will come and take your order. I really loved the the outdoor seating with the white curtains around the perimeter. It was pretty cute. Another thing is that this place is BYOB and while we were sitting there it was like someone had their IPod on shuffle. We heard everything from Iron Maiden to Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Also they share the space with the Austin Bike Zoo. They have on display a giant rattlesnake made out of bikes and recycled bottles and other things they have found, and apparently you can rent them.
Another cool thing about G'Raj Mahal is that they strive to be locally and environmentally responsible. They use biodegradable service-ware and they try to find the organic and local ingredients whenever possible.
Awesome!
The menu:
Let me start off by saying that they have an extensive menu. I was surprised and super stoked about what they have to offer. The three of us shared the dishes and still had enough for at least one other person.
Samosa: Two filled and fried pastries with mildly spiced potato and pea ($4.00 for 2), or curried lamb ($5.00 for 2). We had two orders of the vegetarian samosa and one order of the curried lamb. Both Samosas come with a mint/cilantro chutney and a tamarind chutney. They Samosa are everything the should be, not over-cooked or dried out or greasy at all. Just perfect.
*I don't eat lamb, but another cool thing about this place is that they serve grass-fed, Halal blessed lamb*
Naan with Paneer: $3.00, Naan is a bread baked in a tandoori oven. This naan had an extra surprise by having paneer cheese in between the flaky layers. Perfect for dipping. You really can't go wrong. The paneer was/ has a super mild flavor. It compliments the naan nicely. It comes with about 4 large pieces.
Tikka Masala: $11.00, A creamy curry. Buttery sauce with tomatoes and peppers recommended with paneer, chicken, lamb or shrimp. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. The white meat chicken was cooked perfectly and their sauce is amazing. Rich and creamy and perfectly spiced. We ordered "Spicy" for our dishes and they were pretty spicy, just the way I like it.
Aloo Gobi: $9.00, Curried potato and cauliflower. Aloo Gobi!!!!!! I was super excited to eat this dish, since I have eaten it in about 8 years. My old friend Huma's mom used to make me this dish all the time when I lived in Houston. It's the simplest dish but it's just perfectly cooked potatoes and tender cauliflower in a spicy, red curry. It's like comfort food to me!
Saag Paneer: $11.00, Pureed spinach with curried cream. Much to my surprise, the cubes of paneer were very big. They kind of reminded me of tofu. Not spicy at all. It was so good. It's a must-have every time!
I wish I could have tried more items from the menu, because this menu is extensive! Another plus is that ANY DISH CAN BE MADE VEGAN! which is so cool, especially when you have a group of people with many different dietary restrictions. Everything can be made mild instead of spicy and the servers were super friendly and helpful! I would recommend this place to anyone!
P.S. Remember you are sitting outside. Bring bug spray!!
They don't have a website.
G'Raj Mahal Cafe
91 Red River ( in the backyard)
Austin Texas
512-480-2255
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