My love affair with Indian cuisine began during my study abroad in London. The clichés about English food, sadly, are clichés for a reason. It wasn’t long before I abandoned pub food for the curry house. So, how could I resist a $30 for $15 deal to Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill?
Despite spending a fair amount of time on the Hill, I had never been to CHT before. Browsing the menu online, it seemed like a pretty standard selection of dishes, at a reasonable price.
My girlfriend and I arrived and consciously tried to soak in the atmosphere. The building was spacious, we never felt as though we were crammed in with other diners. There were the seemingly mandatory pictures of elephants and the Taj Mahol on the raw brick walls. The ceilings and upper walls are painted a deep red that gives the restaurant a low, comforting light.
We began by ordering Vegetable Pankora. While waiting, I was surprised to see they served a complimentary basket of unleavened bread with Hari and Tamarind Chutney. After a few minutes, the Pankora came. The vegetables were crisp, and not at all greasy and absolutely delicious with the chutney.
For Entrees, I got the Gosht Korma Kashmiri and my girlfriend ordered the Seekh Kabob and we shared a basked of garlic Kulcha. The portion size of the Kabob was huge. Several skewers of meat and vegetables arrived on a sizzling fajita-style platter. If you ask for this dish to be spicy, they will take the request seriously. The heat was not abrasive, but slowly built as the meal went on. For those who don’t do spice, the flavor would have still been excellent in a toned down version.
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My Korma was not nearly as hefty a portion as the Kabob, but certainly more than adequate. The lamb was tender and fell apart in my mouth. The sauce itself was quite good, though not the best Korma in town. It was smooth in texture, not overly grainy from the nuts as often happens with Korma, nor did the coconut milk drown out the other flavors. Perhaps the best part was being able to dip chunks of the Kulcha into the little pot. Between the two of us, not a drop was left.
I was tempted by a number of items on the dessert menu, particularly the rice pudding with cardamom, but I was full far beyond my ability to handle another bite.
Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill really left me without complaints. The service was good, the food was good, and the prices were good. It has not replaced my favorite spot for Indian, but it definitely offers a great alternative in a location I often find myself near. If you missed this deal, then you really missed out.
-Greg A., WTD Enthusiast
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