Restaurant Week Round 2!
After my first Restaurant Week meal at The Marrow, I headed to Junoon (http://junoonnyc.com/) with Scott. I had heard rave reviews about this Michelin-rated Indian spot in Flatiron but couldn't convince myself to go due to the price of the entrees (most protein entrees are $25+) and the size (not very large!). I'm a hole-in-the-wall Indian cuisine gal, but for Restaurant Week I enjoy living on the wild side and indulging! This place opened in 2011 and received one star from Michelin JUST ten months after it opened! Very Impressive.
The restaurant was running behind so we each ordered a cocktail at The Patiala Lounge (the bar). I went with the Blood Orange Sour, made with Kentucky Bourbon, Homemade Blood Orange and Lemon Puree, Clove-Campari Reduction with Egg White for Texture.
My cocktail was yummy - I love the taste of Blood Orange Juice, it is like the adult version of OJ! Scott went with the Tandoori Tequila, a spicy cocktail made with silver tequila, lime, muddled Tandoori pineapple, curry leaf and pippali pepper.
I sipped his drink and it did have a certain KICK to it! Scott sometimes feels that I don't give him the star power he deserves on my blog, so I took a photo of him. Of course it came out terribly - it is the thought that counts, right?
The lounge area is pretty swanky. You feel like you're on the set of a high-budget Bollywood movie.
Scott and I have similar taste preferences, so we ordered different appetizers, entrees and desserts and shared everything.
As we waited for our appetizers, we were each served an Amuse-Bouche, or complementary tasting from the chef. It was something or other with butternut squash and quite delicious! The sizing was a preview of what was to come...tiny dishes!
To start, we got the Lahsooni Gobi (crispy cauliflower with chili flakes and garlic tomato chutney) and Chipotle Chicken Tikka (chipotle marinated chicken with crispy potatoes and lime aioli).
Both were delicious but VERY SMALL! If I came here and paid the menu price I would be very disappointed. 3 pieces of cauliflower is a bit lame!
For the entrees, we ordered the Kerala Shrimp Curry (seared shrimp with coconut milk, curry leaves, mustard seeds, green chiles and smoked kodampuli) and the Lalmas (Rajasthani lamb curry with black cardamom, clove and chili)
I absolutely loved the Shrimp Curry BUT THERE WERE ONLY 3 SHRIMP! WHAT GIVES!!! I felt super cheated. The lamb had more chunks in it but wasn't bountiful by any standards.
We also got one order of Pulao Rice and Naan to split.
I would have preferred Garlic Naan but we weren't able to upcharge to that which I thought was annoying - you may be sensing a trend!
For dessert, we ordered one Rice Pudding served with candied almonds, cinnamon and golden raisons and one Passion Fruit Mousse.
I loved the rice pudding but hardly got to taste it - it was about 3 spoonfuls. This is the unfortunate downside of Restaurant Week - going to fancy places and leaving feeling like you want to eat an entire pizza! I'm glad we went because the food was phenomenal it just left me wanting more...FOOD!
Cheers,
Liz