BADMAASH GOING ALL THE WAY
Michael Hepworth
Los Angeles, CA(Spiritsman)12/1/13/–Badmaash Indian restaurant in downtown Los Angeles is a place I had heard some good things about, and I am placed to report that this small yet comfortable eatery is doing a few things different with Indian food. Billed as an Indian gastro-pub and only serving beer and wine, the liquor menu is as compact as the food choices, but everything we tried was spot on. The place is owned and operated by two brothers with Toronto roots and they wanted to bring their vision of Indian food to the streets of Los Angeles, and can it be long before other branches pop up. They have done their research with visits to all the hot and trendy places in London where the best Indian food can be found, and after an 18 month build out process they have been open since early summer.
The place is quite small although there are an additional fifteen or so seats upstairs. Downstairs the tables are spaced very close together, so if you have a hot date and want to engage in some intimate conversation this might not be the perfect venue. Indian art adorns the walls and a Bollywood movie is projected on to the wall, and the service is prompt and efficient.
When it comes to the beer, at Badmaash you really can’t go to wrong by ordering The Kingfisher Indian Beer ($6) which goes perfect with this kind of food, but there are some good alternatives such as the popular Stone IPA from Stone Brewing and the Oaked Arrogant Bastard Strong Ale from the same brewer. However if you are into the Belgian stuff, then there are a couple of choices including the sublime Lips of Faith Coconut Curry Hef ($24 for a 22oz flagon).
The wine list is much smaller which is perfectly acceptable for a restaurant like this with six reds including a couple of malbecs, two pinot noirs, a cabernet and a Spanish Tempranillo from Zamora, and seven whites which thankfully include a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a Riesling (always a good option w/spicy food) from Columbia Valley, Washington. Bottle prices range from $27 up to $48.
However it is the food that you go to Badmaash for, and top of the list has to be the old standby Chicken Tikka Masala ($13) that is one of the best I have tried. Start out with an order of the Punjabi Samosas, especially good here. I tried all three on the menu plus a special thanksgiving version that was featured on Bon Appetit, and enjoyed the Butter Chicken ($7) version best, deep fried heaven.
The Sliced Mango Pork Belly ($15) is a must selection, slow cooked in its own juice and all kind of aromatic spices and seared with spiced mango chutney. Good words also about the Lamb Burger ($13) although I did not try it this time around that is ground and spiced inhouse w/spiced mayo, onion, lettuce, tomato on a brioche bun.
Badmaash-108 West Second Street, Los Angeles,CA 90012
213-221-7466
Valet and Street Parking
Average cost for dinner for two w/drink $70
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
http://twitter.com/MrSpiritsman
http://spiritsman.blogspot.com
