Reviews

Despite its cosmopolitan reputation, Bellingham seems to lack the rich variety of ethnic restaurants that can be found in larger urban areas, such as Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. For this reason, the India Grill is a welcome addition to downtown Bellingham. Both a restaurant and full bar, the India Grill offers authentic East Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Inside the restaurant, diners find themselves seated under a multi-colored canvas with geometric designs which hangs high above on the ceiling. As one of my dinner companions remarked, “You feel as if you are sitting in a tent;” a sentiment easily understood by glancing up at the light filtering through the fabric. Dark, earthy murals of traditional Indian scenes are displayed on the walls, as well as tapestries.

The most remarkable thing about the restaurant, however, is the variety of dishes. Familiar dishes include Tandoori, Nan, Tikki Masala as well as Boti and Sheekh Kabab — all served with Basmati Rice. Some of the more interesting choices include Lamb Vindaloo (leg of lamb in spicy brown sauce and vinegar), Saag Paneer (homemade cheese with spinach), and Makni Dal (lentils cooked with butter cream and spices), to name a few. The food was well prepared and brought sizzling to the table. Curry sauces were delicate and understated with a light ginger taste — a pleasant change from other curries which can be overwhelming sometimes.

Written By: Glen Berry