🚀 go-pugleaf

Some recommendations based on recent visits to a couple of Indian
restaurants in the LA area - ( my directions could be wrong, so you'd
be well advised to call these places before you get there ! )

1. Gate Of India - Santa Monica
(on Santa Monica Blvd near Ocean, a couple of blocks west of
what appeared to be the main drag in town)

Despite the generic sounding name (there's a tendency to flee at the
sight of yet another variation on "Taj", for example !), a very fine
restaurant. Tastefully appointed decor (beware of dim lighting, though)
The menu featured some unusual dishes - I'd highly recommend the 
"Achar Murgh" - chicken cooked in spicy & sour pickles. The food arrived 
in small vessels, heated by a mini-stove from the bottom (which was a 
good idea, since we spent a long time over dinner). Run by a family from 
Bengal, and the chef promised to make some authentic off-the-menu dishes 
on our next visit seeing how much we enjoyed the "achar murgh", so I guess
you could order the chef's choice if you're in an adventurous mood. A pity
Santa Monica is so far from the Bay Area - I'd love to go to this
restaurant again.

2. Dasaprakash - Cerritos
(183rd, a few blocks west of Pioneer)

A very basic menu. Standard Indian restaurant decor, with south Indian 
food that, IMHO, beats the heck out of most so-called S.Indian joints.
Order the "thali", or any of the combos, and you can't go wrong !

Bon appetit,
Jay