Priya Restaurant sizzles in Farmington

Farmington and Farmington Hills have no shortage of options for Indian cuisine, from the many restaurants to Indian groceries.

Among these many options is Priya Restaurant, 36600 Grand River in Farmington, which is worth a visit for the hearty, comforting, flavorful food and grand décor.

From the outside, Priya looks like an unassuming home with welcoming aromas of spice and curry filling the air. Once you step inside, it feels more like a mansion for royalty, with sparkling chandeliers bathing the brightly colored room. The vinyl tablecloths and paper place mats seem strange juxtaposed against the more fanciful surroundings, but give the restaurant a homey touch.

Priya's expansive menu, which ranges from North to South Indian cuisine, makes it unique. The offerings will satisfy many diners, from the Indian neophyte to the connoisseur. Along with a plethora of vegetarian, chicken, seafood and lamb dishes, the menus includes Indo-Chinese options, like Cauliflower Manchurian Gravy.

Appetizers come in hefty portions and can even stand on their own as meals. Try the lemon chicken or the tandoori combo platter. We opted for the samosa and chili paneer. The samosa was uninspired and tasted more like a frozen pizza roll with a mushy filling. But the chili paneer, homemade cheese cubes sautéed with hot chilies, more than made up for the lackluster samosa.

A warning for the non-spice lovers (or even those who like it hot): Spicy at Priya means searing, burn-your-tongue, sizzling-like-a-poker-brand hot. This is not for the faint of heart; the spice will do cartwheels and backflips on your tongue until you're begging for mercy. Make sure to temper the heat with one of the three condiments that accompany your meal: mint (delicate herb mix), tomato chutney (bold and flavorful) and coconut (creamy with a touch of sweetness) or wash it down with a mango lassi, which serves as a foil to the intense heat.

Must-order: The menu touts the chicken vindaloo as a dish for "lovers of hot spicy food", and they are not joking – so save some of your mango lassi for the entrée as well. The vindaloo is every bit as hot as the chili paneer and will warm anyone up on a December night. The dish is a mouthwatering, well-balanced mix of vinegar, potatoes, onions and boneless chicken. Make sure to scoop up the goodness with a thin, hot and crispy piece of naan.

Do pass on: The lamb koorma – boneless pieces of lamb cooked in a blend of yogurt, nuts and spices – was disappointing and kind of bland. The lamb was tough and appeared to have sat for a while because when it was served there was a thin film across the top.

Despite nothing less than friendliness, service on a recent Wednesday evening was very slow. There was only one other party in the restaurant, and it took a very long time to get anything. Not that I have anything against leisurely dining, but the lag time was bordering on excessive.

Another disappointment: When I ordered a Priya House Cocktail, I was informed that it was not an option due to the lack of mixers. This wasn't a deal breaker but why bring the drinks list with the menu if I can't even order a drink?

Overall Priya is like attending an OK dinner party: the home was fabulous, the food pretty good, and the conversation was a bit awkward. But don't let that keep you from coming back and getting to know them better.

The dish

Food: 3 out of 5 dishes

Price: 4 out 5 dishes (very good value for the amount of food you get; for two people, appetizers, lassis and entrees cost less than $50, not including tip)

Service: 2.5 out of 5 dishes

Tip: With a menu this expansive, it may take 50 years to try to sample everything. Check out the lunch buffet, which features all of the menus in one convenient sitting. Also look for the icon next to certain dishes that tip off diners that it's a chef's special – you won't be disappointed.