Bites Nearby: Ambadi, A Fine Alternative to Bengal Tiger

Currently we have a shortage of Indian food in White Plains. There were two Indian restaurants, until the Bengal Tiger burned down this past summer.   Sadly, the Bengal Tiger was a landmark in White Plains, and those of us who love Indian food will miss it. 

In the absence of our favorite place, many have yet to notice Ambadi, even though it is located directly across the street from what was the Bengal Tiger.

What I can tell you about Indian food comes from the one time I cooked  it at culinary school and a lifetime of eating it.

First off, let me dispel the myth that “Indian food is too spicy." Yes, if you order a vindaloo or some curries, you will be sorry.  For the most part, though, Indian food is seasoned appropriately using mint, cardamom, lemon, tamarind, and yogurt—not the spiciest flavors you have ever heard of, right?

Bread is served with every meal and varies from flatbread to stuffed with peas and potatoes to my personal favorite, poori bread, which is thin and fried.

For those of us that cannot speak Hindi, Indian food is usually broken down into three categories—goop, stuff, and that—accompanied by a color and ingredient. Such as, "Hey, pass that green stuff with the cheese in it,” or “Please pass the yellow goop with the lentils,” or more likely, “Pass me that one. No THAT one there. Yes, the brown stuff."

Last Wednesday I took my son Ben to have his first taste of Indian food. Ben divides food into three groups: things he likes, things that go on the floor, and anything mango flavored (which goes everywhere, including his mouth, hands, hair, clothing, and the person next to him). 

Dr. Girlfriend (as I will refer to her for the sake of anonymity) and I both ordered the lunch special, a combo plate with various options. I couldn’t tell you exactly what it was, but there was the chicken stuff, the lamb stuff, the curried cauliflower stuff, and the lentil stuff. Everything comes with scented rice and a piece of grilled flatbread.  We decided to get Ben a mango lassi, a drink made from yogurt and fresh fruit.

Everything was tasty, and Ben didn’t throw anything on the floor, which is a first. I liked the chicken more than the lamb, but Ben and Dr. Girlfriend preferred the lamb. True to his nature, Ben got mango lassi everywhere but the floor and tried to paint his face with curried cauliflower. 

Ratings:

Food: For food Ambadi gets 10 out of 10. This is without a doubt one of my favorite places to order from, and I recommend the samosa chat and the seehk kabob.

Ambience/Décor: There's a lack of seating and the cafeteria chairs and steam table don’t give off the same aura of other-worldliness that we were used to at Bengal Tiger. For décor, I give it a 3 out of 10, but I always say, “It’s the dumpiest places that produce the best tasting food.”

Service: I'm divided on the service, but for delivery, they get a 7 out of 10. Overall, I recommend takeout or delivery.

Prices: Mid-range to high, but they're pretty much the only game in town. Our meal of two combo platters, a mango lassi, soda and Gatorade cost $26.

Ambadi is located on 141 E. Post Rd. in White Plains.

For more information, visit www.ambadi-usa.com or call 914-686-2014 or
914-686-1746.