Pooja Indian Grill
1223 Merkley Ave.
West Sacramento, CA
(916) 375-8906
poojaindiangrill.com
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editorial profile:
The most dubious-looking restaurants often turn out to be the most interesting. This is certainly the case with Pooja Indian Grill in West Sacramento. Located at the end of a somewhat unsavory strip mall in a hidden bit of West Sacramento, the restaurant’s exterior looks more like a wholesale carpet warehouse than an eatery. Two separate, unmarked front doors, divided by a chain link fence, don’t exactly foster a friendly or accessible vibe, and you may find yourself hesitating in your car, wondering if you should give it a try. But, be adventurous—Pooja and its food will reward you in spades. Inside, you’ll admire the beautiful, ornately painted chairs, pretty artwork and linen-draped tables, a surprisingly elegant atmosphere considering the unsavory facade of the restaurant. Pooja’s dining area is large, spread out over several rooms, and I bet it would be fun to visit with a big crowd of Indian food-lovers. The menu is large and drool-worthy—make sure to sample the kitchen’s tandoori (clay oven) dishes and the chicken Tikka, as they are considered to be Pooja’s specialties. The tandoori chicken we tried was absolutely wonderful—moist, bright red-orange in color, and very complexly flavored. The lamb curry was also a hit, though it contained a number of bones that we had to carefully pick out. Don’t miss the vegetarian dishes—I adored Pooja’s super-creamy saag paneer, creamed spinach blended with a mild housemade cheese; and the crusty pakora, chick pea-battered vegetable fritters. If you’re having a hard time deciding, go for one of the restaurant’s “feasts” (one vegetarian, one non-vegetarian)—for one set price, you get a wide array of dishes to try, and it includes the kitchen’s puffy naan bread and even a dessert. Service is courteous, and we were made to feel very welcome. As mom always used to say, “don’t judge a book by its cover”—or, in the case of Pooja Indian Grill, by its iffy exterior. — Kira O'Donnell
Insider tip: Visit during lunch, and you’ll discover a bountiful buffet for only $8.99 plus tax.
Reservations: Recommended for parties of 6 or larger
Payment methods: AmEx, Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa
Alcohol: Full bar
Corkage fee: 15 percent of the total bill
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