Dosa Grill: Spice and everything nice
Syracuse Indian restaurant keeps kicking cuisine up a notch
By Christopher Malone
The first time I ever enjoyed Indian food, was when I wanted it regularly in my life.
Yes, I love spicy food — the spicier, the better.
But the beauty of Indian cuisine is having intensity with incomparable flavor.
And, no — rest assured the food you order is tailored to your preferred spiciness.
For more than a decade at this point, Dosa Grill in DeWitt has been feeding countless neighbors in Central New York and visitors coming into town for whatever reason. The restaurant keeps bringing people back and converting new diners into loyalists. It’s a bold statement but don’t knock it until you try it.
It’s been a couple years since enjoying Dosa Grill; the last time we ordered it, our meal was takeaway during the height of the pandemic. It was great but enjoying a meal in-house and eating it when it comes out is simply much better.
The atmosphere is ideal, too. There are no televisions distracting attentions or loud music drowning out conversation. It’s a break from all the attention draining aspects to life. Simply walking in and getting a waft of the aromas is similar to walking inside to a homecooked meal; you can smell the deliciousness before walking through the door.
There are the benefits to enjoying the dining experience at Dosa Grill, especially the beginning and the end with complementary dishes.
First, what I like to whimsically refer to as the three sisters, enjoying the presentation of chutneys in the middle of the table. There’s tamarin, which is brown, smooth and tangy; the mint cilantro, which is obviously green, is a little spicier; and the chilli garlic is vibrant red and offers the biggest kick.
Whether you enjoy each solo or if you mix-and-match, they’re equally as good with the papadam, crispy Indian dough — a chip.
Lacha paratha and aloo parantha (both $3.95 each), layered flatbread, serves as the perfect utensil for the food laid out on the table. The former is a nice buttery bread where the aloo is stuffed with seasoned potatoes.
The food is served family style, with each item coming out on a separate plate or bowl of its own. We enjoyed the paneer makhani ($14.95), chicken vindaloo ($15.95) and the lamb biryani ($15.95). A dish of rice and peas is also served to go with the entrees.
The lamb biryani is, of course, a rice dish served with seasoned pieces of tender pieces of lamb. The nice-and-spicy dish is not overwhelming. As previously said, Indian cuisine doesn’t kill the palate with spice and certainly doesn’t short on the flavor.
We ordered the vindaloo medium, which still boasts a noticeable kick. The rich red sauce and hearty pieces of chicken breast tops the white rice to complete the entree.
For those unfamiliar, the paneer is an Indian cottage cheese. Somewhat similar in consistency to tofu — it’s not exactly the same — it takes on the flavor its cooked with or wading in. The curry sauce just makes the cubed cottage cheese jump to a new level.
The culmination is dessert, whether you choose an actual dessert or simply enjoy the complimentary rice pudding. The sweet and creamy pudding is a great way to end the meal. The dairy subdues the spices and it’s not heavy — a single serving to leave you satisfied. But, let’s face it, you’re going to want more.
Before tip, the bill came to just more than $60 for a party of three.
Aside from the delicious food, the staff is friendly and incredible — especially with kids. From when our little peanut was getting hangry to when she was satisfied, she got all the attention with waves, smiles and interaction from a crew constantly checking to make sure the meal is satisfactory.
Dosa adds more culture to the Syracuse area. It not only gives people a reason to get out and enjoy a meal but it’s an escape from what would be ordering takeaway and sitting in front of the television. Doing that isn’t terrible, but we need to turn off our minds and tune into those and what’s around us.
Dosa Grill
4467 E. Genesee St.
Syracuse, NY 13214
(315)-445-5555
facebook.com/Dosa-Grill-100055486995788/
HOURS:
Monday: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., 5 – 10 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4:30 – 10 p.m.
Sunday: noon – 3 p.m., 4:30 – 9 p.m.