Fitoor - Review - Santa Monica - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"We once saw someone stroll into Fitoor wearing a sequined wedding dress, and somehow, they didn’t look out of place. This glitzy Indian restaurant from San Jose features gold accents, glowing globe lights, floor-to-ceiling drapes, and on weekends, the occasional fire dancer. That said, a meal here of creative chaat, solid curries, and dessert-like cocktails garnished with flowers can still be fairly casual, and if you’re looking for a Westside spot that does something different with Indian cuisine, Fitoor is a fun option. The menu is made up mostly of traditional dishes zhuzhed up with fusion-y flourishes, like avocado burrata chaat or gunpowder-dusted fried soft shell crab. The more straightforward curries, however, are the highlights. You’ll want to tear off hunks of naan, dunk them into the rich sauces, and mop up every last drop. We’re also fans of the snacks that draw from Bombay street food, but some have a bit too much going on, including the dahi kachori topped with pink foam. Your best bet is to come with a group and order a bunch of things to share—and since half the menu is vegetarian, get some broccoli on the table, too. Food Rundown Bombay Papdi Bhel Fitoor’s take on a street food classic maintains all the crunchy textures of the original. Crackers are buried under mounds of puffed rice, fried noodles, and pomegranate seeds. It’s impossible to eat this one bite, which is a good thing because you’ll want to keep coming back for more. photo credit: Ryan Tanaka Dahi Kachori This flaky deep-fried, pastry arrives topped with a cloud of pink chutney foam that looks cool, but slowly deflates as the meal goes on. It’s fun to crack the shell open, but the mix of sauces inside is too chaotic, and the crispy okra and pomegranate seeds on the bottom add even more to a dish with too much going on. photo credit: Cathy Park Mushroom Minced Kebob Some visual trickery at work. These might look like whole mushroom caps, but they’re molded from minced mushrooms. The result is a dense, bitter patty. Skip. photo credit: Cathy Park Sweet Chili Broccoli This is how you make broccoli stand out. The roasted florets are soft with a slight bite and are coated in a yogurt sauce that lends a burst of sweetness. There’s also a whipped herb butter glaze on the side for some reason—definitely swipe each bite through it. Truffle Mushroom Kulcha A hot-from-the-oven kulcha topped with mushroom butter and shaved truffle. The warm bread is nice and chewy, but the cheesy filling is underwhelming. Get the naan instead. photo credit: Cathy Park Lamb Shank Rogan Josh The star of the meal. A bone-in lamb shank is braised until it nearly falls apart in a deep-red curry that’s rich and well-spiced. photo credit: Ryan Tanaka Alleppey Prawn & Fish Curry Another fantastic curry. A server will pour the coconutty sauce around a pile of fish and prawns tableside. The fish is soft, but there’s not quite enough curry to enjoy with every piece. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park