Stephanie S.
Yelp
TIP: Make reservations. It's primarily a 1-woman operation, so owner prefers to know when you're coming!
First, you don't come here for the food, but more for the EXPERIENCE. Don't get me wrong, the food is delicious, freshly prepared, but that's not the *main* reason for your visit.
The rumours are true. There's no menu here at Ancila's. Instead, Ancila herself comes out, chats with you regarding the spice (or not) level, the available proteins, and perhaps the style of cooking she can offer. After that, she goes back into the kitchen and customises a dish pour vous! So it's definitely a unique experience that attracts a certain kind of patron.
Second, either go with good company OR patience. Do not go super hungry, alone. Food does take a little longer to prepare. So be forewarned!
Third, food was SOLID. We got a Butter Chicken, some kinda Lamb Curry, and Palak Paneer with Garlic Naan & Rice, and ended off with Chai. Butter Chicken stood out and was really good, a bit sweet, with a kick to it. (I think Ancila said it was only a 2-3 in spicy level.) Lamb Curry was good too, with a thinner gravy, Palak Paneer was thick, galicky. Garlic Naan was really good. Nothing was too overly sweet, salty, creamy, or oil laden. I usually expect Indian food to bit too salty &/or oily, so that was a nice surprise!
Bill will be a "surprise" too, but Ancila emphasised that it's a "good surprise". Everything that I ordered came out to approx. $52, including tax/excluding tips. So it's not terribly expensive in comparison to other Indian restaurants. Plus, there were leftovers, so...
Ancila is down-to-earth, welcoming, and really makes it feel as though you're a part of the food making process.
So if you're feeling like something that's unexpected and taking just a small food "risk"...or should I say "adventure", check this place out!