Malavika Kale
Google
There is a clear need for a good sit-down Indian dining option in Austin, in both the everyday and the celebratory tiers (like Pondicheri, Kiran’s, Musaafer in Houston). I’d like to have this hope for Electric Gravy in the near future. The food was average in an uncharacteristically (for desi food) bland manner although the place has certainly made an effort with the decor.
Food: we got the Samosa, chicken tikka masala, karahi chicken and saag paneer. The samosa was average while the coriander chutney was good. The chicken tikka was passable. The Karachi chicken had the best flavor out of everything we ordered. The saag paneer (as you can see in the photo) is literally sautéed paneer cubes, onion, saag (like spinach) with almost no flavor/spices. As a vegetarian, I understand wanting hero ingredients to shine through the dish, and am always looking for thoughtfully made dishes. This dish disappointing me on both fronts. Also, I realize this restaurant probably wants to keep the menu ‘limited’ unlike regular Indian restaurants (which have very expansive menus), but, having just Saag Paneer and Chana Masala on the menu for vegetarian main dishes for a Mumbai Bar & Canteen is just incomprehensible to me. That too at the downtown restaurant price points.
The grilled naan was nice - soft, warm and fresh.
Drinks: mocktails and cocktails with fun names. We got the Kabutar and the Mumbai 75 (nonalcoholic) and both were decent but nothing super impressive. Drinks are of course not cheap but the prices are consistent with most if not all Austin restaurants.
Ambience & decor: fun, colorful, Bollywood-themed decor. Tables are set up very close by so try as you might you will be sharing conversation across tables and have to be loud to talk to your own group as well. Good desi hip-hop music though!
Service: polite service although it was slow considering it wasn’t super crowded on a weeknight.
As nice as the place looks, the true pull for a restaurant must be the food and the flavors.