On a recent rainy afternoon, I was walking down Yerba Buena Lane and noticed a restaurant with business spilling out the doors and trailing down the street. Amazed by the number of people waiting outside in less-than-ideal weather, I immediately added the restaurant – Amber India – to my must-try list.
Meeting up with three friends at 11:30 a.m., the first thing I notice inside is a beautiful sandstone lattice. The host tells me that the piece was handcrafted and imported from Indonesia. As our group is led to the dining room, I am surprised see Italian fabrics intermixed with Indian artwork, along with several hanging chandeliers and custom designed mirrors throughout the space.
As we are being seated, I sense the faint, comforting aromas of black pepper, mustard seed, cumin, and nutmeg drifting over from the buffet server. Looking toward the entrance, I see that we arrived just in time to beat the lunch rush. Tables are quickly filling up and a small queue is beginning to form at the door.
After ordering a round of iced teas, all four of us eagerly jump up to build our own plates at the all-you-can-eat buffet (an à la carte menu is available during dinner and weekends). The scents from the various spices are incredible, and my mouth begins to water before I even start to fill my plate.
I select Butter Chicken, Naan and Rice Pilaf. From the other end of the buffet, I can hear one of my friends squeal in delight. A devout vegetarian since childhood, she often has a difficult time ordering in restaurants. She is ecstatic to find Vegetable Korma, comprised of broccoli, carrots, zucchini and peas cooked in a cashew nut cream sauce. She pairs it with a salad and an assortment of fresh fruits.
Returning to our table, I immediately dig into my chicken. Marinated in yogurt and spices, the poultry is roasted on the bone in a tandoori oven. Once fully cooked, the tender white meat is stripped away and stirred into a pot of a silken sauce made of tomatoes, butter, cream, ginger, fenugreek, mace, nutmeg, chilies and just a little bit of brown sugar to balance out the spiciness.
The dish is pure heaven—so much so, that I return to get more before starting on either side dish. I suddenly understand why so many people are willing to stand outside Amber India, waiting for a table. And here at my own table, dining with good friends, I know there’s no other place in the world I would rather be.