At “ Clay Oven “, in Irvine

 

                                                       

During our brief stay in Irvine we did not find time to prepare meals at home though our friend had kept all provisions ready for cooking. So after our tiresome trips we used to look for a suitable Indian restaurant to satisfy our appetite. On the first day we tried at a restaurant having an Indian name but the dishes were too spicy and not so tasty. The next day we found by chance a very good Indian restaurant “Clay Oven” in the center of the city. The name of the restaurant made us think that we would have traditional dishes prepared in an old conventional way. But when we entered, we found a very spacious restaurant with neatly arranged tables and good ventilation. The ambiance is very good and the staff is very friendly and prompt in their services.

 Of course it is not a purely vegetarian restaurant.  Only North Indian type of meals is served along with Chinese, sea food and continental varieties.  Yet we felt happy to see some Indian dishes of various kinds served in clean bowls garnished properly to stimulate our taste buds and looks as well. Besides nowadays most of us have an occasional taste of North Indian variety also. Among rice varieties items like vegetable pulao, Brown rice pulao, and Cumin pulao are available. As for starters pakoras and slices of roti were given. As for wheat items, we had to select from cheese naan, missi roti and garlic naan. We had cheese naan which tastes almost like our chapatti.

 

 As for curries saag alu, jeera alu, bhindi masala, baingan burtha and lentil daal were given. Raita, sauce and papads were given as side dishes. As the items were not much spicy we had a satisfying and tasty dinner there.  After meals sweet items like kulfi and gulab jamuun were given. The rates of dishes are also quite reasonable and will not cost more than 30 dollars. Here all vegetables and other ingredients are supplied from organically cultivated gardens. One can also opt for gluten-free preparations. This restaurant has been catering to the needs of people for more than three decades. Modernizing Indian dishes without altering native flavor is their sole objective and in this aspect I think they have tried their best to satisfy the customers in all possible ways. Here private parking facility is available. This restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Lunch is served between 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m and dinner from 5.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. "Clay Oven" has its branches in other places like San Francisco, Indianapolis and St. Petersburg. 

                                       

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                   27th September, 2017                       Somaseshu Gutala