[Aces4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's interesting that it's customary at Indian restaurants in America, but not in India. Regardless, it IS customary in America, so when it doesn't come, I'm disappointed. And the salted, overbaked papadum - blech. And served AFTER I was almost finished with my entree? Pointless.

I'm not fond of bland, almost-sweet curry. I like it savory and spicy. So when they ask me how I want mine, and I tell them "medium-hot" I expect it to be something other than bland, and almost-sweet. I like that Shiva's presentation fits my expectations. Every Indian restaurant I've been to up north has been slightly different from each other - some use more cinnamon, some use more ginger, some use a thicker "stew-like" red sauce and others use a thinner creamier variety. And actual Indians are common customers at most of them. The one that never had any Indian customers went out of business the same year they opened. No one was surprised.

Different strokes for different folks. I'd try all of them and see which one makes MY tastebuds happy. As far as the freebie food before the meal, I'm not in to that. It always appears to me an effort to dull the appetite so the food is more acceptable.