Ever since seeing the Dosa Man food cart on some Food Network special, I've always wanted to try these savory lentil and rice based crepes. After viewing restaurants on the Open Table site, I decided we had to try Dosa on Fillmore. For starters, we usual reside at the Miyako (Kabuki) Hotel in the heart of Japantown and Fillmore is just a stone's throw away. Plus I could have chosen lunch or dinner. We made dinner reservations (through Open Table) and included Bro but the Bay Bridge fiasco cancelled any notion of him commuting from Oaktown to SF. Oh well, he lives in the Bay Area and can try it anytime he desires.
Dosa on Fillmore has an extensive menu including The Spice Route Cocktails so even the Mrs indulged (she usually just order the house special iced tea). She chose the Batsman - Plymouth gin, Darjeeling tea cordial, lemon juice and ginger beer over ice with a mint sprig. Tart but refreshing with a little sensation of heat, chili pepper heat that slowly worked its way down your throat. I had the Bowler - Marian Farms biodynamic pisco, mango gastrique, Hell flower tincture (kinda scary sounding if you ask me) with a lime twist. I also felt that same slow capsaicin like warming of the throat. Must be the barkeeps secret recipe.
We then started with the Chennai Chicken or boneless organic Fulton Valley chicken marinated in Strauss organic yogurt with coriander and cumin the fried. Leagues above chicken nuggets, almost like boneless tandori chicken strips. We also devoured the Dahl Vada - no, not the Dark Lord of the Sith but Lentil dumplings topped with Strauss organic yogurt and piped with tamarind and mint sauces. It looked like a yogurt soup but realized that the dumplings were patty like and comlpeted submerged in the yogurt. it was a shame to destroy the beautiful piping design but hey, it's food after all (some eye food but more stomach food).
We did exhibit a bit of restraint and only ordered 2 entrees, the Lamb Biryani or cubed lamb slow cooked with chiles, onion, garlic, ginger, spices, raita and sambar with Basmati rice and the Paneer and Pea Dosa. Both entrees were accompanied by sambar, a lentil dipping soup made with vegetables and spices and the dosa were also served with fresh coconut and tomato chutney. The Biryani was very good but a little "wetter" than the Mrs prefers. it was also spicy enough to drain my scalp of excess moisture. The dosa... I could eat a whole plate of them especially piled high with the coconut and tomato chutney. In fact they offer 12 other dosa variations - all the more reason to return.
Finally, we shared one dessert the Beet Halwa and Sago Payasam. What?! Beets for dessert! Yup, beets in all its glorious desserthood. Shredded beets piled on a reduction of sweetened milk and pearls of the sago palm. Tasting like sweetened cooked carrot - but not too sweet in a rich tapioca-like sauce reduction. Of course and I had this with the Beet Box - Bols Genever, beet and anise puree, Domaine de Canton & lemon juice, absinthe rinse serve up with a lemon peel. i can't describe all of the flavor sensations swirling over the palate with one bite of Beet Halwa then a sip of Beet Box.... food epiphany number... I lost count already. Dosa on Fillmore, definitely a "repeater".
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