CloverEats: Thali in New Haven

Hyderabadi Cocktail – lime, cucumber, honeydew, mint

Thali is quite close to our apartment so we’ve actually been there a few times since settling in. It’s very solid Indian food, and in case you’re not within walking distance, there is a parking lot right across the street. Surprisingly, it’s never been super busy when we’ve gone for dinner, so seating has never been an issue. I was pleasantly surprised by their cocktail menu, as I feel a lot of ethnic restaurants aren’t very creative with their drinks. Thali has several interesting offerings, including the above-pictured hyderabadi cocktail, which was delightfully refreshing on a warm summer evening.

Butter Paneer

There’s a few nice decorations, but atmosphere isn’t anything too special. I do love sitting near wide windows, as the natural light makes for better photos than dim, moody places.

Papad with mint, tamarind, mango

I thoroughly enjoyed the papad everyone gets upon being seated. Sometimes they’re warm, as if just having been cooked, but sometimes they’re cooler, a bit less enjoyable but pleasant nonetheless.

Faithfully Ginger – gin, elderflower, finger, lime, turmeric

Chicken

You can’t go wrong with butter paneer, and I love that they have a sweet bread, the nuts and raisins kulcha, to go with it. Unfortunately, the butter paneer has been a little inconsistent, sometimes a lot spicier or a lot creamier; still great, but it’s a little disappointing that I can’t rely on getting the same dish each time. From perusing Yelp, it seems like there have been both great and mediocre experiences, probably stemming from inconsistencies like these. The chicken was flavorful and well-cooked. I want to come back again to branch out and try their goat biryani.

Nut and raisins kulcha

The service was prompt, with impressive water-filling rates that kept up with Fred’s exorbitant water intake speed. It’s a bit more pricey than more casual Indian restaurants, but you get a nice array of cocktails, tasty papad, good service, and I always make two additional meals out of the leftovers I bring home. I also liked their servingware, with asymmetric bowls that have little divots on the side; a nice touch.