by George and Cindy Habit ~ Independent Newspapers
Introducing... ROTI INDIAN BISTRO on Park Road in Burlingame. Located in trendy and popular downtown Burlingame, a new and delicious Indian restaurant has quietly come to town and quickly made a big name for itself.
At ROTI, you can expect innovative cooking from Zagat favorite, award-winning chef Mohamed Aslam, and an upscale, yet comfortable ambiance that sets it miles apart from many other Indian venues up and down the Peninsula. You enter the front door and think perhaps you are in San Francisco, but you're not ... you're right at home in Burlingame and this warm, modern setting is open daily for dinner and take out and private parties just for you and your friends. Hallelujah - a new place to dine out!
According to co-owners Sunny arid Rujni Arora, who have got to be two of the most personable and knowledgeable folks this side of Northern India, ROTI is about exexperiencing a joyous feast with family and friends, where authentic Indian cuisine is presented in celebration of the tastes and scents of traditional Indian culture.
Whether you are in search of exquisite Indian curries, Tandoori delicacies, freshly baked savory Indian breads, or rice dishes ... you'll find it all here-along with some great Indian beers, lassis, and a full wine list. The mood is set just right with the earth tones on the walls, wall sconces and other modern light fixtures, large Indian prints and photos on the wall and three-tiered dining on different floors.
Appetizers are plentiful and the vegetable pakoras or samosas are a sure-fire winner. The Roti Calamari, served "Bombay" style, is also a big hit. Tandoori delicacies include an assortment of lamb, chicken fish and prawns or a Tandoor Murgh, which is half chicken marinated with ginger, garlic spices and herbs. The Boti Kabab is also noteworthy as a boneless leg of lamb marinated with yogurt., garlic, peppercorns and cumin. Several delightful vegetarian curries appear on the menu, as well as at least nine curry dishes.
The menu also boasts four different rice plates, including boneless lamb slow cooked with basmati rice in a rich stock with herbs cumin and bay leaves And the Mixed Seafood Biryani is not to be missed When it, comes to bread... ROTI delivers the real deal... nine different home-made Indian breads will vie for your attention and selection on the menu. Last, but not least, make sure to save room for dessert and coffee or tea after your delectable meal and prepare to savor ROTI - or should we say, "The Good Life"?
It's a very popular place and we advise you to call ahead, but even if you pop your head in at the last minute, we're sure that Sunny and Rujni will do their best to accommodate you in their genteel and hospitable manner that is the heart and soul of this new and vibrant restaurant that should be the top of every diner's to-do" list.
