After the Round – Roti Grill

Indian food is one of the culinary world’s conundrums. Some love it. Some are indifferent. Personally, I have very little experience with Indian food over the years, as it doesn’t usually come up when the wife and I are deciding on what we might have … well, that and there aren’t really many Indian joints near where we live. In Dallas, there is an Indian spot that might just be perfect for your next lunch or date night. Right in between the Oak Lawn and Highland Park areas, sits Roti Grill, the newest expansion of this chain (there are also locations in Frisco and near Victory Park), and the casual, order-up-front spin on this cuisine makes Roti affordable and simple. 

The dining area is comfortable, with plenty of tables or booths that can accommodate those dining solo or with a group, and the décor is exactly what you would expect for an Indian restaurant. As mentioned, this is a walk-up-and-order concept, where you select your options at the counter before finding your seat. There is a full bar, and a new cocktail program is up and running. In fact, there was a small group next to me, and they were serving as guinea pigs as the server was working on mixing up some fresh new cocktail ideas. I chose your standard iced tea, and also sampled their Mango Lassi, which is a smooth, creamy concoction of fresh mango, yogurt and some cream that is perfect for any time of year. Fountain drinks and Chai spiced black tea are also available. 

The menu at Roti offers up all the Indian staples without a lot of nonsense. As you can imagine, many dishes are traditionally spiced, offering the familiar aroma of curry, coriander, cumin and cardamom and turmeric. To begin my experience, I chose the chicken samosas, which come two to an order and are filled with spiced ground chicken and served with a green mint-cilantro sauce and a sweeter brown dipping sauce. The exterior of the samosas are crispy and flaky, offering a wonderful mouth feel as you dip each delectable bite. They are a perfect sharable to begin your meal. Veggie samosas are also available, filled with potato and peas, or try the combo that comes serves with one veggie and one chicken. 

If you are wanting something to warm you up on a chilly winter day, give the lentil soup a shot. Or for those looking for a quicky lunch that won’t bog you down, go for the chicken tikka salad or the paneer salad. Both are a great option for something lighter. 

For the main course, the Two Step is a great choice. There is the regular portion, which is suitable for one (or two, if you have an appetizer and don’t want to fill up) or the Texas portion, which easily feeds a pair or more. Both are served with basmati rice and naan bread. With this menu selection, you choose your options of protein, paneer (cheese) or mixed veggies and then complement it with your choice of seven flavor- and spice-packed sauces. I chose a pair of dishes, the lamb with the traditional curry, and the chicken masala. The lamb meat was tender and fall-apart delectable. The curry sauce was spicy without blowing out your eyeballs, although there are five heat levels ranging from medium to Phaal, which is their mega-spicy version and only for those with top-of-the-food-chain spice tolerance. The chicken masala was my personal favorite, with tender chicken swimming in a creamy tomato sauce that is far more palatable for those who don’t care for the huge, bold flavors of the curry. Both were very solid. But if you are in the mood for something a bit tamer, the masala has max flavor without the robust flavor profiles. 

For my next course, I opted for the chicken tikka, which, as the Two-Step options, comes with basmati rice, naan bread and some masala sauce on the side. This was, undoubtedly, my favorite dish of the evening, with marinated chicken served on a sizzling cast iron platter alongside some onions and bell peppers. Think of this as a kind of Indian fajita plate. The chicken, despite being served on the sizzling platter, remained juicy and flavorful, and the onions and peppers were a perfect complement. I chose to wrap some of the chicken with some peppers and onions in some of the naan and drizzle a bit of the masala over the top for a perfect bite. 

Speaking of the naan bread, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how spectacular it is. Not quite as thin as a tortilla, but not quite as thick as a pita, this naan is worth the price of admission if you didn’t order anything else. It is the perfect vehicle to dip or fill with any of the proteins Roti serves. They also serve an aloo naan, which is filled with peas and potatoes, and a garlic naan, which I can only imagine takes their regular naan to another planet. 

Roti also features plenty of other options, but since I was flying solo for this meal, I ran out of room to try anything else. The table next to me did order some egg biryani, which also piqued my interest, and might be in the rotation should I return in the near future. There are also lamb and chicken biryani, as well, if you are looking for a more protein-packed version. 

For those who don’t fancy meat, Roti offers a whole vegetarian menu section, with options like chana masala, which is chickpea based, as well as a daal tadka, which features yellow lentils. There are plenty of options for those vegetarians you might dine with, so remember Roti the next time you are looking for a menu that has plenty of tasty choices. 

Top to bottom, the menu at Roti is very flavorful and fresh. Indian cuisine might not be for everyone, but I can almost guarantee you will find something you love on this menu. Whether you are a spice head who loves heat and pronounced flavors, or you prefer something a bit more subtle, Roti has a choice for you. With two locations in Dallas and one in Frisco, fast, fresh Indian food isn’t far away.