Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine

She said:

Going out to eat in the post-COVID pandemic era can be a bit tricky. So many restaurants, diners, bistros, etc. have closed because people were staying home. For those restaurants that have not permanently shuttered their businesses, it’s sometimes obvious that they’ve cut corners in order to stay open. Hours of operation have sometimes been shortened, with some places opening for dinner only, opting to eliminate lunch altogether. Some have modified their menus. Many are short-staffed because people no longer want to work in the food service industry. They’re holding out for better pay and benefits.

What we found at Aroma was a friendly, chatty owner who personally waited on all the tables. He pulled my chair out so I could be seated. The old-world charm was enchanting. He told us that he’d eliminated the buffet because too much food was being wasted due to the lack of patronage. It was just no longer cost effective.

Anyway, I was struck by the elegance of the gold brocade curtains draped across mirrors in beautiful wood-carved frames, the lovely crystal chandeliers, the beautiful dark tables and chairs, and the wall paintings—all juxtaposed against the burgundy-painted concrete floors and open, industrial ceiling with its exposed black ducts and vents. It was an eclectic mix that somehow worked.

Despite the comfortable ambiance, our meal wasn’t what I’d deem extraordinary. It was average, although I really loved the creamy, buttery, nutty sauce that the lamb dish had been prepared in. The naan we ordered was especially sweet because it contained honey and shredded coconut in addition to raisins. It was good.

He said:

As we entered the Aroma restaurant, the owner himself greeted us and took us to our table. We scanned a QR code to summon the menus on our phones. Under the right circumstances, I could appreciate this convenience, but most of the time I would rather peruse a regular menu in hand. I mean, Kathy and I have been trying to train ourselves to put our phones down while we dine together. Plus, I was still scrolling through a long list of options when the owner returned (twice) to see if we had decided on our order. He was friendly, though, and started to “interview” us about our tastes so he could make some suggestions. He steered us toward the Chicken Coconut Kurma. I asked if he had that in lamb instead of chicken and he said he could do that. I didn’t see it on the menu, so I was thrilled that he would adapt to our tastes. We also ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. I might have braved something new (to me) if I had been able to peruse the menu longer.

When it came to ordering bread, Kathy asked if he had a naan with raisins and nuts. He recognized her description of Peshwari Naan, and even though it also wasn’t on the menu, he agreed to make it. However, he did seem a little surprised that we didn’t also want another type of naan. Apparently, the idea of us eating our meal with a dessert naan bewildered him.

As Kathy mentioned, Aroma has discontinued its lunch buffet. The owner attributed its demise to the rise of the work-from-home culture. Apparently, office workers go out for lunch more often than home-based employees. In that respect, I guess I am somewhat of an anomaly. Or maybe I just don’t like my own cooking. Nah, that can’t be it. I just like a change of scenery in the middle of my work day.

When our food arrived, we noticed that the Lamb Coconut Kurma and the Chicken Tikka Masala both had the same bright orange color. They were visually distinguishable only from the chunks of meat within them. They didn’t taste similar, but the sameness of color unsettled me slightly for reasons I can’t even articulate. Fortunately, both dishes packed plenty of flavor, so I could quickly put my unease to rest. The chicken was a bit tough, but abundant. On the other hand, the lamb was delightfully tender, although more sparse than I would have liked. The Peshwari Naan was sweet and enjoyable, though it had been cooked a bit too long. The portions seemed just right, as we finished everything and felt satisfied.

Conclusion:

Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine is a charming little restaurant, made so in no small part to its amiable host/owner. His careful touch was evident throughout our experience. We especially loved his willingness to customize his menu for our tastes.