Pasadena Restaurant Guide

I had dinner here tonight and was surprised. My friend who works at the Pasadena Playhouse recommended it to me.
I went with my friend and we were greeted my this very nice young man. He seated us by the window, I like that there is still some restaurants that offer booth seating. There looked to be plenty of tables too for those who like tables only. Anyway, our waters were filled with ice cold water which had fresh oranges in it, very refreshing I thought. They also, light a candle. Which we both thought was very nice. They had this sitar fusion music playing with some sort of cool drum beat. I was right under the speaker, but still the music was just loud enough.
I saw they had a full bar and ordered a white russian. It is a creamy martini type. With vodka, cream, kalua and well I am no entirely sure. I am actually surprised the waiter knew what it was. A few minutes later he brought it out in a frosted martini glass, very classy, and it was delicious. My friend ordered one too and we actually had two rounds. One with dinner.
For dinner we ordered the coconut chicken curry, eggplant, and the tandori quail. We also got the brown onion rice and some really good sweet nan. It had a name like pashwri nan or something, it was good though, a bit sweet for my taste. Anyway the chicken was off the hook. So creamy and soft, the eggplant was really well spiced it had this smoked taste I loved and the quail let me tell you. It took a little longer to come out but I was worth it. It came on this grill, with rice and steamed veggies. I never knew much about it, but I like quail now.
We had a good time, the restrooms were clean and I actually like that they are all the way in the back of the restaurant. As I walked to the restroom I walked by the open door kitchen. There were like three guys in there. Everyone looked busy, they all had uniforms and the kitchen looked pretty clean.
It was about 3/4 full when we went, maybe a little less. However, the service was great. Their manager, this young guy, was very nice and helpful with the ordering. I probably gave it the fifth star because of him. All the waiters seemed to be doing their jobs and he was really calm and cool. Went to all the tables, at least on our side, and asked how things were, that was a good sign for me at least.
I liked the ambience, service was good, great food, and convenient, right on Colorado. I live at Treo, so I just walk across.
I am going to try their brunch on Sunday. I herd it is also good.
Highly recommended, for a nice relaxing evening and good food.

I normally don't write negative reviews but I was highly disappointed with this restaurant. While the food was average in taste, it was disappointingly stingy in quantity and value. I paid $12 for about a dozen small chunks of chicken tikka marsala, on a large bed of raw onion which was obviously trying to compensate for the amount of chicken. But what really compelled me to write this review was that the manager tried to trick me into purchasing a $9 plate of "brown rice with saffron" when all I wanted was a side of rice. After I ordered my entrees, the manager asked if we would like any rice of bread to go with our meal. We said no, but he suggested that they had brown rice flavored with saffron. My friend and I thought this would be a small side of rice, not a whole entree. When I brought this to the manager's attention he actually rolled his eyes at me and grudgingly gave us a side of rice. Then he argued with me, telling me he had told me it was brown rice "cooked with vegetables." Not true.

Any restaurant where a manager tries to trick you into buying food you don't want, then rolls his eyes at you and argues, is a restaurant I will never visit again.