Tiffin Has Something for Everyone

I used to think Indian food was one of those love it-or-hate it cuisines until very recently. My orders typically consist of protein and vegetable dishes with wonderfully rich sauces, spices and flavor combinations that showcase the diversity of Indian cuisine, but I realized that Indian food can also be plain and mild.

Armed with this newfound realization, I took an Indian food newbie to Tiffin in Bryn Mawr for her first Indian food experience. I was positive I would be able to provide her with a great meal regardless of whatever dining hang-ups she may have had. Fortunately for me, she was game for anything.

We started off with aloo papri chaat and vegetable samosas. The crisp flour dumplings filled with potatoes and peas were a big hit. What's not to like about fried dough with tender chunks of cooked potato and sweet peas? I encouraged her to dip the samosa into the various chutneys and see which one she liked. We agreed that the sweet purple (tamarind) chutney was our favorite.

The aloo papri chaat is a plate of chickpeas, lentil wafers, yogurt, sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney and cooked potato. The lentil wafers are simple, wonderfully crisp crackers with a very mild flavor. The yogurt adds a bit of creaminess, and the chutneys add some cool mint and a hint of sweetness. The dish is served completely cool.

For our entrees, we had the aloo gobhi, the chicken tikka masala, steamed basmati rice and a side of onion naan. The aloo gobhi features cauliflower florets and big chunks of potato in a tomato sauce with a hint of spices (coriander, cumin, maybe some fennel seed). Consider it a more jazzed up tomato sauce that hits a few more savory notes and spicy accents than the more familiar Italian tomato sauce.

Chicken tikka masala has huge chunks of white breast meat chicken in a sinfully rich tomato sauce. While a simple tomato and basil sauce can be heart healthy, this sauce is most certainly loaded with butter/ghee and/or heavy cream. I don't know anyone who is not a fan of chicken tikka masala. The chicken is fantastic, and the sauce is good enough on its own. I personally like to layer it on top of my rice for an extra delicious bite.

Basmati rice is the longer, thinner cousin of the Carolina and sushi rice that most Americans are more familiar with. Basmati rice has a nice aroma to it and a slightly nutty taste. Some Indian restaurants will cook it with saffron for a lovely golden color, but many do not as saffron is very expensive. The basmati rice at Tiffin had a sprinkling of steamed peas, which provided a nice burst of green.

The onion naan wasn't a risk as my friend assured me that she loved onions. The version at Tiffin had small bits of red onion and some coriander baked into it, which added some sweetness and an herbal note. If you're feeling less adventurous, stick with the plain naan. It's just freshly baked bread that looks like a cross between a peasant loaf and pita. Any kind of freshly baked bread is a treat, and the naan here is no different.

The service is friendly and attentive. Our questions were answered in a timely manner, our food was brought out quickly and our water glasses were constantly filled. Dirty plates were cleared immediately, and our leftovers were wrapped promptly. We did not have to wait long for our check. It was probably the best service of any Tiffin I have been to (I have been to four of the six).

The decor is marked by earth tones, with orange walls, wooden furnishings and plenty of photography. There are numerous color photos of scenes from India which I felt added to the ambiance of the dining area. In addition, there are white cloth napkins which lend an air of elegance to your meal. You can see directly into the kitchen, which always puts my mind at ease. There are huge windows that allow in plenty of daylight and allow for great people watching if you're dining alone.

Tiffin is a high quality Indian food chain. Despite there being numerous other locations, the food is consistently good, the service is great, and I know exactly what to expect. My friend came out of Tiffin with a newfound appreciation for Indian food. In my experience, most people just need to be eased into new cuisines and will eventually come to enjoy all different kinds of food.