Pijja Palace
Orange Cream – orange, vanilla, mace
Dosa Onion Rings – Lentil Batter, Mango Chutney
Aloo Tiki Hash Sliders – Cheese, Loccha Onion Salad, Hot Spread
Chili Garlic Toast – Garlic Chili Herb Butter, Pepper Jack
Jaggery Tamarind BBQ Wings – House Pickles, Curry Ranch, Yogurt Stilton
Nihari Lamb and Shells – Lamb Shoulder, Fennel, Sumac Yogurt
Kesar Rickshaws – Saffron, Parmesan, Indian Long Pepper
Malai Rigatoni – Tomato Masala, Cream, Coriander
Samosa Pijja – White Korma Sauce, Samosa-Spiced Potatoes, Tandoori Onions, Imli Chutney, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Peas, Mint Chutney
Cookies and Cardamom Soft Serve
Opened early 2022 as part of a Comfort Inn in Silver Lake Pijja Palace is most certainly an “Indian Sports Bar,” but instead of Cricket on a single TV and the same Butter Chicken as everyone else the Food from Miles Shorey and owner Avish Naran taps into “fusion” of the best sort.
Still one of Los Angeles’ toughest reservations, though the addition of Weekend Lunch has helped walk-ins nab a table if they arrive early, it is seated on stools or banquettes that guests peruse a concise menu of Pizzas, Bar Favorites and Pastas plus creative drinks both virgin and alcoholic.
The brainchild of Naran, an LA native who studied restaurant management at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, Pijja Palace places fans at the center of a dozen or more Televisions and within minutes nearly every table is enjoying Jaggery Tamarind BBQ Wings served with housemade Pickles or cracking slices of Onion fried in Dosa Batter.
Served piping hot and aggressively seasoned, both Aloo Tiki Hash Sliders and Chili Garlic Toast not for the timid, service is “cool” but proficient whether filling water or describing why one would might want the hearty Samosa Pijja instead of Chef Shorey’s more famous Green Chutney version.
Not forgetting ample portions of Pasta, Malai Rigatoni with smoky Tomato Masala arguably over-Sauced but nonetheless delicious, Kesar Rickshaws eat a lot like Mac n’ Cheese with more depth while Nihari Lamb and Shells finds balance in Sumac Yogurt.
Following an embrace of Soft Serve seen from Leopardo to Dana Point’s Truly Pizza, but hear leaning in on the concept with a Rose Water flavor adjacent “Cookies and Cream,” suffice it to say Cardamom makes a big difference in elevating the Ice Cream to something memorable rather than perfunctory.
www.pijjapalace.com