New BOLLYWOOD GRILL Establishes Hollywood’s “Walk of Flame”

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Bollywood Grill describes itself as “The Art of Indian Food” and it does more than that.  It does it in a colorful, inviting earth-done decor with soaring ceilings, and top-notch food that works for a menu that includes refined, hearty entree dishes plus a lunch buffet.  And it does it with a smile: it seems no coincidence that the owner-partners, at least one of which is on site, are named Happy and Sunny.  (//www.bollywoodgrill.biz)

There are so many smart things at Bollywood Grill in Hollywood that make it both a fine dining and a fun casual place at the same time.  One is that the third partner is Chef Santhok Singh, who was trained in the most elite school in northern India.  And he directed the kitchen at the luxurious, white-tablecloth Gaylord’s in Beverly Hills at the height of its popularity, and he created the menu for Tantra in Silverlake.

Chef Singh knows how to source the best ingredients and has perfected appealing dishes in multiple categories that include both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Appetizers that include separate selections of Soups and Salads.   Tandoori Entrees fill an entire menu page, which includes selections of Sea Food, Chicken, Lamb and Paneer.  For those who cannot choose, there are special Combination Dinners for Two.  And the list of Non-Vegetarian Entrees also fills an entire page.

We would return over and over just for our favorite Seafood Entree dishes, Salmon Fish Curry and Goan Shrimp Curry.  They are prepared with a variety of Indian spices, curry leaves and coconut milk.  One secret that is not so secret is that the partners also import foods and so the chef has the finest ingredients to work with here.

I would return again and again for the fish and seafood curries – a surprise since they are southern Indian favorites and the chef is Punjabi. The golden  Salmon Fish Curry  with a frissé topping inspires me to hear my favorite Food Network chef, Punjabi Maneet Chauhan, exclaiming, “delicious.”  The salmon is a tiny bit crusty on top and bottom, and meltingly flaky to the fork.  The sauce is rich and yet light, and quite a feat to get exactly the right balance in the curry.

Goan Shrimp Curry is a spicy, sour curry that comes from Goa and is also called Ambot Tik. The sticky rice in the center is much more refined than the glutinous version (we love so much!) so this was a surprise.  It does fit better with the light dish, though, and there was nothing left on the place above or below to prove it!  These dishes also work so well in any kind of weather all year round.

Bollywood Grill, 6756 Hollywood Blvd, Holly, CA 90028 (the first block east of Highland), (323) 871.4112. (//www.bollywoodgrill.biz