Rated: Good
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Rated: Excellent
Feb 18, 2007
authentic Italian in unpretentious surroundings
OK, so this joint is not going to win a prize for atmosphere anytime soon. But please, don't let the spartan decorations and the fact that the daily meanu is written on a chalk board on the wall fool you... this place is the real deal.
Herbs and Spice is tucked away on a ittly bitty, half torn up side street near 100 ft. road. The good news is that parking is not much of a problem here as it can be in other areas of Indiranagar. When you walk in, you'll notice a few plain tables and chairs. Don't wait for the staff to bring you a menu... it's on the wall!
Here you will find authentic italian food, served in it's most unpretentious form. As an italian (yes, my family is from Italy) I really appreciate this place. Simple pastas, pizza, salads and meat dishes make up the majority of the menu. There is always a good mix of veg and non-veg.
I suggest you start with a green salad. They have a wonderful choice with mixed greens, pears, walnuts and parmesan cheese which is tossed with a zesty lemony dressing. There is also a lovely arugula salad with figs and fresh mozzerella. Either choice is amazing... fresh and crunchy with complex tastes. Big enough to share if you're not a hufe eater, and certainly large enough for a lunch when paired with the complementary bread basket they offer.
Entrees usually offer 4-5 pastas, a risotto (a creamy rice dish that is a staple in Italy), one beef option, one chicken option, sometimes a pork option, quiche (not really Italian, but who's complaining?) and a couple pizzas. Most of the pasta options are veg, and offer a wide variety of tastes. For example, last night they had a lasagna with asparagus, a pasta primavera, ravioli with basil and fresh mozzerella, and at least 3 other choices I cannot remember. You won't be disappointed in the choices.
I have tried nearly everything on the menu. Last night my husband and I split a salad and then a pizza, which contained potatoes, rosemary and arugula, which is a bitter lettuce. This type of pizza is common in northern italy, and contains no red sauce. It's not your typical pizza, but it is delicious. They got the tastes just right.. the thin crust, the aromatic rosemary. They just need to add a bit more salt to the pizza dough. On other visits I have had numerous kinds of pastas, which were all very good. I will say that the dishes that I have had which contained chicken left me a tad disappointed. I think they could do a bterr job seasoning the meat and not over-cooking it. But the beef I have had there was exceptional, and my husband has enjoyed all the veg options, especially the penne arabiata (penne with spicy tomato sauce).
I will tell you that if you're looking for indianized italian, this is not the place for you. They play by italian rules, which means the pasta is cooked "al dente" (which means that it's still a bit undercooked, as is the custom in Italy). The sauces are aromatic and flavorful, but might lack the punch that many Indian palates are used to. My suggestion is to give it a try. Just please do not ask for ketchup when you order a pizza.
Oh, and dessert! Wander over to the dessert case and pay attention to the 7-8 choices on display. My favorite is the walnut merengue. Sadly I have not been able to pull myself away from it to try anything else. But you should!