By Jeanni Ritchie
I now know where I get my picky eating from! I convinced my mom to join me for Golden Lotus Indian Bar and Grill’s grand opening last month, certain that if she just tried it she would enjoy it as much as I did.
I’ve gone from Sam-I-Am’s friend to Sam-I-Am himself.
We did have to google to break down what some of the dishes were—and to get recommendations for the best Indian food for picky eaters. While butter sauce and tikka masala were suggested, we opted for the Special Lamb Chops with basmati rice and a plate of cheese naan. (This was better than letting her order the kids’ nuggets and fries like she wanted!)
The naan bread was good, but I’d definitely like to try the cheese truffle or chili naan next time. In all, there are 13 types of naan bread!
Beyond traditional Indian dishes, Golden Lotus also offers some hybrid Indian-Cajun options like Tandoori Cajun Shrimp and Bayou Cajun Curry, as well as Indo-Chinese favorites like Chicken Manchurian and Chili Gobhi.
The menu is extensive, with tandoori grill specialties, rice entrées, vegetarian options, and traditional entrées with egg, chicken, lamb, or goat. Seafood lovers will find dishes like Coastal Goan Curry and vindaloo with shrimp, salmon, or crawfish.
Golden Lotus also serves authentic biryanis and a variety of sides, from chutney and raita to mixed Indian pickles—and even mac and cheese for less adventurous eaters.
A few intriguing dishes I’ll need to come back and try with my foodie friend Anh: Honey Chili Potatoes, Lemon Rice, and the Golden Afghani Curry with shrimp.
But for now, we enjoyed what we ordered. The lamb chops were tender and flavorful, and the cheese naan was delicious. The rice is designed to pair with saucier dishes, so my suggestion would be to offer small sampler cups of sauces (butter, masala, curry, etc.) for those who don’t want to commit to a full entrée right away.
Call it the “newbie sampler.” Then next time, we’d know exactly what to order!
They also brought us a complimentary dessert sample—a chocolate-covered pistachio walnut treat that looked a little like a deconstructed Dubai bar. It was the perfect sweet ending to our meal.
Golden Lotus Indian Bar & Grill is located at 1473 Dorchester Dr. in Alexandria. They are open daily from 11 AM–2:30 PM and 4–9 PM, and can be reached at 318-835-8681.
