Despite the weather, there was a pleasant buzz in the venue with several families and couples enjoying their food. I arrived covered in snow and was cheerfully welcomed by a pleasant server. I was immediately impressed by the stylish and warm décor of Chakra. Contemporary hardwood and bistro tables are complimented by funky red lanterns and amber candles, which contribute to the restaurant's saffron glow. The real star of Chakra's décor, however, is the unbelievable art on the walls. Contemporary and India-inspired, the impressive collection by Gregory Burns gives Chakra a polished, gallery-like appeal that entices the eyes and the soul.

My visual appetites thoroughly sated, I turned to the menu to deal with my increasing hunger. For appetizers, we started with vegetable pakoras, Tandoori jeera chicken and pomegranate prawns grilled in a banana leaf. The appetizers were not only all delicious and perfectly spiced but beautifully presented on sleek white bistro plates that set off the visual appeal of the food. The chicken was particularly impressive in that it was a breast portion of the bird which can often be dry. On the contrary, these tikkas where succulent and moist, especially when garnished with the lemon and coriander chutney which accompanied them.

For our mains, we chose the Japanese eggplant curry, the classic lamb curry, the cilantro mint chicken curry, and Tandoori Jingha (prawns) with Cilantro butter. To accompany our curries, we ordered naan and the classic basmati rice pilau. The mains took a bit of time to arrive, but when they did were more than worth the wait: The eggplant curry was divine - delicately grilled slices of purple eggplant juxtaposed with a savoury yogurt based gravy. I loved the use of black mustard seeds in this dish; their nutty flavour is a big favourite in my family and adds a Southern tang to any dish.

The chef had been careful to address our request for reduced oil in the food, and both the lamb and the cilantro chicken were flavourful and fresh without being greasy. The cilantro chicken on the menu was a refreshing change from the tomato-based chicken curry that we often see on most Indian menus. The rice and naan were perfectly done and served hot and steaming. While we were enjoying our meal, the restaurant's staff was attentive and considerate, addressing our every need in a pleasant and non-obtrusive manner.

Though we were very full and sated by our delicious dinner at Chakra, we couldn't resist dessert - especially when we learned that it was all made in house. We ordered an assortment for the table - gulab jamun, ras malai and the mango mousse cake. Once again, the desserts were right on and elegantly presented. My favourite of the three was the cake - layers of delicate, tangy mango mousse paired with an airy vanilla cake - delicious! The spectacular finale to our meal was perfectly prepared masala chai (it could have been made in my own kitchen - that's how authentic it was) that warmed us up sufficiently to head back into the wintry outside.

Dinner at Chakra was a fantastic culinary experience, augmented by impeccable service and stylish, gallery-like ambience. I highly recommend it and can't wait to return there myself.

Chakra:
2497 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario M4P 2H6

Tel: 416.487.7188
Fax: 416.487.7236

Email: info@chakra.to
Web: www.chakra.to