Date Night at Madras Dosa House
Posted on 03/06/2011
Address: 5656 Fraser St. Vancouver
I told my fiance' awhile back about dosas. She has kept reminding me I have to take her soon and so the moment has now arrived when I get to take my honey for a most exotic treat! I decided to take her to my favorite dosa house which was the standout in my Battle of the Dosas blog I made last summer.
I seem to enjoy the overall ambience/food/service better at Madras than at House of Dosas. For one thing, I like supporting small, family-run shops that turn out decent dishes. Madras House to me has that sort of appeal. My first blog of Madras Dosa House.
The menu is interesting at Madras because it lists 3 sections of dosas, with plain, masala & onion dosas as mere foreplay to the main act of house special veg and meat dosas.
Under the "Dosas" section, the dosas range from just a Plain Dosa $4.45 to Onion Rava Masala Dosa $8.25. While dosa purists may appreciate the taste of the dosa crepe' with simple filling, it should be known that there are a whole range of 'deluxe' dosas from Cheese Masala Dosa $8.25 ("Madras Dosa House Special Veg"), to Lamb Vindaloo Dosa $9.25 ("Madras Dosa House Special Non-Veg").
Chicken 65 $7.25. Tender boneless chicken marinated in special spices & deep fried.
Like so many others before me, I too asked about the meaning of the name "Chicken 65". To which the waitress, capable daughter of the chef/owner, replied "nobody knows". That was good enough answer for me as I nibbled on this appetizer dish. I find this dish to be a nice appetizer, but not something that qualifies as a "must have" next time I come here for dosas.
Masala Dosa $5.95. Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with potatos & onions.
Onion Dosa $5.25. Thin rice & lentil crepe topped with onions.
I did have the Masala Dosa on my first time here, but I made a mistake and ordered from the "Dosa" section of the menu-again, tunnel vision focusing again on the frickin' spiced potato dosa. For those who like their dosa & filling on the dry side I recommend the Masala Dosa. Next time though I will get a big, fat curry dosa, most likely the Lamb Vindaloo Dosa. Ati likes onions, so we ordered her Onion Dosa. Now I must say, for first-timers, a plainer dosa works in the sense that one can really experience the crepe itself, uncluttered with other tastes. The crepe of dosa is slightly sourish, bearing the taste of fermented lentils.
Dosa is basically a giant crepe with the stuffing centered in the middle of the wrap. Here is a side view of masala dosa.
