By Lori Bosworth
The Kama Sutra is a two-thousand-year-old Sanskrit document outlining how to appreciate pleasure of the senses. Kamasutra Fine Indian Restaurant is clearly devoted to the love of food and aesthetic enjoyment of life. As a member of Buytopia’s inner circle, I was asked to review Buytopia’s $25 for $50 worth of authentic Indian cuisine and drinks at Kamasutra Restaurant. Hot, spicy foods in this humid weather, you ask? Yes, hot foods make you sweat, which cools your body down. You can purchase the Buytopia $25 Kamasutra deal here .
We walked into this airy, gorgeous room that features dark oak floors, exposed brick and an elegant mahogany bar and were seated at a table beside the front window, a few steps above the main floor. Don’t expect to hear South Asian ragas; we heard Brazilian bossa novas and Frank Sinatra crooning in the background.
We were immediately welcomed by our efficient server and brought a complimentary dish of Naan. Kamasutra’s Naan is baked with garlic, spices and parsley. We took a bite of this delicious bread and saved some for later to have with our main dishes.
I love pakoras and was pleasantly surprised to discover Kamasutra offers several versions of the popular South Asian appetizer including Coconut Calamari Pakoras ($9.95). These Calamari rings with mustard seed and curry leaves are deep fried in a coconut breaded crust and were decadently delicious. The mildly sweet coconut flavour wonderfully complemented the calamari and the end product was not greasy at all. They tasted great dipped in the mild tamarind sauce served on the side and is a not-to-miss dish I would definitely recommend if you are visiting Kamasutra Restaurant.
My dining partner ordered Bombay Bakra ($15.95), which was a diced lamb dish in a fricasée of onions, ginger, green pepper, tomatoes and green chillies. The lamb pieces were tender and the curried ingredients blended simultaneously to offer a superb blanket of flavours.
I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, which was loaded with chicken pieces, onions, green peppers and spices. The hot tomato-garlic-ginger-based Masala sauce is quite hot and spicy, but to my liking: perfect for dipping the Naan bread received earlier.
We also ordered a side order of Popadoms ($1.95), a baked then fried wafer made from chickpea flour, cumin, garlic and other spices. I had never tried this dish, but immediately liked them for their light texture, as well as a bit of a kick from the spices.
The serving portions are deceptively large and in fact, we couldn’t finish the main dishes and took the remainder home for leftovers the next day.
The food perfectly complemented this hot, Toronto summer evening. Kamasutra has quickly become one of my favourite Toronto Indian restaurants.
Kamasutra Fine Indian Restaurant and Wine Bar, 1522 Bayview Avenue (at Millwood Road), 416-489-4899
