Jim & Jamie’s Adventures In Napa

Can’t tell you how excited we are by the new restaurant in town: Neela’s.  Showcasing her famous brand of Indian cuisine, the chef offers a spectrum of traditional, home-style Indian dishes prepared in a light, contemporary style – from tandoor-cooked chicken, house-made chutneys, and fresh-baked flat breads—chapatis, parthas and naan.   We were fortunate enough to be invited into her restaurant for a hospitality event and enjoyed so many great dishes: endive beet cups with a cumin-mint salad (fresh and yummy!), shrimp samosas with crunchy exteriors and lovely interiors, tilapia with a coconut curry (wow!) with perfectly cooked rice, as well as the boneless lamb with yogurt and garam masala.  The usuals were there: Palak Paneer (a favorite of mine), a pureed spinach with paneer cheese cubes, as well as Gobi Sabzi, a cauliflower and tomato dish (delightful).  Every dish was served tapas style, with rice, naan bread, raita, and chutneys to help balance the flavors.  That is the joy of Indian cuisine- you enjoy the heat of the curry and you cool it down with the rice, or the flavorful spice of the lamb balances perfectly with the raita.  And don’t forget dessert: I absolutely fell in love with the carrot pudding!  Although the decor is contemporary casual, don’t let that fool you into thinking that you are in for a “casual” or “usual” Indian meal- this is more upscale in terms of flavor, presentation, and style.  Dishes run from $6 to $20, depending on what you order.  Go with others so that you are afforded the opportunity to try more dishes.