Today we took a drive out to Abbotsford to check out Tasty Indian Bistro’s new brunch. I was unaware that they had a location out here, let alone that it served breakfast. The locale was expected, with nothing else like it in the area, it is definitely something to drive out for.
The space was a party with pop music playing at the exterior. Within, the space is robust with dark wood green leathers, and golden blown glass orbs. It was chic and modern, a mismatch for the ”bistro” title and the more homey plates were we to have, but not the cocktails we started with.
Ironically their menus pictured what I thought they would look like as a bistro. A lovely image.
Their brunch drink offerings included cold pressed juices, but all of it bottled and not prepared in house to order. I could not pass up a Masala Chai in the morning, but could have used more ginger and spice for my tastes.
As for cocktails we started with the ever popular espresso martini. A classic of espresso and vodka.
The Farm Bird was an interesting one, served in a weighted chalice. Roasted okra seeds infused Captain Morgan Spice Rum and cinnamon. Its taste reminded me of a breakfast oatmeal with liquified cinnamon, raisin, date, and toasted granola.
A like a stiff drink and the TIB Penicillin is their boldest with smokey blended Scotch, Bulleit Bourbon, Honey, Ginger, and Citrus. I enjoyed it, but did realize it was a tad heavy for 11am.
As a table of four we worked our way through their brunch and Indian breakfast menu, starting with the The Aloo Puri (Plain). This was described as fluffy deep-fried bread (poori) served with a spicy and savoury potato curry (aloo), but here it came in a sweet powder sugar topped bun. Pretty unspectacular when compared to everything else, and would be best served as complimentary bread to start the meal with.
The Parsi Omlette Sando was a surprise. Not described as being spicy on the menu, it was a lot hotter than expected. Two egg omelette with chopped tomato, onions. coriander and a little cheese. This was soft egg and hard, dry bun. A freshly toasted buttermilk bread would have been nicer to pair with the soft fluffy omelette. This also wasn’t much to look at. As a full order I would have liked a side to flush this one out with a bit more. Maybe some potatoes or cauliflower for freshness and to offer a break.
The Devilled Egg was not on the menu. This was a classic take on this classic. Nothing outstanding, but tasty just the same.
The Fruit Salad was also not listed on the menu, and I have never seen one topped with sesame seeds like this. A mix of strawberry, watermelon, orange, and blueberries, topped with black and white sesame seeds. This was a simple way to offer a nice palate refresher in between plates.
The Hummus was another one not on the menu and neither directly brunch or Indian breakfast related, but it was one of my favourite dishes nonetheless, especially when paired with their naan. I also appreciated the additional toppings added for eating interest and visuals. I enjoyed the firmness of the edamame beans and the surprise of the tzatziki cream, but found the briny olives a tad aggressive.
I am pretty sure this is not a full order of the Avocado Masala Benny, but a taster. The menu lists it with a whole avocado, pressed waffle, poached egg, and a side of fresh fruits. Pretty simple, the egg is well prepared, but the waffle bland and the dish as a whole could have used a cohesive sauce to bring it all together and add some interest.
The Chicken And Waffle Compressed Watermelon was a more exciting waffle option. I would have liked the waffle batter better if it had its own personality and spices to compliment its savoury toppings. The chicken came dressed in a sweet sauce, much like the spicy maple syrup on the side, but made the waffle it sat on both soggy and rubbery. The chocolate syrup was an out of the box dip idea that worked. Ironically the compressed watermelon was the curve ball. Biting down I was shook by its salty and abrasive pickling. This had me questioning if all the other fruits to come would be pickled too. Despite its inconsistencies, I still found this one, one of the more memorable dishes.
Worth mentioning if that for something sweet, you can order the Classic Waffle served with burnt orange chocolate, spicy maple syrup, and fresh fruits.
Another surprisingly tasty menu item that I would order again is the Garden Veggie Burger. A healthy veggie patty made with fresh vegetable and spices, served on a toasted bun with their supercharged mayo. The menu has it listed with chilli fries, which would have made an excellent side. This was the best thing we had, the textures were well done with crispy patty meets creamy avocado, wrapped in a fluffy toasted brioche bun. The burger sauce also had an enjoyable back of the throat, latent burn.
The Naanwich Kebab was a fun one, like the Indian version of pigs in a blanket. Chicken and lamb minced kebab baked with Indian layered bread. Once again, the menu had it listed as being served with chilli fries, but we had it without. Each log was already rich in flavour, and didn’t need compounding with the dipping sauces.
Under the Indian Breakfast options was the Tawa Paranthas available in Aloo, Gobi, or Moli. This is Indian flatbread made from whole wheat flour, and stuffed with spiced fillings. Cooked with ghee and served with yogurt, pickle, and butter. Like savoury Indian crepe, I enjoyed this as is or with a dunk in the runny, sour cream-like raita. However, I found with pickles too salty and overwhelmed everything around it.
The Channa Bhatoora was a nice one, similar in eating to the above, but with fried indian flat bread and spicy potatoes. chhana masala, raita, and pickle. You deflate then rip and dip. The curry had a spicy grainy texture, with the riata and spiced onion offering freshness.
For for dessert we had the owner of Just Cakes Bakeshop in Surrey, BC, Raveena Oberoi customizing cakes on the spot for us. She brought home the the national title of the Food Network’s “The Big Bake Champions” from their feature in the series “The Big Bake”. Tasty’s traditional desserts are courtesy of her and her team, and we got a taste of that too. Choosing between a vanilla or chocolate cake topped with our choice of frosting, chocolate, and dried fruits.
Overall this was an interesting assortment for breakfast in a stunning space. Something different and more colourful for brunch.
Tasty Indian Bistro | Abbotsford
33338 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2B4
(604) 282-1992
tastybistro.ca
