Stationed near the corner of Main Street and Cross County Road in Verona, Grand Haveli states that it serves Indian food in a clean and modern space.
That point is technically true, but the space is very spartan and consequently not warm or inviting. But I guess that doesn’t matter, because it seems most people order from the restaurant instead of dining in, as far as I have observed.
The main sections of the menu are divided into various curries, with uniform pricing for the items in their respective sections: chicken ($12.95 lunch, $16.95 dinner), beef ($13.95, $17.95), lamb ($13.95, $17.95) and vegetable ($11.95, $15.95). I felt the lunch portions were small, so you may need to tack on an appetizer.
The beef bartha was excellent for its tasty mixture of mashed eggplant, onions, tomatoes, garlic and spices, plus tender beef on top. I also enjoyed the creamy texture and smoky flavor. Next time, I may try the beef saag, which is cooked with spinach, mustard and exotic spices.
On the other hand, the fish madras was okay. The curry was weak in flavor despite its use of ginger and tamarind sauce, plus there was very little fish in it. Other seafood dishes include the fish mango and shrimp masala.
The chicken kebab was not what I was expecting. It was a plate of huge, tender chunks of chicken breast with some tandoori flavor, sitting on a ton of sautéed, sliced onions in a pool of oil. The chicken was fine, but nothing about this dish was exciting.
Of note, the rice is terrible here. I had it with two of my dishes, and it wasn’t soft or fluffy at all. For that reason, I avoided ordering any of the biryani dishes on the menu.
I didn’t try any of the naan, but there are many varieties on the menu. Among the appetizers, the lamb samosas ($9.95 for two) were a good choice for their excellent shell and strong lamb flavor.
Grand Haveli is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
