Amber India is, arguably, the best Indian restaurant on the Peninsula. While others may be fine for a quick lunch or appetizers brought in for the company meeting, Amber is the only place to go for any occasion that even remotely qualifies as "special."

Tucked into a strip mall just off of El Camino Real, Amber India is easy to miss on the first pass--but you don't want to miss the decor, service or delectable food at this charming Mountain View establishment.

The ambiance and decor of the restaurant whisper opulence. It's the polished-up version of India: five-star hotels that cater to Western businesspeople, impeccable bountiful service, rich cloth, fine metals and saffron-inspired china settings that look as if they were dreamed up by English colonists. This is a place that makes you want to dress up but, oddly enough, when you do, you feel out of place among all the jeans-and-a-sports-shirt clad computer programmers and dot.com executives.

I prefer the large main dining room, which is kept comfortably dark, with copper ceiling lamps and wall hangings. Although large, the restaurant maintains an intimate feeling in the main dining room with the use of spacing and and arched half-wall running along the back of the room. The smaller bar area is more brightly lit and open. Although the ambiance in general is on the romantic side, this is also a great place to go with a small group of friends.

Service in this restaurant is superb. My husband and I have encountered perhaps one less-than-par experience in the year since we began frequenting this establishment. On average, four waiters are on hand during the course of the meal--from an initial greeter, a sommeliere, waiter and clearing/serving staff. Servers generally prepare a plate for you at the table when your meal arrives, leaving you to add more or share among other members of your party.

As the title of this review implies, the best thing we've tried on the menu is the butter chicken. A twist on Chicken Tikka Masala (which is also very good), this tomato-based sauce yields a smooth, buttery taste that makes you just want to smother everything on your plate with the sauce. The restaurant also does lamb, tikka grills and vegetarian dishes well. The vegetable samosas with sauce are, literally, the best I have had anywhere in the U.S., coming two to an order in crisp triangular-shaped bundles. The wine list is fairly good, although the mark-up on wines sometimes reaches the gasp level. Most entrees run on the low side of $10-$15 with extra charge for saffron rice and naan.

The restaurant also does a buffet lunch during the workweek. I regret that at this time, I have yet to go.

Although Amber India takes reservations, the availability of a table is hit or miss during the week. On weekend evenings, you'll be waiting twenty minutes or more for a table even at half past nine o'clock. Unless you are in a huge hurry, it is definitely worth the wait!




Recommended: Yes