Overview
Said to be frequented by former President Clinton in his glory years, Bombay Club (BC) serves exquisite Indian fare to all of its patrons on Connecticut Ave, NW. Lesser known than its crosstown rival, Bombay Palace, Bombay Club still manages to combine excellent food with impeccable service to satisfy even the most critical of Indian food connoisseurs… but not without a price.

Parking
Being car-less, my guest and I actually took a cab to the restaurant but BC does offer a valet parking service and there is also readily available street parking. We went on a weeknight (Valentine’s Day) so the street looked rather empty. I don’t anticipate parking to be an issue as downtown DC seems to empty out at night.

Dress Attire
Guys – Jacket and Tie
Gals – Traditional Indian garb (sal-wakameez or sari) or a nice dress

Ambience and Décor
With a little lounge/waiting room in the front of the restaurant, one often finds the Capitol Hill crowd in their power suits kickin’ back, smoking a cigar, and drinking a scotch. They hold their quiet to medium level conversation about the events of the day or maybe the score of the game last night. The dining room elegant and dim is decorated with paintings from the Hindu and Indian culture. Tall brown pillars extend from the ceiling and line the center of the large dining room. At the base of the pillars are little kiosks for the waiters to gather amenities like extra silverware, ice water, etc. The room has a very traditional aura – the tables and large chairs are a deep cherry oak, the carpet is a deep maroon – one feels like they are sitting in the presence of royalty. Tables ranges in size from large banquet tables to small round tables for romantic couples. The tables are spaced just perfectly apart so that each of the clientele can engage in private quiet conversation just above the tranquil classical music playing in the background. The settings and silverware are immaculate and perfectly placed.

Service
I cannot speak highly enough about the level of service that BC offers to its clientele. The hostess is polite, courteous, and prompt (she greeted us immediately when we entered the establishment) and directed us to the coat check. The servers are kind, alert, attentive, and competent. They whisk away every crumb remnant after each course with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. The water glasses are never more than half empty. The waiters were very competent about the menu and even though we were there on a night that the menu was fixed (Valentine’s Day) – they still explained many of the a la carte options we had. We opted for the fixed menu and the 3 courses each came in a very timely manner (The wait for the main course was a teeny bit long – but the food made it very well worth it). The also provided steamed hand towels after the meal to clean the hands and face.

Food (presentation and quality)
I often find that great, expensive restaurants (and Bombay Club qualifies) can get away with their prices because, great food withstanding, they know darn well how to present it in a way where it not only tastes sumptuous but looks it too. BC is no slouch here. All of our courses were served in beautiful, shiny silver platters that sparkled from the glare of the chandeliers as the servers brought them out. Even the nan was served on immaculate platters.
We ordered 2 glasses of Merlot and I have to admit here that I forget what kind. Regardless, the red wine had a heavier flavor and was excellent. The appetizer consisted of a delectable selection of pakoras and samosas served with a wonderfully spicy mint and mango chutney. The hot pakoras were deep-fried and the cheese had a delicious aged flavor that contrasted nicely with the mango chutney. The samosas were filled with aloo and matr(potatoes and peas) and seasoned and then fried to perfection to go with the mint chutney.
Our main course consisted of a platter of tasty dishes all served in tiny bowls. The saag paneer was well marinated and seasoned. The fresh spinach brought out the flavor of the white cheese. The chicken mahkni was drenched in a delicious tomato cream masala that was just heaven to the taste buds. The tender chicken tandoori was nicely roasted and seasoned and peeled off the bone easily. A sumptuous vegetable jalfrazi topped off the potpourri of tastes and mixed all the vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, carrots, and onions) into a delightful combination. The nan was fluffy, hot and buttery. BC used all of the spices and ingredients to perfection to make a wonderful and delicious main course.
The dessert shied away from the Indian culture and although we had some kulfi – the main attraction was a sweet fruit tart that was encapsulated by a light flaky crust. I must say, my sweet tooth was more than satisfied from the tart.

Price
Since we had a fixed menu, we also had a fixed price. I anticipate a la carte to be a little less expensive, but our Valentine’s price tag came out to about $140 (not including tip). Although this was a ski-high price tag, very places in DC will serve Indian fare as Bombay Club does – so it’s worth a try… at least once even if your wallet will slap you for it.


Recommended: Yes

Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations saag paneer, samosa, chicken mahkni, chicken tandoori
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening