Raja Cuisine of India

(415)255-6000
500 Haight St.
(@ Fillmore)
San Francisco, CA
(Lower Haight district)

Price: $-$$$
Rating: 6 (Rating & price key)
Last visit: 02/29/04

Sarah & I were happy to find this place when it oppened, and enjoyed an excellent meal here in early 2004. On two subsequent take-out & delivery orders, however, the food has been very much average-at-best, and I've heard that they've changed hands since our first meal there.

On our first visit, we started with the vegetable pakora ($2.95), a tasty assortment of deep-fried battered vegetables (including broccoli, which I don't usually see unfortunately - it's good!). After what seemed like a longish while, our garlic pesto naan ($2.95) arrived, and the chicken vindaloo ($9.95) and assorted tandoori mixed grill ($15.95) were hot on its heels. The naan was a limp, but well-flavored. The vindaloo was good, though. Our medium dish arrived exactly as hot as I'd want a medium to be (I would eat hot myself, but Sarah wouldn't have appreciated that!). That is to say, definitely hot, but not challengingly-so. The mixed tandoori was also tasty, particularly the chicken and shrimp. Other items on the grill included minced spiced lamb, and a couple of chunks of lamb. The menu said fish was included, but ours had the lamb pieces instead - no matter, it was all good!

Service was pretty attentive, but it should have been, as we were the only ones there (they're always empty when we walk by, so I can only assume they do a brisk take-out/delivery business). Our more recent visits (mid-2005) have been something of a bust, however, with so-so food and lazy service.