I recently tried Indian food for the first time at Royal Khyber Fine Indian Cuisine.  The service was commendable and the staff was helpful; when I had questions about dishes, the servers took the time to explain their detail. I can understand why the restaurant has been here in South Coast Village for many years.

Chicken Samosa and spicy Tandoori Kebabs were the starter dishes. The Samosa was palatable and accompanied with jam/salsa sauce that was sweet, yet included enough spice to complement the pungent sweetness. My companions’ kebabs were absolutely wonderful. The lamb meatballs were divine, almost bite sized yet filled with flavor. Mind you, there’s a little kick in this course. I would be weary of this- otherwise, dig in! The chicken kebabs were another surprise. Tender, smooth chicken that almost tasted as if they were stuffed with ricotta cheese. Very delicious!

If you haven’t tried Tikka Masala, you haven’t lived the fine Indian cuisine life yet. The red sauce was sweet, yet had a neutralizing taste of some yogurt base to balance out the overall sauce. The secret to eating this is to carefully tear a piece of Naan (large enough to pick up some chicken) dip, dunk and wrap a piece of chicken around it. My Saag Paneer (spinach w/ cheese) was very mild and creamy, although I enjoyed this dish I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a taste with zing. I would say the Basil Mushroom Matar Korma was the better of the two vegetarian dishes.

To finish off the night- we enjoyed Rice Pudding and the Pistachio Kulfi. The Kulfi (ice cream) hit the spot. Not your typical ice cream; the cheesecake formed into white cubes was drizzled with condensed milk and flakes of gold garnishing. This was such a memorable dessert both in taste, quality and appearance. The rice pudding was no disappointment either. With hidden dispersed almonds and raisins throughout the bowl, every bite was a surprise.

I was satisfied. Very satisfied. A must try if you’re in the area or have a special occasion to go to.