This blogger bailed when upon finding Chutney’s lacking in the “culinary enthusiast” department.
After parking on one of the side streets we walked up to the doors only to find that the place was almost empty (at 7pm on a Saturday) and the patrons who were there didn’t seem to be the culinary enthusiasts you’d hope for (think Florida Early Bird Special restaurant go-ers).
While this blogger found her experience “orgasmic” and had a mango mojito.
The Grille on the Hill(e) has treated us mostly alright over the years. Nothing orgasmic to be sure but nothing that bad either. It does feel like a little, well, convalescent at times but that gives it a certain authentic charm, no?
Sorry for the repost. I sit on a couch, not a conch.
You know? I love this place for takeout, and I have a feeling that others do too. The staff is friendly, and the food is really good, though Americanized and for some reason, a few dollars more expensive than it should be (per item). It does seem pretty abandoned most of the time, and I sometimes feel sad about that. But then I have some delicious onion naan and forget my troubles.
It’s perfect for taking home and munching on the couch in front of the tv.
We have never gone in, though we’ve tried almost every other food establishment in the neighborhood over the last 3 years. We heard that their food was sub-par via a friend and with the rat-traps surrounding the building, we couldn’t muster the courage to give them a try.
Yeah. The rat traps ARE scary, and they make me think twice about going back.
Never noticed the rat traps, will have to check that out.
It’s been a reliable take out option for my wife and I for several years. We usually get the potato naan and saag chole, mild. The staff is super nice and they know me now. As for how crowded, or not, it is, it seems hit and miss. I was there on Monday and it was deserted, but on other nights it’s been totally packed.
And what’s going on there weekday mornings around 8 AM? AA meetings? Several times a week there’s a large crowd in and around the building, seems to be a pretty mixed group too – young and old, etc.
I have noticed these meetings too, and wondered about them. Maybe something religious? It looks like a pretty diverse group, as matt mentioned.
I noticed the meetings when I used to catch the bus outside Hilltop. No clue, but they seem a happy bunch.
Yes, those are AA meetings. I actually asked one day after dinner there (I’m still in denial and I don’t believe in God so no AA for me). The bad thing about those AA meetings is that one of them likes to park his/her SUV illegally and it makes it dangerous to turn left from Mercer onto north-bound 15th. Argh! But, I like Chutney’s and their friendly staff. I wish their bar would pick up so we have another place to have a beer, but oh well.
I never saw rat traps, but maybe a reading of “Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants” would show that the trapping of rats is not something to hold against a place.
By the way, this is tagged 19THAVE rather than 15THAVE. Nothing escapes my eagle eye. ;)
Haven’t you heard that Chutney’s is moving? fixing
I’m pretty bewildered by the reactions–we’re regulars at Ye Grille on The Hille and like the place better than any other Indian food in easy reach. (Tho our choices off the menu tend to veg and fish dishes, so if the meats are lousy, we wouldn’t know.) It’s got a decent crowd pretty regularly. Lunch buffet isn’t bad, either.
I’d be curious what the local alternative for Indian food would be–certainly not India Express, nor Maharaja.
Hmmm, I just saw a rumor posted elsewhere that the 15th Ave location of Chutney’s was sold off by its original owner. It looks like the locations here, in Wallingford, and in Bellevue each have separate websites.
Time to go try the new Indian place on Broadway (Mirch Masala?)