The Indian subcontinent is a giant piece of naan that drifted slowly through the ocean before slamming its flavors into Eurasia. Align your face's tectonic plates to give the continent a nibble in return with today's Groupon to Mela Indian Bar & Grill. Choose from the following options:
For $26, you get an Indian dinner for two (up to a $52.80 value). The dinner includes:
- One appetizer (up to a $9.95 value)
- Two entrees (up to a $37.90 value)
- One dessert (up to a $4.95 value)
For $50, you get an Indian dinner for four (up to a $105.60 value). The dinner includes:
- Two appetizers (up to a $19.90 value)
- Four entrees (up to a $75.80 value)
- Two desserts (up to a $9.90 value)
For $10, you get $20 worth of anything from the menu. Entrees range from $9.95–$18.95.
Mela, a Sanskrit term for "gathering", rallies groups of diners beneath crystalline chandeliers to share a meal of house-made naan with classic tandoori, biryani, and kebabs cooked to customizable spice levels. Once knowledgeable servers enlighten guests on the flavors of Mela's menu, cravings set sail for exotic tastes with such appetizers as fish pakora, a chickpea-battered cut of fresh tilapia that swims in the deep fryer for a thin outer layer that's as crispy as a peasant hut torched by a dragon. Culinary adventures progress with entrees including lamb biryani, which plunders tummy caves with basmati rice spiced up with fresh ginger, saffron, and cashews, or fish tikka masala, tandoor-broiled mahi-mahi that simmers in a rich sauce of tomato and cream. Traditional Indian meals conclude with a sweet epilogue of gulab jamun, golden-brown dough rounds dripping with syrup.
Mela Indian Bar & Grill
“Mela” means “gathering” or “fiesta” in Sanskrit, a fitting name since those are the kind of events that the restaurant facilitates with its traditional and very sharable feasts. The housemade breads, which range from flat naan to balloon-like poori, whet appetites for seasoned-to-order entrees, ranging from mild to spicy depending on the diner’s palate and how convincing they want to be when fake-crying. The eatery’s tandoor, a traditional clay oven, roasts dishes such as chicken tikka masala and tandoori shrimp; alternatively, curry dishes such as the spicy lamb vindaloo complement kebabs and succulent chunks of meat or veggies sitting atop beds of basmati rice infused with cashews, raisins, and saffron. A full bar rounds out the menu with domestic and imported beer, wine, and liquor that can wash down à la carte meals, buffet-style lunches served seven days a week, or buffet-style dinners that delight palates Sunday–Wednesday.
