Garland

The definition of a good meal is something that reminds you of what you've had that was good. The definition of a great meal, however, invokes something in you that you didn't know you would enjoy. Garland fits the latter greatness for me. Not at all surprised at the James Beard love here. This is the best meal I've had in Raleigh this calendar year. The trout and the cauliflower are both must-haves here. The peak experience, I would have to say, is the Masala kettle corn. In any case, you will not be disappointed with anything on the menu.

Possibly my favorite spot that we tried in Raleigh! Love the vibe/decor, we got great service, but it's the food -and drinks!- that sold us. First, the drink menu is just fun. The names are great ("All You Need Is a Light Jacket") and they do mocktails with just as much aplumb! We loved the garam masala lemonade ("Buddha's Hammock"). I also snagged a sparkling rosé from the area of Spain I'd just been to! The decor is bright and immersive. Every seat sees art and color. The light fixtures are never a wasted opportunity for expression. A fun place for a drink at the bar or dinner. Ok the food. I'm a huge lover of Indian food in all forms to begin with (Authentic, Americanized, Fusion, Street Food, Comfort Food, Eastern, Southern...) So on one hand, Garland had a high bar to reach. But on the other, anything with these flavors is gonna be delicious. And they were! We started with the Slaw Chaat -- just about to roll off the menu Summer 2022 -- and it reminded me of a similar dish I'd had at Chaatable in Nashville that we loved. It's cabbage, cilantro and carrots, but also chick pea crisps for great texture, golden raisins for a pop of sweet every now and then, and probably 6 (maybe 60) different spices that I could taste uniquely. It's a good size portion for a small plate, but we didn't let them take it away with the other dishes came. Which was a good thing because it actually went really well on top of the Cauliflower 65. The fried breading on the cauliflower is thin but hearty and the sauce is creamy with the poblano really shining. Add a few sprigs of the slaw and the textures and flavors just dance. We agonized over which dishes to get and ultimately chose the Saag because it had chicken, potato AND paneer in it. We chose wisely! The chicken was perfectly cooked with an insane crispy skin, even when smothered in Saag. The potatoes were practically confit. The paneer is looser/lighter, not fried cubes, so it gets a little lost, but the flavors are dynamite. They even add little fresh tri color tomatoes for a little balance. We almost didn't get dessert, but would have missed out. We chose the buttermilk panna cotta as the lightest looking option and were very pleased. The panna cotta itself was air-light, dreamy creamy, and hardly sweet at all. The macerated strawberries were not just basil-kissed, but truly herbaceous. And the crunchy crumble added the necessary texture. We finished it :) Would absolutely recommend this for any trip to downtown Raleigh!

Went for a date night. Attempted to go here 2 times before but didn’t work out. Third time was the charm. Cauliflower appetizer is amazing. Highly recommend this. The Lamb Briyani, might as well be called a lamb pot pie. Also very tasty. The fried trout, was just ok, a bit dry. I would try one of the other big plates. Overall a decent experience, would go back.

We finally had the opportunity to dine at Garland. Overall a great experience!! Food was awesome. Price is little over the average I think for similar food/service experience at a comparable restaurant. Staff is great, anticipates your need and passionate for what they do. Kudos 👏🏽. Will definitely return.

Wonderfully modern and surprisingly cozy restaurant. Food has a plethora of flavors and could be described as south Asian dishes with a southern influence. The owner Paul was delightfully welcoming and the bartender Nick was knowledgeable and gave superb recommendations. Food was excellent, service was excellent. I will be back!!