Mela Restaurant

A much needed shot of gourmet Indian food in the South End, Mela boasts authentic Indian cuisine with just the right mix of standard fare and unique specialties. If you're in the mood to try something different, then Mela is a great option.

Pros

Cons

Mela is a relatively new restaurant in the South End that serves delicious and authentic Indian food with a little bit of trendy flair. The back walls are covered in shiny strips of copper creating a pleasant, undulating light effect, while all the tables are stark white with tiny pink sparkles sprinkled beneath the glass. Several walls boast large exotic sculptures reminding one of more exotic locales. It is a striking space that manages to impress even the most jaded urban hipster.

Sometimes when dining in a fabulous looking restaurant, the food doesn’t live up to the standards of the décor. Not so in the case of Mela where the food itself is the main attraction. Dishes are expertly cooked with authentic spices and served in stylish modern bowls and plates. If you’re dining in a group, a good bet is to try either the vegetarian or non-vegetarian samplers, which include crunchy pakoras, savory samosas, and other unique Indian treats. Other dishes not to miss are the chicken coconut curry, which is both creamy and savory, and a wonderfully spiced bhindi masala dish. Mela’s modern Indian dishes are also a good bet. The piquant pork vindaloo had one of the tenderest cuts of pork I’ve ever had. Finally, Mela can prepare any dish with varying degrees of spiciness.

Some of the minor quibbles were an efficient but sometimes inattentive wait staff, and one uncomfortably warm dining room. The prices are also slightly higher than many other Indian restaurants in the Boston and Cambridge area with most dishes falling in the $15 to $20 range and Indian drinks costing $3 to $5 apiece. Given the high quality of the food and the location, however, the pricing did not seem unreasonable.