Avatar's Restaurant Awards

Avatar's Restaurant Restaurant Review:

The culinary concept beguiles: an intersection of Indian and Mexican food. Actually, Avatar’s had the vision almost a quarter century ago when this flagship sit-down restaurant opened (the North Bay chain now boasts five outposts). Self-described as a “purveyor of ethnic confusions,” it’s actually a delightful uniter of flavors and forms. Take the crab-pumpkin enchilada, a griddled corn tortilla with hash marks of melted cheddar and jack cheeses, Dungeness-crab-pumpkin curry folded in and under, topped with yogurt and tamarind sauces. Served with saffron basmati rice, it’s a multilayered, slow-burning palate punch. Other curries include ground lamb or beef, jerk chicken or smoked eggplant. Repeat customers and newcomers tend to surrender to the charismatic owner who promises a plate they’ll “lick clean.” He isn’t a hypnotist so it must be the food, with ingredients often locally sourced and organic. Don't miss the only dessert on the menu, called Avatar's Dream, a frozen concoction that's as beautiful to look at as to eat. Count the unusual beer selection as another plus. The underwhelming strip mall location makes the taste experience extra surprising.