Everywhere I go I am always check out storefronts and tiny back streets for a new restaurant, grocery store, or coffee shop so when I spotted the opening of a new Indian Restaurant in the place where an awful Mexican restaurant near where I live, you can only imagine my excitement. Thali is a new eat-in or take-out restaurant that opened last week on St Marc Street right above St. Catherine. The plain exterior and un-pretentious sign hides a hidden jewel in the vast arena of Indian restaurants in Montreal.

Thali's concept is simple: classic Indian food prepared fresh and served hot for a cheap, but delicious Indian gastronomy experience. The restaurant itself is sparsely decorated with a few tables and chairs and a counter to order at, but behind the no-frills appearance is the most delicious Indian food I have ever tasted.

Customers order at the counter from a stack of paper menus. The menu features a variety of meat dishes such as Chicken Curry and Tandoori specialties, as well vegetable dishes such as Palak Paneer and Aloo Gobi. Sandwiches and the classic Indian dish, Biryani, are also served along with naan, samosas, and other side dishes.

We chose to order the Chicken Curry, Palak Paneer, and vegetable samosa. Each dish is served with a light salad of fresh tomatoes, onion, and cucumber, a yogurt raita sauce, and your choice of naan or rice.

The palak paneer; a spinach and soft cheese dish was fresh and fragrant with a light spicy after taste. Usually, I order palak panner when I go to Indian restaurants, and this was by far the best I have ever tasted. The spinach was finely cut, and there was no grease, which I sometimes associate with palak paneer. For someone who likes spice as well, the palak panner was perfectly spiced.

The chicken curry was delicious too, with large pieces of chicken perfectly tender and stewed in the mildly spiced curry sauce. While the main dishes were fantastic, the naan was not to be missed. The traditional naan is made fresh to order, and almost fulfilled my fantasy of eating fresh naan in India. It would be a shame to order the rice instead of the naan or skip the naan entirely when eating at Thali. The samosas were massive and the most colorful I have ever seen. The inside was speckled with the different spices and the seasoned potatoes were delicious.

While we ate in the sunny restaurant more and more people stopped in to check out the place, and everyone eating seemed impressed with the food. For opening week Thali had everything in check. Our meals, served with naan, salad, yogurt raita, one samosa, and a drink set us each back $8.00. Combo meals are available as well for $7.00 to $8.00.

With affordable prices, lovely staff, and a great location, Thali is not to be missed. Thali's classic Indian music and fragrant fresh Indian food has quickly placed it on the top of my list for Indian food in Montreal. Stop by Thali for take out or dining in.

Located at 1409 St Marc Street (cross Street St Catherine West).
http://www.thalimontreal.com (514) 989 9048.