Indian Rasoi takes over Cafe Colucci space in Oakland
Oakland’s upper Temescal District was deprived of a spot for highly spiced foods from across the world when Cafe Colucci, a popular Ethiopian eatery now hosting a Michelin-cred pop-up, departed for a location farther away.
That void’s filled at last with the arrival of Indian Rasoi in the old Colucci space at 6427 Telegraph Ave. It’s a colorfully decorated restaurant specializing in the cuisine of Northern India – long-simmered curries, tandoori-grilled meats, hot chai and cold lassi.
Rasoi opened earlier this month and on a recent stop-in, appeared to be doing brisk take-out business. A few diners sat in the main room under a rainbow canopy of hanging fabric and inverted umbrellas. A grand opening sign flapped in the wind, beckoning residents in this borderland of Oakland and Berkeley and passing students from the UC campus up the street.
The menu has the standard Indian breakdown of appetizers (samosas, pakora, some crispy chaats), biryani, curries (lamb, chicken, seafood, paneer or vegetable), salads, soups and naans in varieties like garlic and meat-stuffed. From the clay oven there’s a mint-chicken kebab marinated in yogurt and a lamb boti kebab with ginger-garlic paste and chili. Also popular: chicken tikka masala, vegetable korma, lamb vindaloo and any of the saag preparations.
The restaurant is new enough that it doesn’t serve beer or wine yet, but a staffer said to expect that in the near future.
Details: Indian Rasoi is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at 6427 Telegraph Ave.; order online at indian-rasoi.com