Jhalmuri
Aurum

Aurum

132 State St., 94022 Los Altos, United States Of America

Cafés • Indian • Brunch • Terrace


"Unfortunately, the ambiance was rather underwhelming, with orange-painted walls and ceiling vents that could use a good cleaning. For appetizers, we ordered the brassica beats and lasooni kebab. The cauliflower bezule were greasy little bites with an overly crispy coating, and the accompanying sauce was also quite heavy, which detracted from the dish. The chicken kebab teetered dangerously close to being undercooked, with some pieces crossing that line. Next, we tried the main courses: ghee roasted mutton and apricot kofta. The kofta was submerged in a cream-heavy curry, and to be honest, I struggled to detect any apricot flavor in the kebab—it just seemed slightly firmer compared to typical paneer or potato koftas. The mutton gravy was mild, and overall, both the appetizers and curries felt like they were played too safe, merely checking boxes rather than attempting any memorable or experimental dishes. While I couldn't point out anything particularly wrong with them, nothing truly captivated me either. For dessert, we had toffee pudding and tapioca kheer. The toffee pudding was warm and just the right level of sweetness—especially if you skipped the brown sugar syrup. I enjoyed that. However, the tapioca pudding was quite sweet and overwhelmed by an excess of saffron. If you're looking for a decent Indian meal in a relatively nice setting, this restaurant might be a good fit. However, my expectations were higher, and unfortunately, they were not met."