While many have loved the sleek look of Monsoon, the food hadn't matched the high expectations people had for that space. (Click here for happy hour info.)
In February, Sac News & Review's Greg Lucas said, "In the aggregate, Monsoon is good. It is not great."
In late January, the Sac Bee's Blair Anthony Robertson said, "With Mati's and Bombay Bar & Grill nearby and Katmandu on Broadway, Monsoon is facing some direct – and serious – competition for Indian food. So far, it isn't in the same league, even if it has one of the best-looking restaurants around."
So six months later, has it found its cullinary footing? Sac Bee's Robertson does a full review of the Indian restaurant.
For a restaurant that seemed on its way to an early and unceremonious demise, Monsoon has gained traction by looking seriously at its shortcomings and taking the right steps to get better.
The use of spices on several dishes, so crucial to Indian cooking, had been abrupt and clunky in the early going. Now the seasoning is more balanced and complex.
Meats that were chewy and dry are now tender and juicy. And the naan, which was so dreadful when we tried it early on, is better, too – fresher, fluffier, tastier – though there's still room for improvement.
New restaurants like to say they are a work in progress, but that's little comfort to the consumer who is asked to pay full price for the training-wheels experience. The training wheels are off, Monsoon is developing a personality, its kitchen is getting more consistent and confident, and the overall outlook is much improved since Monsoon's appearance in our "First Impressions" column in late January. We remember the little pools of grease in the curries as if they were yesterday's.
Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.
More News:
Oak Park Eats- Grubbin’ - Two newish places have popped up on the eastern side of Broadway and I thought both deserved a little notice. The first is Original Poboys at the flat-ironish corner of Broadway and Alhambra. The place is so well-branded that I at first took it for a chain, but upon my questioning of the owner I found it to be an independent establishment...Poboys is a small, clean establishment, offering the expected bayou fare, from poboy sandwiches to jambalaya, bignets to fried oysters. Also featuring T & R Taste of Texas Barbeque. On The Sac Rag.
Gourmet Getaways - Summer is practically here. You’re ready for a getaway, but what to do? If you’re a foodie, Northern California is teeming with delicious opportunities to plunge into your favorite pastime. From gourmet walking tours and artisanal cheese tastings to farm volunteer days and high-end food-and-wine events, the summer is simply brimming with culinary excitement. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.