MASSALA - Restaurante Indio — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

I had one of the most despicable receptions ever at Massala, Lima, Peru. I never felt so discriminated against in my life. Yes, I was casually dressed. Perhaps, my appearance was not up to par with the restaurant’s standards (if they have a dress code, they should probably notify clientele prior, which I had found none on their website.) It was a long day and I decided to treat myself to an exotic meal to celebrate a trying and laborious month. Instead of taking a bus, I decided to hail a taxi. Things started to spiral into mild confusion, when I realized that I had a 100 soles bill and the taxi driver didn’t have change (a common phenomena in Peru, which is understandable). I decided to break the 100 soles bill at the restaurant with the intention of dining there later. The waiter studied me and proceeded to examine the bill. It was a bill fresh out of an ATM machine and Peruvians are quite skilled at detecting counterfeit notes, so I was convinced there was no problem there. All I needed was 7 soles to pay the taxi driver, but it was a situation which needed the engagement of the manager. Fair enough, I explained my situation to the manager and he too studied me from head to toe. He told me that he couldn’t accept this bill. I proceeded to tell him that I was to dine here and I was also willing to pay for my food in advance. He went on to make excuses of him not being able to accept the bill for reasons unknown. Again, this was a bill fresh out of an ATM machine. The taxi driver was waiting outside and I pointed to the car and he went on to say no that the restaurant didn’t accept cash. This is where things got pretty outrageous: He said ‘We don’t accept cash. Our clients pay by card’. I told him, ‘Fine, I will pay by card, but if you could please forward me 7 soles. You can even charge my card now.’ I waved my card amicably. However, he responded: ‘No, we don’t want your money.’ Speak about courtesy and politeness when his face wore the expression of repulsion and distaste. Do I need to be some form of idealized human being to meet your expectations for dining here? I have never felt so dejected and mistreated at a restaurant in my own country. Especially, for a restaurant that holds cultural diversity as one of its core fundamentals. You would think the staff would treat all its customers with equality and dignity. Not some as dignitaries and others as second...

Starting with the chicken wrap, it seems like it was just okay, not particularly remarkable or terrible. However, the Chicken Tikka Masala was a major disappointment, as it tasted burnt and was the worst dish you've ever had. It's a shame, as Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular and well-loved dish in Indian cuisine. Moving on to the naan, it's unfortunate that it wasn't juicy and tasty, as it's a staple in Indian cuisine and can make or break a meal. The veg samosas were good, but the hard-to-chew chickpeas were a bit of a letdown. The puri was large, but the puri itself wasn't well-made, although pani the mint and tamarind water was delicious. Lastly, the gulab jamun was not tasty at all and tasted like uncooked powder, which is a shame as it's a popular and beloved dessert in Indian cuisine. The lemonade was good, but the mango lassi was a bit of a mixed bag, with a 50/50 success rate. Overall, while the pleasant atmosphere is a plus, the subpar food, unfortunately, overshadows it. Hopefully, the restaurant can improve its dishes and provide a better dining experience for customers...

As an Indian who has tried Indian food in several countries outside of India, this might be the least authentic experience I have had.

The chai did not have any spices, and was not flavorful at all. It was served in a big cup and tasted like teabag black tea - I would recommend reducing the cup size to half and make it a bit stronger with at least cardamom and ginger as spices, to make it more authentic.

The Goan fish curry did not have much flavor - it tasted like a simple daal, not spiced properly. The fish itself was cooked really nice but the curry was disappointing. The jeera rice that we got as a side had the cumin burned to a crisp (see photo).

The only highlight for me were the chapatis which were fluffy and pretty authentic. The seekh kebabs and lassi were ok.

In my opinion, the high pricing for the food is not justified - there are other Indian restaurants in Miraflores that I found better in taste and overall bang...