Garam Mirchi- Pure Veg Rajasthani & Indo Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Fremont

(My review as posted in Yelp)

I was lucky enough to experience my first visit on a weekend, just after the rush. There was a live performer playing guitar, covering a wide selection of pop songs, both Indian and American. Live music always kicks the vibe up a notch, especially when the performer is good! So as far as first impressions go, things are off to a great start!

My friend recommended I try the Rajasthani Thali, so I ordered that and the Soya Chilli Dry. Both were delicious. The Soya chunks are an interesting texture. I'm familiar since these are also used in Taiwanese vegetarian cooking but I would want to give a heads up that they're spongy in texture. You'll either like it or maybe grow to like it? Either way, the sauce was full of flavor. A little sweet, tangy, savory and of course spicy! Items from the Desi-Chinese section are a great gateway food for those looking to explore Indian cuisine and are already familiar with Chinese food. The Rajasthani Thali has bottomless daal which I wasn't even able to fully take advantage of because I can't eat a lot. I wish I could have eaten more because it was so tasty! The mukhwas packet that came with the plate was super good! More than just fennel seeds it came with an assortment of more than the usual "Good n Plenty" mix. There were also rose petals, dates (I think?), pistachio bits and some other stuff. What a nice way to end my meal.

On my second visit, my friend and I ordered the Thupka, Crispy Baby Corn Shanghai, and chow mein. I'm currently obsessed with Thupka. A rich, spicy and savory broth full of veggies and noodle. It really hits the spot on a cold day! The Baby Corn Shanghai is something I've only tried one other time at Silli Chilli (same owner as Garam Mirchi) and LOVED IT. I needed for my friend to try this too! The chow mein was pretty standard, not bad but it was as good as it can be. It's chow mein, it's not something that would blow your mind no matter how well it's made (imo anyway...). The thupka came with two momo's. I'm not sure why veg momo's and dumplings in a lot of places (Indian, Nepalese, Chinese) need to be this radioactive green color? I get why green, but this shade of green just doesn't look natural, even if it is naturally colored. I had to give my friend the momo's since I can't have cheese and these came with paneer in them. She thoroughly enjoyed them and would recommend them.

To set expectations right, be ready to wait a bit. They haven't even been open a month so they are still dialing things in, be nice and wait just a little, the food is worth it. One super convenient thing Garam Mirchi provided tho is the wait list option through Yelp. Guests can put their name on a wait list through Yelp on their way over. You can do this for up to 20 min ahead of your arrival. Super convenient!

I'll be back to try...

Garam Mirchi is pure Vegetarian restaurant which also serves Indo Chinese food. It is located in the same complex as Apni Mandi (Previously Apna Bazaar) in Fremont. After you are seated in, you are offered water on your hands to clean and seems very few restaurants offer this. ( Previously, I had this experience one of the Denver restaurants.) They also offer Turban / Rajasthani Pagadi which is typical headgear worn in Rajasthan, India. We felt great and used the headgear for the entire duration of our meal.

We took the Silver Thali and were happy. The welcome drink was as yogurt drink, called Chachh or Mattha or Taak which is essentially, yogurt (or butter milk) , some water and little bit of masala/spices like cumin powder, salt etc. This was delicious.

The thali was explained to us and how to eat. You crush the bati, pour ghee and put on Dal- Optionally Gatte ki Subji and churma. They also serve Boondi Raita, Ghee Rice-Pulav, Aamras, Papad and two types of Chutni's with the Thali .

Everything is Unlimited. However, most people will be full with the first serving itself.

Every dish was good or excellent. The excellent stuff were Dal, Bati, Churma, Ghee Rice, Papad, Buttermilk, Gatta ki Subji. What I can say is - Many will really relish this food, but none will find it below their liking.

Aamras is something slightly below their perfection standard. It was good, but I guess, the other dishes were exemplary and Aamras fell short.

Service is warm, pleasing and very attentive. We were explained everything by Vivek. And not only him, but everyone went out of their way to help. After our Dinner, we asked Vivek what is Ker Sangri and he explained and also offered some for us to taste. The Ker Sangri is out of this world and it goes beyond the level of the other dishes in the establishment. Next time, we will be definitely trying Ker Sangri.

One area, where I had no issue, but feel that some other customers might have - They welcome you, serve you food etc, but they do Not pour water in your glasses. They put the filled water pitcher and cups on your tables and expect you to pour yourself. I am guessing, some of the clients will not like this. I realize this is nit picking and feel that this restaurant is close to perfection and they should strive to exceed their/client expectations.

For payment, they accept many methods and would charge 3% extra for credit cards, rest all They do give you 3% off such as Cash, Zelle and equivalent payment methods.

We will visit again and this place is a gem. I do believe their Ker Sangri is Michelin Star level dish.

Best wishes to entire team and specially Vivek. Please keep up...

My recent visit to Garam Mirchi turned out to be a regrettable experience marked by a severe lack of professionalism and courtesy. The actions of the staff left an indelible mark of disappointment on what could have been a pleasant dining experience.

From the very beginning, it was evident that the staff at this establishment were not concerned with delivering quality service. The staff member who took our order and managed the cash counter, despite being dressed in a shirt and appearing to be more presentable, failed to demonstrate the basic principles of customer service. His lack of attentiveness to our needs and inability to ensure a smooth dining process further added to the disheartening experience.

The most egregious aspect of the visit was the behavior of the staff. This individual appeared to harbor a disregard for customer satisfaction and professionalism. His demeanor was characterized by a lack of smiles, an absence of basic courtesy, and an overt display of rudeness. He seemed more interested in asserting his authority than attending to the needs of paying customers.

Even simple requests, like a slight addition of ghee, were met with an unnecessary and offensive attitude. It was as if this staff member had an aversion to accommodating customer preferences, further amplifying the sense that we were inconveniencing him. His continuous disruptions during the meal, inquiring about additional food when our plates were clearly full, reflected a lack of awareness and an absence of understanding of the dining experience.

The veg manchurian dish offered a glimmer of satisfaction amid this otherwise bleak experience. However, this single positive aspect could not overshadow the pervasive negativity caused by the unprofessional behavior of the staff

In conclusion, my visit to Garam Mirchi was marred by a series of unfortunate interactions with the staff. Despite the presence of one more presentable staff member, the overall experience left a lasting negative impression. I cannot, in good conscience, rate this establishment more than one star, primarily due to the poor service and lack of professionalism. It is my hope that the restaurant's management takes immediate action to rectify these issues, as they greatly diminish the potential for a satisfactory...