Hindustani — Restaurant in Hood River

This restaurant is fairly new to Hood River. I have been here twice. Menu is quite large. The "plates" are enormous, look more like large trays. The service is irregular -- our server stopped at several tables on her way to deliver food or drinks to us. There were four of us, and we ordered four dishes. All good (except the mutton curry which was mostly bones). The dishes all came out at the same time, but the two orders of naan were served at the very end of the meal, almost like a dessert. The first time I visited, they had not yet gotten a liquor license. Now they have one, but... They have 3 types of Indian beer, all reportedly good, according to my friend. There is no wine list. When we asked about wine options, we were told "white or red". "Red" turned out to be one choice of pinot noir, and "another red" was the second choice. Only 2 reds, no mention of getting a bottle to share at the table. I chose "the other red" and it was quite decent. White" was chardonnay or reisling. My companions asked for chardonnay, but the server cautioned us that it was room temperature because the bartender was off. She offered to bring ice cubes to put in the glass for cooling the wine. When my friends asked for a second glass, she said she had forgotten to put a fresh bottle in the cooler, so offered more ice cubes. To make a reservation, you call someone's cell phone. I was not asked for my name or even the time of the reservation, although I kept trying to insert those details. Sometimes you get a message saying they will call you back, which may or may not be prompt. Lastly, the airconditioning is delivered through floor vents, which are directly under the tables. The blast was quite cold, to the point that we ended up covering the vent with menus and napkins to cut down the chill. I am sure that these are minor hiccups on the way to a fine dining experience, once the bugs are worked out. In the meantime, wear long pants and ask whether the wine is room...

In response To caption Josh what the owner has said is not accurate. This is Oregon law. In Oregon, employers are prohibited from taking or withholding tips from employees under any circumstances. Tips are considered the property of the employee, and employers cannot include them as part of the minimum wage or claim them in any way. This means that even if an employer pays the full minimum wage, they cannot take tips from employees, regardless of whether they also take a tip credit. Here's a more detailed breakdown: Tip Ownership: Tips belong to the employee who earned them. No Tip Credit: Oregon law does not allow employers to use tips as a credit towards paying the minimum wage. Tip Pooling: While tip pooling is legal in Oregon, it must be voluntary and among employees who regularly receive tips. Employers, managers, and supervisors cannot participate in or take from the tip pool. Reporting Violations: Employees who believe their tips are being stolen can report the issue to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Legal Action: Employees can also pursue legal action against their employer for withheld tips. Criminal Penalties: Stealing tips, depending on the amount, can be a misdemeanor or felony offense...

This place is incredible….. seriously! Considering, I am a foodie of authentic ethnic cuisine and have been to numerous countries and countless Indian restaurants all over the US, specifically on the West and East coasts, I wished I could give this restaurant 10 stars as it certainly deserves more. The food alone is phenomenal but what makes this extra special in my book is the ambiance, aesthetics and how friendly the staff is. Often, you expect to have to dress up for such a gorgeous place….. don’t let the outside fool you. The inside is stunning! However, the staff welcomes any person who walks through their doors no matter their attire. We certainly weren’t dressed up at all but came here on the recommendation of a local Antique store owner in town. You can walk in dressed in diamonds or dirt, and you’ll be treated like royalty! Our server, Preethi (pronounced: Pre-tee) was outstanding and very knowledgeable with recommendations. The bartender created a drink suitable to my desire and wow it was delightful!!! Treat yourself or a loved one here! You won’t regret it. By the way, the patrons are large so prepare to have leftovers or walk in with...