Pondicheri — Restaurant in Houston

I’ll say it: one of the best complete meals I’ve had in Houston. You can really taste the love and care in every single bite. Seldom do you mind a multifaceted meal where every single piece is noteworthy. I split the weekend lamb rib special and it blew me away. Such a complete flavor package! Let’s start with the okra; I don’t even like okra. That said, this was no ordinary okra. Just exploding with flavor, seasoned to perfection. My eyes lit up when I took the first bite. Tangy, spicy and an assault on the senses. Lamb ribs could easily be overly fatty and gamey, but instead they were light and delicious. But dipped in the liquid gold they came with, the ribs were nothing short of transformed. The sweet, tangy, slightly spicy tamarind sauce was electric, functioning as the glue of the dish. It was a flavor enhancer for every component of the meal. The fries seemed like a weak link at first, however they complemented the other saltier and spicier components very well. The combination of the starchy, crispy fries paired with the soft, spicy okra was noteworthy. And of course I have to say something about the spiced bread... oh man, stuffed inside with some gooey paneer like cheese, it was heavenly on its own and again further accentuated by the tamarind sauce. Front to back an incredible meal. I’m still on a cloud from this meal. Unfortunately missing from pic are the light salad that came with the ribs, which was also excellent. It’s easy to do offer a lackluster bowl of lettuce as a salad, but even the salad was made with care. Baby spinach base with a light but flavorful spice mix and some nice additions including raisins, which sweetened and balanced the flavors. Dessert was the perfect finish. We split a rose laddu, tasting like eating the tender innocence flower whole. I’ve never had any dessert with such a potent floral aroma and taste, and such a gentleness to it. We also shared and a robust, salty mithai that was delicious as well. You can count on me returning back here and I ask everyone reading this to go give this...

This food was an assault on my tastebuds and an insult to Indian cuisine. This will be remembered as the worst Indian food I and my companion have ever eaten, and the only time we left naan on the table.

There’s not a dish I would recommend to anyone wanting a true Indian meal. The food is nicely presented and has the right colors, but horribly prepared. None of the Indian seasonings, and spice blends were in any of the five dishes we ordered. (There were no Indians behind the counter, so I’m not sure if the restaurant has any Indian chefs or cooks. That’s the only thing that reasonably explains why all of these dishes are so inauthentic). Every dish was extremely bland - not even slightly salted - except for the Madras wings. Those wings had thick clumps of dry seasonings and no effort to properly layer the spices; you’re literally chewing a glob of seasonings. The garlic naan was tasteless, and we couldn’t identify the flour used in preparation. The basmati rice wasn’t even tasteful, and it’s hard to screw up rice (one would think). The lemon square was yellow, but the lemon taste was limited to a one bite section in the center. The pecan cookie was shockingly tasteless. Again, we questioned what flour was being used in the desserts (and naan) and why the flavors and textures were so poorly blended.

For the price point ($95 before tip), this was a poor effort at Indian cuisine, and the restaurant should be avoided by anyone familiar with or wanting an authentic Indian meal. I don’t know who this food appeals to, but they could not be familiar with India’s cuisines. Perhaps the River Oaks community likes bland food. After eating this meal, I’m skeptical about any glowing restaurant reviews for this area of Houston because this restaurant is not providing authentic Indian food. I’m not Indian but I’m...

Nice Indian café. Interior space is modern and vibrant. It boast lofty ceilings and industrial-style walls and floors. Windows span about 8 feet and wrap around the entire cafe allowing for an abundant amount of soft natural light to flood the dining room.

The lab is accessed from the second floor. The first floor is the restaurant. There aren’t any interior stairs to connect the two.

Menu is full of craveable fare. The name “Bake Lab” is appropriate because the variety of baked goods on display look like they came out of a laboratory.

I tried the Café Annie Brownie. Flavor was almost there. I would have preferred it a little sweeter and more moist. But it was descent aside from that. I wouldn’t object to trying it again.

For a drink I similarly wanted something chocolaty. So I ordered the Moksha Masala Milk. It’s like an infusion of hot chocolate, coffee, milk, and cinnamon. It sounded good and hit the palette warm and well.

Young lady working the register is very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. That’s appreciated. It’s usually disappointing when you try a new place and the baristas aren’t knowledgeable of the drinks. It can easily leave a poor impression, but she didn’t.

Wi-if is fast, so bring your laptops 💻 and tablets. There is a bar on the north wall excellent for plugging in. And it has a foot rest underneath the table if your feet can’t reach the floor.

The atmosphere is fairly calm and chill except for the occasional unidentifiable knocks and bangs from the lab. Lol, it can actually sound like Dexter’s Laboratory at times, but it adds to the experience.

In all. Pondicheri Bake Lab + Shop is a hit. Chill vibes, tasty treats, and cool people. Well worth a visit or two. ✌️Peace. See what...