5th Element Indian Grill

It’s been a very long time since I was in love with a local Indian restaurant. Gone are the days (the 80s & 90s!) of Maharajah India/Lord Mountbatten Pub (Federal Hwy between Oakland Park and Sunrise, and another GORGEOUS place that used to be in the Imperial Point Plaza where Buca di Beppo came and went. Wonderful Madras Cafe near McNab and Powerline is also gone. I can’t help thinking this is all our fault. Perhaps after 9/11 the culture shifted away from supporting Indian restaurants, and that’s really a shame. It’s ignorant. Period.

I say all of this because I think time and cultural shifts have not been kind to restaurants in general. Our knowledge, interest, and pocketbooks have all decreased. Our expectations, however, have become more preference oriented (we want it on the side, not too spicy, blah blah) and it’s hard for innovative and ethnic restaurants to keep up.

Fifth Element serves a need for local Indian cuisine. The food is fine; it’s okay, just not special. It is hot and ready on time. It satisfies an itch for all the typical curry, tikka, vindaloo, tandoori, masala, etc menu items. The prices a fair. Portions are generous. No more. No less. Our basmati rice had a somewhat peculiar texture, lacking a bit of the stickiness of freshly made rice, and missing the unique perfume sweetness of basmati or jasmine rice. It seemed instant. The Naaan and tandoori chicken were missing the distinct char and juicy freshness that can make them so wonderful. Butter chicken misses the richness of being finished with ghee. It’s the little things like that which limit our view and rate them with 3 rather than 4 stars.

Part of the problem is that the plaza of this location on the Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano border is a little run down. You don’t feel excited to go there. Inside, you find a large dining area but like the plaza, it needs an upgrade. The staff is attentive. They get your order right, but they’re not particularly warm or friendly. They’re definitely not rude. Perhaps they just seem a bit apathetic—a little disinterested.