Mela Bangladeshi Cuisine — Restaurant in Pullman

Visited this place for dinner during our vacation to Pullman. It was a nice place with gentle music and the owners were welcoming. Even though food came really late (they said they didn't plan to have customers during memorial weekend and they went understaffed). They compensated us with Carrot Halwa making it on the house. Food was decent. However what really surprised me is the quantity and the price. We come from a place with a really high cost of living and even back home, food is not this pricey for an 8 ounce entree with salad. Food was served on a plate instead of a bowl and half of the plate was filled with salad( instead of serving on the side), perhaps a strategy to make the plate look full. Ideal price for this should be 8$ for 8 ounce entree, 3$ for Naan or Basmathi rice, 2$ for the salad side. It cannot exceed $13. Lamb Tehari did not even have a good sized lamb piece. It looked shredded. They should definitely start serving 16 ounce entree with these sides for this price or reduce the price. Unless this happens, I am not sure if I would visit again.

Rating:

Food - 1 Ambience - 1 Timeliness - 1 ( they apologized for the 40 mins delay and compensated with dessert) Quantity - 0 Price - 0

Update: @Owners, Thank you for responding to my review. Just wanted to clarify that we had ordered three entrees and my daughter did not feel hungry and we needed those boxes for packing her entree and the dessert. This does not mean that quantity was good enough that we had left overs. Also, these are some genuine feedback and I see there are many others who have reported this already. You guys have great food, ambience and friendliness. Please listen to the feedback and see what could be done instead of justifying. I would really appreciate that. Thank you...

I have loved Mela since they opened at the Farmers Market - their garbanzo curry was the only thing I wanted to eat when I was pregnant with my second child! And when we were pregnant again and very sick Abtesam blessed us with food!!! They are such a kind family - and her sons always made me laugh 😄 - and you can tell that cooking food for people is her calling. I am so grateful we can now have the beautiful flavors of Bangladesh outside of market season.

Tonight our family of five feasted on the garbanzo curry, the lamb curry (amazing), and the paneer curry plus lentil soup (she added that in for us, because she just cannot quit being generous) and an order of piyaju (pakora). The sauces are beautiful, balanced, and perfectly spicy (my kids love it, but I know not all kids are accustomed to spice). I crave these flavors!

It’s easy to pop in to their 2nd street location (it’s tucked away on the east side of the patio near the play structure) and place an order for take out, though there is also a small area to dine in along a bar with stools. Our large to-go order was ready in less than ten minutes. You could also eat outside on the patio.

A meal is perfectly sized for a hearty adult portion (comes with salad and a choice of naan or rice) and easily shared by smaller kids.

Everything is made from scratch, and it is like being invited to sit down at the table and feast with their family, that’s the Mela magic. This food is...

A small, out of the way spot in Moscow. One of several restaurants enclosing a courtyard with plenty of seating and a more secure play-place for the littles. Seating is also available inside. It didn't look like it at first, but when you go inside to order there is a bar and a table and chairs. It was rainy when we went so this was a deal-breaker if there was no indoor seating.

The food is made by an actual Indian woman from family recipes. I had the Paneer with spinach and was told that it is prepared differently than other places. It was delicious even though it didn't look very appetizing. I have not eaten it before so I wasn't sure what to expect. The sauce has pureed spinach, so no stringy wilted leaves, and large cubes of cheese. You can get it with rice or peas instead of the spinach, as well as naan, which I did. A small salad makes the meal. I also tried the Mango Lassi which was very good; can't go wrong there. My husband got the chicken curry and enjoyed it as well. Prices are pretty reasonable for what you get. Portions aren't small or over the top large either. The menu online doesn't have all the available options. When we went there she also had a salmon curry that sounded intriguing. There were other menu items listed as well. Credit/Debit is accepted. Not sure about checks. I would definitely recommend and will go back to try other things...