Junnoon

Upscale Indian Restaurant in Palo Alto. Nice ambiance, decent service. Unfortunately, the food was just standard Indian fare. It was certainly not great. The menu lacks innovation and creativity. What you get from Junnoon is ordinary Indian food in an upscale setting. Does it justify the price tag? Not really. I was definitely expecting more in the food department.

Cauliflower and Ginger Soup (3/5 Stars) - Ginger could be quite overwhelming for anyone not used to the sharp taste. Personally I found it soothing. Unfortunately the texture of the soup was too watery.

Basil Malai Chicken Tikka (4/5 Stars) - This is probably the best dish out of my entire dinner. The chicken meat was tender and moist.

Tamil Chicken (3/5 Stars) - Not a bad dish but I had much better at other Indian restaurant. The texture of the meat was not tender at all. It was a disappointment.

Lucknow Lamb Stew (3/5 Stars) - A plain and boring interpretation of a stew dish. The spices used were mild. If you eat a chuck of lamb by itself you will notice the meat did not absorbed much of the seasoning.

My dinner was a watered down version of a traditional Indian cuisine that was severely lacking substance. Dim lights and candles were all very romantic but the tables were so close to each other it almost felt like I was sharing tables with strangers. Not sure if I could even recommend this place as a date spot.…

The best modern Indian cuisine. We had been meaning to try Junnoon for quite a while and finally had a chance to celebrate. The prawns with coconut mustard and the tandoor steak and cauliflower were all fantastic. We also ordered several naan and paratha (Indian breads) and a couple of chutneys to sample the flavors. It was an unusual and very flavorful experience.

We recommend this highly for special occasions.…