Step into Mantra and be transported to an intimate world where class meets culture. The restaurant and lounge on Ramona Street bills itself as “elegant Californian cuisine with a dash of India.” The same could be said of the ambiance. Elegance abounds among amber-hued lighting and contemporary paintings. And the up-beat Hindi music adds exactly that “dash of India.”

EnlargeEnlarge
#gallery http://www.stanforddaily.com/image/full/6422
Mae Ryan

An evening here might begin with a meal in the dining room located to the side of the main entrance. The dinner menu offers a wide range of items that will satisfy almost any appetite — whether it be for Indian food or not.

Don’t skip the first course. The handmade samonsas and paneer cuboid show the effort and creativity put into even the appetizers. Each samosa is served with a different sauce, or chutney, while the paneer cuboid is stuffed with ginger sauteed green peas.

Dinner entrees range from the standard tandoori mixed grill to the more exotic peppermint and mango dover sole. And for those with a penchant for the Californian, Mantra offers the roasted summer vegetable timbale — a variety of prepared vegetables served with a mild garlic sauce.

But the best part of Mantra comes after dinner. Leave the dining area and enter the Daru Lounge, one of Palo Alto’s finest after-dinner spots.

Either sit at the bar or, for the real Daru experience, nestle into the intimate, cozy lounge seating recessed into the wall. Just be sure to get comfortable for the drinks to come.

The fully stocked bar — lit from behind to dramatic effect — offers most anything for anyone. But the specialty drinks are a must-try.

Each is uniquely designed to offer a different taste, and all live up to their name. Order the Indian Summer for a fresh and fruity sensation or the namesake Mantra for a stronger flavor.

And, for a moment, while sipping on one of these unique concoctions, enjoy the plush cushions, the Indian-influence modern artwork, the plasma TV screens above the bar, or the newest Bollywood songs playing in the background.

It is not a common experience.