PANNA IISo, last night a friend and I decided to attempt to satisfy our insatiable hunger for Indian food (it's my fave). And of course, this meant heading over to the Indian district over in the East Village. Spanning one or two blocks, there's restaurant after restaurant, all offering the same dishes, and for the most part, the same decor and service. This includes:
1. Red or green lenticular, metallic wrapping paper lining the walls. No, not wallpaper. Wrapping paper.
2. Framed velvet art, usually depicting the NYC skyline or an elephant that lights up (of course).
3. A massive arrangement of chili pepper xmas lights in various colors.
4. A very rushed staff of waiters that will seat you just as quickly and urgently as they will push you out of the door after you've paid your check.
Last night's restaurant, Panna II, had all of these elements (as any self-respecting Indian restaurant should), and had Fanta-branded beach balls and a disco light hanging from the ceiling to boot!
I'm not knocking these things–all of them add to the experience! A night of delicious lamb korma and naan wouldn't be the same if eaten in a different type of setting.
However, NEVER have I seen any restaurant decked out like Panna II's. The tiny, tiny space was filled to the brim with SO many pepper-shaped Christmas lights–any passers-by would think the kitchen was on fire! Once we were seated, all we had to do was look up for a beautiful spectacle of lights.
And, oh yeah. The food was goooooooood.
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