Although Issaquah now has several Indian restaurants, they feature different aspects of the cuisine. Dosa Palace, which is practically across the street from Bangalore, serves a large variety of vegetarian dishes from south India, many of which are unlikely to be found in most restaurants. Bangalore, on the other hand, serves mostly meat items, and the menu is quite similar to that of most any Indian restaurant in the U.S.

I also think Bangalore emphasizes flavor over authenticity. While Dosa Palace has the visual aspect, smells, and flavors that I can easily visualize being served in south India, Bangalore seems more "Americanized." To the extent that the food here is authentic Indian, I perceive it to be "banquet style" Indian that would be served as upscale food at a large family gathering (or maybe I have been watching too many Bollywood movies!).

Navratan Korma was recommended by the waitress as a good vegetarian choice from the menu. This is a mixed vegetable dish with cheese and nuts in a cream sauce. I thought the sauce tasted like yellow curry, although it is not described as such on the menu. This was honestly one of the most delicious Indian sauces I have ever eaten. I have ordered this dish at quite a few Indian restaurants in the Southwest, and none come close to Bangalore in flavor. The big disappointment, though, was in the vegetables. The peas, carrots, green beans, and mixed vegetables looked and tasted like they came from a frozen Birdseye package. I know the restaurant emphasizes meat dishes, but the vegetables served should not be this low in quality.

Another excellent aspect of Bangalore was the appetizer consisting of two bowls of sauces: Mint and Cilantro with a green color and a red Tamarind sauce. Just about all Indian restaurants seem to serve these sauces with a crispy flat bread, but I don't think I have had any as good as the ones here.

The Indian Chai (hot tea) was about average, but they get bonus points for giving free refills.