by Jennifer Resnicke

Photography by Dante Fontana

As my husband and I pulled open the door to Peacock Indian Restaurant and stepped into the modern space with warm tan walls and maroon booths, the exotic aroma of curry swirled through our minds—preparing us for the delectable meal we were about to enjoy.
A few flat-screen TVs were tuned to vibrant Bollywood music videos that we couldn’t help but watch (more intently than seems proper when sitting down for dinner). Turning to our menus, I must admit I was a little intimidated by all of the unfamiliar words. I’m not sure if our server was clairvoyant or just really astute, but he somehow preempted our attempts to bumble through the pronunciations as we placed our orders.
First up came an appetizer of punugulu: ground lentil-and-rice-spiced dumplings that were satisfyingly starchy, delightfully soft in the middle, and crispy on the outside. They came with two chutneys, which, if you’re unfamiliar, are essentially dipping sauces. One was a spicy, enticing mix bursting with flavors of curry and cumin, and the other a blend of creamy and cooling coconut.
Though there was a long list of both vegetarian and meat-laden curries, I opted for the house special: biryani with heavily seasoned (in a good way), tender chicken. The long-grain basmati rice dish with saffron came with a silky hard-boiled egg, raw red onion slices and two incredible sauces; the one with cucumber and cilantro was a refreshing detour from the spicy offerings.
My spouse ordered the masala dosa, a South Indian crepe delicacy stuffed with seasoned mashed potatoes. What the menu doesn’t mention is the crepe is colossal—it literally didn’t fit on the plate. A word to the wise: Dig in with your hands, tear off chunks of the chewy and crispy crepe and sweep it through either the spicy or mild sauces. It may feel strange at first, but soon you’ll be so entranced by the incredible flavors that you won’t care.
If you still have room for dessert, the double ka meetna—a gooey, syrupy, cinnamon-redolent treat that’s reminiscent of bread pudding—definitely makes the must-try list. In fact, Peacock also made our restaurants-we-must-try-again list.


Peacock Indian Restaurant - Folsom, CA