Skip to main content

Style Magazine

Milan Curry House in Roseville

Mar 29, 2016 05:02PM ● By David Norby

Chicken Biryani

Some people are always in the mood for Mexican food, some lean toward Chinese; my husband, on the other hand, will never turn down Indian. Needless to say, he was ecstatic to join me at Milan recently for some authentic Indian cuisine.

Stepping into the dining area, we were quickly greeted by two of the friendliest people I’ve ever encountered. With beaming smiles they led us to a gray stone tabletop with high-backed chairs covered in black fabric and bright yellow sashes tied into happy bows—similar to the styles you often see at wedding receptions. However, there were no stuffy formalities lingering in the air—we felt like we were having dinner at a good friend’s house who just so happens to make fantastic Indian food.

We started off with an appetizer called bhel puri—an addictive mash-up of chewy puffed rice, onions, potatoes, a bold blend of sweet and savory spices, crunchy noodles, and papri—delectably crispy little wafers. The variation of textures and flavors was a fun way to awaken our palates.

My husband ordered lamb vindaloo, which featured plump cubes of tender meat in a dusky red sauce with a slow-building heat. To cool things down, he enjoyed the mango lassi—a delicious fruity yogurt drink that’s perfect for taking the edge off when the spiciness hits its stride. 

I opted for chicken biryani, which came out in a family-size portion (so much that I had leftovers for lunch in the days following) and featured basmati rice cooked with mixed vegetables, moist chicken, chili, onion, cilantro, and a hearty dose of savory spices. Served with a refreshing cucumber-studded Indian yogurt, the combo was absolutely perfect.

With just a little room left for dessert, we couldn’t pass up the falooda kulfi. The “falooda” are similar to rice noodles but traditionally made with cornstarch or arrowroot powder, while “kulfi” is ice cream that errs on the side of icy, and was the ideal complement to the generous addition of aromatic rose milk.

With dinners like this, we’ll likely become good friends with the folks at Milan Curry House (who do, in fact, make fantastic Indian food).


Milan Curry House, 1251 Baseline Road, Suite 150, Roseville, 916-787-0800, milancurryhouse.wix.com/restaurant.