With warmer days settling into Florida, there’s something fitting about seeking out meals that bring their own kind of fire. At Roti’s Indian Restaurant & Bar in Riverview, Florida, bold spices and comforting dishes set the tone. This time, though, I didn’t go in alone, with my best friend in town acting as my personal guide to the world of spices, dishes and traditions. I’m sure I’ll experience an authentic Indian meal.
The interior was bright and impeccably clean, accented with delicate hanging light fixtures and a central buffet setup, likely used for parties or special gatherings. But beyond the polished interior, the real experience began when the menu hit the table. Wanting to keep things traditional, we started with the vegetable samosas, which are triangular, shaped pastries that are typically filled with spiced mashed potatoes, green peas and carrots, that were dipped in chutney, a yogurt-based sauce.
The thick, crispy crust was the tastiest bit of the samosa, and it paired well with the soft, savory filling. It also carried spice well, wasn’t too spicy and was sweetened out with the tamarind chutney. It’s interesting when learning the taste of new spices, like the earthy tang of coriander or the warmth of ginger.
To wash everything down, I had Thums Up, a popular cola brand in India. The drink comes in cinnamon and cardamom flavors.
After devouring the samosas, we moved on to our main dish, paneer butter masala. Instead of choosing something popular like the British-Indian dishes chicken tikka masala or butter chicken, we settled on the paneer butter masala. Butter paneer is a rich and creamy curry made with a fresh soft cheese, onions, tomatoes, cashews and butter.
The paneer felt similar to some tofu-made dishes, its soft but firm texture carried a milky taste, which goes well with spices. The sauce was extremely smooth, with a sweeter tomato flavor. What’s great about paneer is that it’s not exactly spicy, and it’s a great “starter” dish, especially when paired with garlic naan or rice to scoop up with the creamy sauce.
With the bold spices and creamy sauces still lingering, it only felt right to end on a sweet note. Gulab jamun is a popular South Asian dessert that consists of soft, deep-fried dough balls that are made with milk solids and soaked in sugar, rose water and cardamom powder that creates a sweet, fragrant syrup.
It’s warm and indulgent, but the unique flavor of the rose water is interesting. The texture is delicate and spongy, completely saturated with syrup, so it melts in your mouth with bursts of citrus and sugar. By the end of a long, warm day in the sun, students can wind down with a warm, satisfying meal that offers a comfortable but flavorful escape.
