I’ve been coming to Lovash with my boyfriend for years. The first time we came, probably in 2002, the kitchen was a griddle and a tandoor in the front of the downstairs. There were maybe 3 tables for eating in, no tablecloths or flatware set out. When we told them we’d be eating there, they quickly added a tablecloth, china, flatware, and even a candle and a vase. Who doesn’t love that kind of service?

The food was delicious. I like spices, but not necessarily heat. I get different dishes every time, but I am always drawn to ones that contain coconut milk, ginger, raisins, or mango.

In the years since that first visit, they have expanded to 2 floors, and the kitchen no longer takes up most of the space. It seems that many people in Philadelphia have really come to enjoy the flavor, service, and reasonable (not massive) portion sizes at Lovash. It should also be noted that my boyfriend is a self-proclaimed cheapskate, but he finds the prices at Lovash to his liking.

Well, I guess my first review for Menuism was more of a foray into nostalgia than a true food review. I’ll try harder next time, remember what I ordered, take note of subtle flavors, etc. Until then, I recommend anything with coconut milk, ginger, raisins, or mango.

Located on South Street, Lovash is in the middle of a busy area with a lot going on, including plenty of other tempting restaurants (don’t expect to find parking anywhere nearby). The food was a little different than any other Indian restaurant I’ve been to. They serve the standard crispy flatbread with sauces before ordering, but the flatbreads are cone shaped (opposed to the usual broken chips) and given a snazzy name I can’t recall.

The service was excellent, and I say this despite the fact that our waiter forgot to put in our order for almost an hour. The staff was so friendly and polite that we didn’t mind spending the extra time there.

The food was okay – I ordered the aloo gobi. This is probably my least favorite aloo gobi to date, but it was still good. The sauce was red and very tomato-y, it made me question if there was an Italian cook in the kitchen and they sent out cauliflower instead of pasta. It was still tasty, just completely not what I was expecting.

Our table had a view of the entrance, and while we were there a lot of people stopped in for take out, making me think this place is popular among the locals. I’d go back, but I’d definitely order something different.