Restaurant Review: Otsal

 A MOUTH WATERING TREAT, delightful and enticing in its entirety. Come, and indulge in a journey of olfactory hedonism and test the limits of gastronomical adeptness. The People at Otsal restaurant try their best to give you an experience you would hardly forget. From the dimly lighted atmosphere ideal for holding light conversations to the fragrance of exotic herbs and spices, and to the light Bollywood music playing in the background, Otsal is your TRUE destination for a night you would never forget.

Start your meal with a complimentary appetizer of ‘Papad’ and ‘green salad’ and work your way up to curries and a diversity of the famous Indian bread “Naan”. For those who want their meals pre-chosen, they can buy one of the 3 set menus that Otsal offers, each varied by price and the dishes included. As you go on with your meal, don’t forget to look around the incredible decorations- the miniature elephants, bright Led lights hugging the wall, and a large range of traditional Indian paintings. The serving is highly satisfactory. Even though the restaurant was decently filled at my visit, it only took about ten minutes for my order to arrive, and each subsequent course was perfectly coordinated with the removal of old plates from our table. To bring to an end a highly satisfying meal, we ordered two desserts, a plate of cheesecake and a traditional Indian mango ice-cream.  While these desserts made their way to our table, we were offered a complimentary cup of milk tea. After the desserts, and yes, we successfully lifted every bit of food from our plates… sometimes even against the will of our stomachs, we walked out satisfied.

Located at a 15 meter walk from exit 2 of Seoul National University station, Otsal is a reasonably expensive restaurant. Average meal at Otsal costs 10,000 won per person and the cost may lower if more people are in the group. The ambience and service is hard to beat even at other high end restaurants. A love and inclination for Indian cuisine is a must since there are no ‘foreign dishes’ served at the restaurant. A rule of thumb dictates that you specify the degree of spiciness  of your food, since failure at this might wreak havoc.  Lastly, don’t forget to taste some fenugreek at the cashier’s desk as you pay for the meal and bring that lovely time to an end.