Azitra in Brier Creek

Lately, Jessica and I have been working on expanding our horizons with regards to restaurants, so last night we tried Azitra (http://www.azitra.us/index.php) in Brier Creek.  Azitra is an Indian restaurant with modern atmosphere, and was recently featured on Groupon (the motivation we needed to try it).  We had been to Saffron in Morrisville (http://www.saffronnc.com/), often considered the best Indian food in the Triangle, once before and really enjoyed it, so we wanted to see how Azitra compared.

Walking into the restaurant, I was impressed with the modern decor and very nice bar area.  For a Tuesday night, it was surprisingly crowded (more than half full for a large space) but not overly loud or cramped.  Our server was attentive all night and never kept us waiting, so I'd say they certainly expect and staff for the crowds.  We were taken to our table and orders were taken relatively quickly; the only negative thing I noticed is that they don't have any bread-type option (in other Indian places I've seen cracker-like things given with a few dipping sauces) while you wait for your order.

For appetizer, we decided on the paneer pakora, which is best described as an Indian version of mozzarella sticks.  Four crisp wedges of cheese (very mild, comparable to mozzarella I'd say) were served deep-fried with a green spicy sauce and a dark-colored sweet one, both of which were excellent.  The smoothness and flavor of the cheese coupled with the crunchy outside and sauces was excellent; I may have wished that the cheese be warmer but I am not sure if that is how the dish is served or not, and it was certainly good enough not to worry too much!

Chicken tikki masala, naan,
and chicken kadhai

For the main course, we selected chicken tikki masala and chicken kadhai, both served mild (as opposed to medium, hot, or Indian hot, all of which would destroy me I believe).  The masala sauce is based on tomato and cream, and has a sweetness to it that is absolutely phenomenal; this is my favorite Indian dish and I never really stray from ordering it.  The kadhai was prepared with onions and peppers, as well as ginger and coriander seeds, and had a slightly spicier, more savory taste.  The chicken in each dish was tender and flavorful, able to be "cut" and eaten with only a fork.  Both dishes were served with ample sauce to cover the chicken, rice, and garlic naan that we ordered.  As is always the case for me with Indian food, the garlic naan was the highlight of the meal; fresh out of the oven, it was warm with plenty of garlic and herb flavoring, and PERFECT for dipping into either of the chicken sauces.  We actually ordered a second round of naan to make sure we soaked up all of the tikki masala sauce before leaving!

Mango kulfi

Dessert was another treat in the form of mango kulfi; which is Indian ice cream.  The mango flavor was wonderful and strong without being overpowering, and there seemed to be strawberry seeds (like those found on their skin) inside, adding a nice texture to the ice cream. The presentation was also nice with two separate sauces drawn across the plate in a modern pattern.

I would highly recommend that anyone, and particularly those people in or around Brier Creek, try Azitra and enjoy all of their wonderful food.  I do not know or experience Indian food enough to give a fair comparison between it and Saffron (which is also wonderful), but both are absolutely worth the trip for a night out.  Azitra provides wonderful variety and flavors in their food, great service, and a modern atmosphere to enjoy Indian food staples, even in the suburbs of Raleigh!