Tandoori Demonstration at Mantra

Last night, I was lucky enough to be invited to a cooking demo and tasting at Mantra restaurant in the Ladder District.  Located on Temple Street, this restaurant is completely unassuming on the outside.  In fact, it appears more like an office building than a restaurant on the exterior.  This of course made sense when I learned that Mantra is located in an historic bank from the nineteenth century. 

While the outside looks like just another office building, the inside couldn't be more different. Mantra has a sleek modern look to it more akin to a restaurant in New York than in Boston.  Italian marble floors and countertops are complemented by dark wood tables, plush seating, and sheer silk curtains.  One of the major centerpieces of the restaurant is a huge golden buddha which is definitely a conversational piece.

I was really impressed with the restaurant's interior design.  Unlike some other Indian or Indian-fusion restaurants in the city, Mantra has a stunning decor that pays homage to its Indian cuisine without appearing kitschy.  I was told that the restaurant is planning on changing their interior design in the coming months to create a more lounge-like vibe and I'm interested to seeing what changes will be made.

Mantra has a focus on French-Indian cuisine but last night, we were focusing on their Indian cuisine.  We gathered at their naan bar for cocktails and a tandoori demonstration.  The naan bar also had a really sleek look and it included several tandoor ovens. 

We watched as the cooks prepared several different types of naan.  My favorite was the green chili and smoked mozzarella naan, although the coconut and date naan was also a great flavor combination.  I got into a conversation with the ever so lovely Robin Cohen of Doves and Figs about figuring out a way to make naan at home.  Are there any suggestions on how to attempt to do this?  If so, send them my way!

The chefs also prepared several tandoori meats.  For me the highlight was the tandoori chicken.  The tandoori chicken was so tender and full of a mild spicy heat.  The naan bar also featured several different types of chutney and I found the spicy tamarind chutney added a wonderful heat to the tandoori chicken. 

I had a wonderful time at Mantra and really fell in love with the space.  The decor is amazing but I can equally rave about the food.  I didn't get a photo of it but there is also a really cool woven wooden tent-like structure in the restaurant.  Inside the wooden structure, you will find a table with floor seating and plush pillows.  This would be a really great space for a private party and I'm trying to find a reason to get a group together at Mantra to try this dining space out.

Thanks again to Christine Liu of Citysearch Boston, Chris Lyons and Mantra for a wonderful evening. 

Mantra is located at 52 Temple Street in the Ladder District.