Best deals in town: Baar Baar's $55 five course Indian tasting menu

This is part of our series highlighting affordable tasting menus at upscale restaurants in L.A. Previously we've visited Italian restaurant Mozza on Melrose and Beverly Hills steakhouse Matū. Today it's Baar Baar in DTLA.

Baar Baar, the modern eatery billed as New Indian cuisine, is located on the corner of 9th Street and Flower Avenue. The last time I visited, my wife and I saw a concert at Crypto.com Arena, which is less than a 10-minute walk from there if you want to save on parking.

This time I was there to try their $55 prix-fixe dinner. I began with a canapé — a dahi puri, a small, thin puff pastry filled with tamarind, yogurt mousse, and raspberry chaat masala. It had sweet and tart notes, signaling the culinary journey I was about to embark on.

Pani puris, a popular Indian street snack.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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I was asked to choose three dishes from the small and large plates sections, and it was recommended that I try the Cauliflower 65, inspired by the famous Southern Indian dish Chicken 65, a fried chicken dish. It’s made with large fried cauliflower florets in a carrot pachadi, a spiced dip-like dish, topped with peanut chutney and thecha, a spicy condiment that provides a pungent shot of garlic flavor.

Cauliflower 65, inspired by the famous Southern Indian dish Chicken 65, a fried chicken dish.

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Kevin Eduard White

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Courtesy Baar Baar LA

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For my larger plate, I had the beef short ribs, made with a Madras curry enhanced with bone marrow, which gave the dish an excellent viscosity. It was served with my chosen side of black dal, made with black lentils, which provided a vibrant and earthy flavor.

Rasamali cassatta.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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After all the bold flavors came the dessert, which felt extremely welcome. I chose the rasmalai cassata, which combines a Bengali sweet cheese dish and a Sicilian moist sponge cake which is topped with candied fruit, and placed into a puree of strawberries and rosewater. The dish was divine and the perfect closer for such a rich and flavorful meal.

Ultimately it was one of my favorite prix-fixe menus so far. I loved being able to choose a variety of both small and large plates, and to have so many vegetarian and vegan options. The fact that it came with dessert was also great. I'd particularly recommend it as a date night, given it's so close to Crypto.com.