Black Dal
Cooked overnight, finished with butter. The dish that shows the kitchen’s patience.
Indian · Bayview Village
Amaya
Bayview’s Indian room, cooking well above what the plaza suggests
IndianBayview Village, Toronto$$Details being confirmed
The review
Amaya sits in a Bayview plaza, which lowers expectations unfairly. The tandoor here is used properly and the kitchen has the patience for the dishes that need it.
Black dal, cooked overnight and finished with butter, is the dish that demonstrates that patience — it should be silky and deeply savoury, and it is. Lamb chops off the tandoor are the best thing on the grill side. Butter chicken is the benchmark everyone orders, and it is a good version.
Honest notes: the room is a plaza room. Heat levels arrive dialled back unless you ask otherwise, so ask. It fills up at weekend dinner and the takeaway operation is the smarter move then.
What to order
Lamb Chops
Marinated and tandoor-charred. The best thing off the fire here.
Butter Chicken
The benchmark order, and it is a good one.
What works
- Tandoor is used properly
- Vegetarian menu is broad and considered
- Good takeaway operation
What doesn’t
- Plaza setting is uninspiring
- Spice levels are dialled back by default
- Fills up at weekend dinner
Verdict
Black dal, lamb chops, and ask for it hotter than they offer.