An Indian Meal in Copenhagen

Well, okay, the first thing I ate in Copenhagen, Denmark was a Danish -- a yummy, raspberry-filled, flaky pastry accompanied by a piping hot Cappuccino served by a barista with deep blue eyes and an accent as rich as the pastry.
But the next meal to tickle our culinary senses was Indian. Yes, after walking around with watering mouths, looking to discover a local favorite, we came upon Gateway to Bombay, a quaint-looking candlelit little restaurant. Since our hometown does not have an Indian restaurant, it was far too tempting to resist.

We walked in to a warm, humid room, thick with the aroma of curry and cardamom. I passed tables with dishes of family-style portions of a variety of entrees on our way to a table for two, crammed in between two other tiny tables. At least if our willpower didn't limit what we would eat, the size of the table would.

After perusing the extensive menu, we selected curry chicken (light on the "heat"), seekh (lamb) kabab, channa masala (chick peas and potatoes in curry), nan (flat bread) and rice. I chose a morsel of curried chicken first - simply heaven on a fork; perfectly seasoned with spices for my wimpy tongue. Next, the channa masala. I savored each little pea, trying to detect the seasonings used so that I might prepare it for Thanksgiving this year.

Ratings - 1-10, with 10 being BEST!

Atmosphere - 8
With soft lighting accenting original artwork and tables lit by candlelight, the atmosphere was warm and calming. My only complaint was that it was rather cramped.

Food - 10
Definitely the best Indian food I've had - even in India. Perfectly seasoned, as long as you let the waiter know how you like it.

Service - 7
The wait staff was extremely professional, but not as friendly as that of other establishments we've visited in Copenhagen. They spoke English well, however, I got the feeling it really was a "local" hangout, and they weren't accustomed to tourists.

Observations
1) I always think it's good when you see that the locals frequent the establishment, and especially think it's a good sign when Indians frequent an Indian restaurant, Japanese frequent a Japanese restaurant, Chinese a Chinese restaurant, etc., etc.

2) The repeated realization that we really do live in a "melting pot" small world always makes me smile. At Gateway to Bombay, the Indian wait staff spoke Danish and English, and a Chinese woman who sat next to us spoke Danish. On our walk this evening, we heard a Peruvian duet with guitar and flute playng Peruvian music and another duet with guitar and accordian playing "Besame Mucho" - certainly not Danish. :)

Tomorrow, we'll be taking a city tour of Copenhagen. Who knows what we'll find to eat - maybe Italian? Chinese? Perhaps another Danish.