Mela Indian

I had the opportunity to have diner with my wife at Mela Restaurant on September 22, 2009. I am not a seasoned, coinsure of Indian food, but I have been to a dozen or so Indian restaurants during the past few years and have enjoyed most of what I have eaten thus far. \r Mela's location is in the bustling down town section of Asheville and I was fortunate to find on street parking. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and the room was nearly filled to capacity when we arrived around 8 PM on that Tuesday evening. We shared an appetizer of tender and tasty naan bread along with a delicious pair of potato patties topped with curried chick peas and a sauce of mint chutney flavored with tamarind, cilantro and yogurt. Both the naan and the chowpattie ragada were excellent starters. For entries my wife had chicken korma and I had malai kofta. Her dish consisted of boneless chicken cooked in and almond cashew sauce topped with more nuts and raisons. My dinner was made of round objects with the look and consistency of meat but were made of ground cashews, almonds and paneer cheese served in a wonderful rich almond and spice sauce. All the food was excellent in taste and pleasing to the eye. The wait staff was friendly and we were pleased with the moderate prices This was one of the best Indian food experiences we have had to date and I'm looking forward to my next visit to Asheville and Mela restaurant. more

I ate at Mela a few times, and it's a nice place, charming. However, the food is occasionally uneven, thus... more

This establishment is one of two Indian restaurants currently on the scene in Asheville. The spices at... more

The atmosphere at this Indian restaurant is very much like a lounge or night club. It is very nicely decorated, the music is nice and funky, and the bartender mixes cocktails based on traditional Indian drinks (such as a kicked-up mango lassi). The food is very tasty, can't wait to go back. Many Indian restaurants have great food, but what sets this one apart is the funky, lounge-y party atmosphere. Pros: ambience, food Cons: might be a bit pricey for some, v. busy - reservations recommended more