07/28/09

Best Indian food outside of India

by Nicksline

Having always loved Indian and Spice Foods, I spent over 2 months in India, fell in love with the Chicken Tikka Masala there and gained 25lbs. Came home and of course went searching for the same quality dish here in Cali. I went everywhere almost every night, I even went to little India in Cerritos, It took me over 3 months to find it but the Clay Oven actually makes the real deal and the addiction continues. Only difference is that I can work out here Stateside and I've lost the 25lbs.

I LOVE this restaurant, and there Sunday Brunch Rocks too. I also recommend the Shrimp Coconut Curry. Yummers!!!!

5 year customer and they have always been super friendly and attentive.

Only wish that people couldn't smoke on the patio so that I could sit outside sometimes.

Cheers!

• Pros: Authentic
• Cons: None!

08/31/08

A++++ AMAZING INDIAN FOOD AA+++++++++

by donnbialik

At this point, Clay Oven has become one of our favorite restaurants in all of Los Angeles. The absolutely best Indian food in the whole town, bar none. And we go to lots of Indian restaurants. Not Tantra, Lal Mirch or the rest can hold a candle to this place. Not the fanciest place (Lal Mirch is fancier) nor the trendiest (Tantra does a good job in that department), Clay Oven is both trendy to some degree and somewhat fancy. It really is worth giving it a try. Their Chicken Makhani is amazing, seriously amazing. And you haven't lived until you've tried their Vegetable Korma Enlightenment. It seriously the closest thing to a religious experience I've had at a restaurant.

A++++++

• Pros: Amazing Tiki Masala, Makhani, Korma
• Cons: Maybe occasionally slow on the draw with refilling water and sodas. But just ask.

08/27/08

the BEST Indian food!

by lara24

My fiance' and I had dinner there last night and absolutely everything tasted fresh and flavorful! The mint sauce, samosas, okra and vegetable biryani were the best I've ever had. The atmosphere is somewhat hip, fairly romantic... and the food will keep you eating way past "full." My fiance' is vegan and some places can be less than accommodating, but Clay Oven actually caters to the vegan crowd on a regular basis. I'm even considering ordering take out from there tonight!

• Pros: fresh, flavorful food and great service
• Cons: none

07/08/08

Great indian food

by crystalchopra

Clay Oven has great indian food. The service is fast. The atmosphere is really nice. The yellow daal is too good. They remodeled the whole place and it looks great! Mindblowing ambience.

05/12/08

SIMPLY DISGUTING. avoid this place by all means

by wuttaday

It was my wife's birthday, got a babysitter at noon to watch my 3 year old. Went for lunch buffet at 1pm. Restaurant was hardly thirty percent full. I saw an open booth and asked the hostess for it. She rudely said it was only for 4 people. So she sat us down next to an obnoxious group of six very loud people. Other than the booths, the other tables are tightly pressed up against each other. So we were practically sitting with the obnoxious group. Not a good start. Then I loaded my plate and knew right away that the quality of the food was as bad as the service I received from the hostess. Totally crappy and really tatseless. It is now 5 hours after this disgusting meal, and my stomach is seriously going through bad noises and never mind what else. Oh, and did I mention that ten minutes after we were dining, two people were escorted directly to a booth (via a different waiter). How totally rude. I think the hostess knew I was upset about the booth deal from the beginning, and she knida went out of sight after the waiter sat the other two at a booth. What a dummy. I really wanted to tell the hostess off (being that I'm from NY and all), but my wife pleaded with me not to because it was her birthday. We should have gone to Spumoni down the block as we were originally going to do. DO NOT GO TO CLAY OVER!!!

03/05/08

Best Indian anywhere

by LondonChick10

I thought this restaurant was brilliant. My husband and I went for dinner and the food was just amazing. We ordered the chicken curry and the lamb korma with saffron rice, it was delish! WE would deff go back again. THe waiters were really nice too, Manu the manager was extremely friendly. The ambiance was very simple, they should add some artwork to their walls but overall it was very nice. It wasn't that cheap nor that expensive but be prepared to spend around $50-60 for a couple inc wine. Also their garlic naan is just to die for! I gave it a 4/5 coz of their ambiance but food was top notch quality!

11/30/07

Excellent buffet. Great service and deliscious food.

by thefleck

I've been to the Clay Oven for the buffet a few times now and I really like this place. I had been wanting to try this place for a while now but I thought it would be hard to find parking on Ventura. There is actually a pretty decent parking lot in the alley behind the restaurant. The ambiance was much nicer than I expected- All the tables have linen, lots of servers walking around refilling things, and some new-age music playing in the background. All the food was fresh and high quality, but they could probably use another non-vegetarian curry option- the selection was not as large as other buffets I've been to. The naan was hot and fresh and absolutely deliscious with the chicken tikki masala. The Gulab Jamun were also some of the best I've had, but I wish they had ice cream rather than rice pudding to go with them.

I will definitely keep coming back here. The buffet is delicious and the value is excellent. The fun ambiance and easy accessibility make it the best Indian buffet I've had in the Valley.

• Pros: Great food, service, and value. Easy parking.
• Cons: Buffet selection could be a little larger.

10/21/07

Excellent food!

by lajewl

The food was delicious - we had their new Mango chicken, which was just the best. Their garlic naan wasn't the best I've had, but that's not what's going to make or break ratings for me. Also, the waiter was a bit odd - we got the impression that perhaps he wasn't happy that we were sharing the majority of the meal. But it wasn't that big of a deal, actual service was still good, and the chicken was just in a class of its own. And they didn't mind that we hung out for a long time, long after we were done eating.

• Pros: food, no pressure to leave when done

09/30/07

They're closed

by valleygrrrl

Used to be decent, although it seemed to have changed management/ownership a few times over the years... went on Friday night, the place has been closed down. Not sure if it's just for a remodel or permanent.

09/01/07

Great Indian Food

by grimple1

Service was great. The food was good. My chicken jafrazzi was very good and my wife's vegetarian kora (sp?) enlightment was amazing. I would definately recommend and go back!

• Pros: Lots of vegetarian options, good portions, food was great!
• Cons: Soft drink prices were a little bit.. 2.50 each. Expect 30+ for 2 people.