With a plush interior, pleasant and attentive service and more importantly, exquisite food, this new Indian restaurant is probably one of the best places to dine in Moscow.

Strategically and conveniently located in the center near several embassies, this beauty aims to please some of Moscow’s most discerning customers. It’s about a 10 – 15 minute walk from metro Kropotkinskaya on pretty, peaceful Prechistinka Ulitsa. The owner said he wanted the place to be peaceful and comfortable for guests, and it most certainly is.

Guests are greeted with pleasant, laid-back smiles at the door and gently ushered to a table. The first room is decorated in soothing tones of beige and off-white, giving it a darker, cozier feel than the second room, which is brighter, more colorful and a bit prettier.

The service is a pleasant retreat from grumpy Russian waiters or irritatingly cheery American-style service. You can peruse the extensive menu for as long as you like, and only when your mind is clearly in a muddle will the waiter make a subtle suggestion. The service gets it right no matter how many different things you order, and they stay at a discreet distance to make you feel free to talk with your company but close enough to give you any attention you might need.

The vegetable samosas ($5), fried dumplings with potatoes, peas, other vegetables and spices were fried to perfection and served with rich tamarind sauce. We tried Kebab E Hazrus ($12) which features very tender cubes of white meat cooked in a tandoor oven and delicately flavored with lime, onion, yogurt and spices. The Paneer Pakeeza, ($12) Indian-style cottage cheese stuffed with nuts and spices, served in a mild tomato-yogurt sauce, was outstanding and finally the Aloo Jeera Banarsi, ($5) potatoes cooked in a slightly spicy tomato sauce with onion, bell pepper, chili.

Portions were just right — ample but not intimidating.

If you can manage dessert after feasting on the chicken, fish, lamb or vegetarian entrees, gulabjamuns, sweet, deep-fried dollops of dough, in a sweet condensed milk sauce with nuts, or hot gulabjamuns served in honey with slivers of pistachio nuts are a treat and go nicely with chai masala, delicately spiced tea.

The Ambassador offers a wide variety of cocktails, foreign and domestic beer as well as a selection of French wines. A meal for two would probably run between $30-$50 but more with a bottle of wine, most varieties costing $35-$40.

Top quality food, a pleasant atmosphere and impeccable service make the Ambassador Indian Kitchen a lovely way to wind down after a hectic day, or a great place for a decadent Sunday meal.

The Ambassador offers free deliveries, is open from noon to midnight every day and accepts all major credit cards.

Ambassador Indian Kitchen
29 Prechistinka Ul. Metro: Kropotkinskaya
Tel:201-4014
Hours: noon to midnight