Last Friday, my daughter Shannon and I celebrated our friend Kate’s birthday. Our tradition is to meet for lunch in Portland, and the birthday “girl” gets to choose the restaurant. Because Portland is such a foodie town, our options are many, and over the years we have eaten at some good restaurants. (There was also a mediocre one—The Merry Table—but this is bound to happen even in a foodie town such as Portland.) However, this time for Kate’s birthday, we hit the foodie jackpot with Hi Bombay, an Indian restaurant (of course!).

We have Shannon to thank for this because it was at her suggestion that we went to Hi Bombay. Shannon and her husband, Mike, had eaten there a week or so earlier, and they both gave it two thumbs up. As Kate would remark, “Shannon, I would not hesitate to go to any restaurant that you recommended.” To this a proud mother could only nod in agreement.

A small, unassuming restaurant with a brick front, Hi Bombay is on the edge of the Old Port. Last Friday was a cool, rainy day, and what a delight it was to open the door of the restaurant and step into a room that was filled with warm colors—red, especially—and warm spicy smells. Kate was at a booth, waiting for us.

“It’s cozy in here, isn’t it?” she said.

Yes, cozy. And welcoming, too. As an added bonus, there was a flat-screen TV with a Bollywood film playing.

Naturally, we had tea. And some naan, the traditional Indian flat bread, which was so fresh and good that it took great self control to have only one piece. (Over the winter, this good eater has put on quite a few pounds, and the time has come to lose some weight. But more about that in a future post.) Kate ordered the fish curry, which, according to the description on the menu, is “seasonal fish cooked in a sauce of onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic & blend of spices.” Kate said it was outstanding. Shannon and I ordered the tikka chicken masala, chunks of chicken in a tomato sauce softened with a bit of cream and mixed with spices. I am not familiar enough with Indian food to identify by taste what the spices were. There are no Indian restaurants in the Augusta area, and as far as I know, there never have been. At any rate, the tikka masala was so delectable that I could have easily used some of the naan to sop up the last of the sauce. Or maybe just lick the bowl clean. I didn’t do either of those things, but I was tempted.

Shannon asked for medium spicing, and she said her masala had quite a little zing. I am a wimp when it comes to hot spicing, and therefore requested the mild. A good decision. My tikka masala left a pleasant, spicy tingle on my lips, but not an uncomfortable one. Just the way I like it. A bowl of rice came with the masala and the curry, and the rice was beautifully cooked—light and fluffy with each grained defined.

What a meal! We all decided that we must come to this restaurant again, with the “boys” in tow.

Anytime the schedule is free, I’d be ready head to Portland for a meal at Hi Bombay. All it would take is a call or an email from family or friends.  All weekend long, I thought about that tikka masala, remembering the smooth but spicy sauce and the slight tingle it left in my mouth.

It might have been Kate’s birthday, but when food is that good (and so reasonably priced), it is a celebration for everyone involved.