Romantic, delicious, and a truly desireable destination for diners appreciative of high-end Indian cuisine, that’s Spice Affair.
From elegant dining room to luxurious lounge and bar, with craft cocktails honestly among the very best in town, succulent cuisine, and charming service – it would be hard not to want to fall in love with the sexy Spice Affair in Beverly Hills on Restaurant Row – and its new location now added in Century City.
We were impressed with the lush golds and browns of the dining room and bar; the comfortable, spacious seating, and shimmering water sculptures from the moment we stepped inside. While Indian cuisine is everywhere in LA, it’s rare to find a combination of a simply gorgeous dining room and authentic, truly good food and drink.
We began our meal with two original and beautifully prepared drinks.
The Lavendar Basil Gimlit might’ve taken the prize: smooth, unique in taste and fragrance, it was just the cool passion to play off the spicier dishes.
A spicy concoction of mango and habanero infused vodka, cilantro, pineapple juice and infused bitters called Habanero Infusion was a perfect accompaniment to the starters, that included a variety of fresh, warm, light as air naan bread.
Moving into those starters…
The Coco-Li-Flower was sweet but not cloying, crisp cauliflower in tangy coconut sauce, and a delightful vegan dish.
Shrimp cooked in mildly spicy peri-peri sauce was a treat. Not at all heavy-handed, the spicing did not overwhelm or overpower the fresh seafood.
Naan came in a variety of flavors, butter with olive, thyme; garlic and chives; plain.
One of the highlights for us was the fresh grilled sea bass. I do not think I have ever had sea bass that was so melt-in-your-mouth tender; the tandoor taste and yogurt marinade were letter-perfect. It’s a must-try. I’m not a meat-eater, but my partner also had Ghee Roast Lamb, and pronounced it equally tender and sweet.
Love at first bite – above, the Nadru Kofta, described on the menu as magical, and I will not disagree. Vegan all the way, this dish combined lotus root and walnut dumplings in a rich sauce; it’s entirely unique, and like many of the dishes here, fragrant in aroma and taste. 
And of course one must save room for dessert, an in-house Gulabo, rose petal flavored homemade ice cream that danced with light, creamy flavor.
In short: if you’re looking for an elegant yet welcoming setting, superior service, and above all, exceptional and delightfully exotic cuisine, welcome to your new hearthtrob – just in time for Valentine’s Day planning – meet your Spice Affair.
Spice Affair is located at 50 N. La Cienega in Beverly Hills; for more information visit spice-affair.com
- Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis and courtesy of Spice Affair