I've Been Poojed!

Pooja 
1075 Easton Avenue, Somerset 
732.220-0051 
$12-25 per person

A strip mall? And a pretty sketchy one at that?

Don't be fooled by the modest facade at Pooja (located in one of the older strip malls on Easton Avenue) -- this place packs a whole lot of punch with its wide array of Indian specialties.

The interior is clean and updated, with warm colors and soft lighting. Although the art and wall hangings may be slightly stereotypical, I believe they are true to the owner, or at least to the management.

As we settled in over our menus, we were brought out a basket of crispy, spiced papadum (similar to a large cracker) with several accompanying sauces: pickled onions, sweet tamarind sauce, and an herby green sauce similar to salsa verde. Be warned that the menu is huge. Consider one of the combination dinners, or to go with a group so you can share. (Or -- my favorite -- go with friends, order yourself a combination . . . and try everything your companions get anyway!)

One clear winner is the Chicken Korma. A mildly spiced dish of chunks of white meat chicken in a creamy, slightly sweet coconut based sauce. Absolutely irresistible korma sauce, best soaked up with warm naan (a toasted flatbread cooked in the tandoor oven).

Chicken Tikka Masala was another standout dish: not overbearingly spicy, but fragrant, fresh, and herby. For red meat lovers, get the smooth, delicate Lamb Rogan Josh. My first impression was reminiscent of sweet potatoes, it was laced with sweet spices to balance the strength of the tender pieces of lamb.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the Chicken Tandoor. Flavored much more by the coals of the oven than by any seasoning, it's tasty but pales in comparison to the other dishes.

Pooja's appetizers are also a treat. Offerings include traditional potato and pea filled samosas, lightly fried and perfectly seasoned cubes of paneer cheese, and a selection of other vegetable and meat fritters.

Those new to Indian food should keep in mind that you won't find any beef offerings on the menu (it is not served for religious reasons) and that the food can be quite spicy. The restaurant asks each diner if they would prefer their food mild, medium, or spicy. If you are not sure, it's a good idea to work your way up.

Honestly, the experience was so pleasant from the food to the excellent service, that I'm already wanting more.

In fact, my friends and I were so high on our foodie venture that we coined a new term: Poojed. Meaning we were so ridiculously pleased with our dining experience at Pooja that we were driven to giggling, general silly behavior, and holding our stomachs for the rest of the evening.

Go, enjoy, and get poojed.

Pooja receives four bites out of five.