Indian cuisine pleases palate at Shanti

The Shanti Indian Cuisine is one of a few Indian places here in Bloomington. An extensive menu selection is complimented by a pleasant atmosphere.\nOne of the most outstanding features of this cozy restaurant was the parade of pre-entree items brought to us. We were served a complimentary salad, something we think highly of in any restaurant, along with a crunchy, bread-like pita and salsa. By the end of the meal, our table was covered by various food selections.\nThe interior of Shanti is simple -- clean with low lighting. They make good use of the available space by having the kitchen on the level below the dining room. Decorations were used sparingly but nice touches like a chandelier and natural wood-carved trim create a somewhat sophisticated appearance.\nWe arrived at Shanti around 6:30 p.m. Saturday and waited at our table for several minutes before being attended to, even though the restaurant was nearly vacant. But the service markedly improved after that. The wait-staff was friendly and knowledgeable of the dishes and spices that can be added upon request.\nWe started things off with the Keema Samosa, a dish recommended to us by several people. It consists of two fried pastries stuffed with ground lamb, peas and fresh spices. They came with dark and green sauces, which were absolutely delicious. We ordered the Butter Chicken and the Shrimp Masala, both without any additional spices. We would recommend to others to try the special Indian spices added to their dishes, because without them, we found the dishes to be slightly on the bland side. The dishes had a distinct taste, but could have been more flavorful.\nShanti is a very nice restaurant, and it brings a lot to the distinctive ethnic restaurant scene of Bloomington. It's a good place to go with parents or with others in search of unique food, culture and friendliness.