Peacocks, with their shining, iridescent blue feathers, are as beautiful as they are mysterious. Many cultures consider them a good omen, and they have been revered for their vibrance and uniqueness throughout history.
These traits make the bird the perfect monicker for the newly opened north Scottsdale restaurant Peacock Indian Bar & Grill.
Walk inside the large restaurant and the first thing you'll notice is the lighting. Modern light bar fixtures hang overhead, backlit arches line the walls and a rainbow of slowly changing LEDs casts a mesmerizing glow around the bar. A bartender shakes cocktails and pours wine. Behind him, a large peacock displays its vibrant feathers on a mirror reflecting the scenes of the dining room.
The cavernous restaurant draws you in with metallic curtains hanging from the ceiling that frame the windows and focus the view back indoors. Yes, it's a typical Phoenix strip mall space with a busy parking lot and the constant hum of Scottsdale Road just outside. But the modern decor takes you away from all that and invites you to embark on an experience.
The selection of customers who choose to accept that invitation ranges widely. Families in sandals and T-shirts come in for a casual bite. A young couple makes shy eye contact on a first date at the bar. Groups of old friends gather to share a tableful of entrees. It's a broad cross-section of the north Scottsdale crowd, eager to explore what the new restaurant has to offer.
At Peacock Indian Bar & Grill, start your meal with the delicious and colorful Samosa Chaat.
Tirion Boan
A mixture of onions and tomatoes mingles with layers of earthy tamarind chutney, bright green mint sauce and creamy yogurt. On top, bright pink pomegranate pearls shine under a sprinkling of sev, small crispy strands of broken noodles made from chickpea flour. Visually, the dish resembles a seven-layer dip. But there's no sad guacamole here. Each topping brings a different flavor to the mix, and for the ultimate bite, get a piece of samosa with a scoop of every colorful layer.
The menu is broken into many sections – vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers, veggie or meat entrees, breads, biryani, rice, sides and salads. Order a little of everything and make sure to share.
The Daal Makhani ($18), a traditional Punjabi dish that blends black lentils with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cream and plenty of butter, is served in a miniature metal bucket complete with a little handle for passing around to your tablemates.
Take a group and share a selection of delicious vegetarian and meat-filled plates at Peacock Indian Bar & Grill.
Tirion Boan
The Tandori Raan ($29), traditionally served with marinated lamb shank, is a decadent dish that celebrates the rich, fragrant meat. The lamb is slow-cooked with spices and then finished in the tandoor for a kiss of char. Enjoy this dish with rice or fluffy garlic naan marbled with charred dough bubbles to complete the tandoor-prepared meal.
After all of the rich, savory sauces, something light and sweet sounds just right. Share the Gulab Jamun ($6), a dish of four deep-fried milk dumplings soaked in syrup and topped with a creamy condensed milk sauce. Bright green pops of crushed pistachio add a little texture to this soft, sweet, delicious dish.
For a final sweet treat, don't skip the mango lassi ($5). This blended yogurt drink bursts with the flavor of fresh mango and gets a floral note from rose water. It's unlike the typical varieties made with canned fruit and syrup served around town. This mango tastes of the tropics.
Dotted around the dining room, large TV screens show a slowly rotating slideshow of tropical destinations. On our recent visit, the screen in front of our table focused on Australia, displaying drone shots of the Sydney Opera House and koalas in the trees. It would make more sense for these screens to focus on scenes of India, but no matter. The food transported us to the right subcontinent.
At Peacock Indian Bar & Grill, the dishes are as visually exciting as the spectrum of flavors they contain. Spoon them over rice or scoop them up with soft naan, and their colors really start to show. At this new north Scottsdale Indian food destination, multi-colored lights shine around the bar and a rainbow of flavors are waiting to be enjoyed.
