Everything the Katz Brothers touch turns to gold or, in this case, curry. Their design chops create instantly comfortable spaces while the food is high quality and delicious. North Street doubles as a beer bar with Indian-inspired dishes for (or full meal) food. The buzz was buzzy when they first opened, but it took me a bit to get over here. I wished I had stopped in earlier!
Slinging out of a quaint old house, there’s a bar for bar seating and indoor and outdoor seating depending on your pleasure and weather conditions (as I write this in mid-November, it’s still summer!). Away from the bar, it’s table-side service.
The menu sings of Indian-Texan fusion, including chaat (snacks), curry tacos (using the paratha as a tortilla), features (mains), and bevs, including several Indian-influenced ones. Since I’m a commuter, I’ve only visited for lunch so far, so I’m looking for something size-appropriate for a mid-day munch (my office sadly does not have a sofa). For this, the curry tacos have been simply amazing.
The Chicken 65 Taco (fried chicken tossed in chili wing sauce, coco rice, red cabbage, queso fresco, lemon cucumber raita, jalapeño crema, and cilantro; $10) is stacked with flavor. The curry is in the wing sauce, and it twangs like a steel guitar (albeit without the pain). The Forbidden Taco (the Chicken 65 with curry queso and avocado; $11) amps the TexMex to 10 with curry(!?!?) queso. The Chicken Tikka Masala Taco (with coco rice, queso fresco, white cabbage, cilantro, avocado, jalapeño crema, and tamarind date chutney; $10) leans into the subcontinent like the shadows of the Himalayas. And you can plus up the plate with a side of their excellent North Street Fries (waffle fries with house made seasoning; $3).
For mains, I’ve tried the Butter Chicken (oven baked chicken in a creamy tomato sauce; $15) and walked away unimpressed with the unrich and unspicy attempt. Regardless, my pals have raved about the butter chicken as well as the Curry Trio (pick three: chicken curry, paneer tikka masala, chicken tikka masala, chana masala, saag paneer, or butter chicken; $17). Mains arrive with papadam (Indian tortilla chips!). The side-salad is a strutter, and the paratha palpable.
My biggest criticism is that the curry, and thus the dishes, are sadly not spicy. However, while writing this review and checking on the price of a side of fries, which I could not find on the main menu but found via the online ordering app, it says you can ask for your food to be spicy or extra spicy. This changes everything! Why this is not clear on the menu is a mystery (and something they should address or at least ask when ordering).
Hopefully you’ll see me back there soon with sweat on my brow!
North Street; 216 North Street San Marcos, Texas; (512) 667-7094
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