We met up with our friends Mark and Dasha on our first visit to The Tamil Prince on a night that wasn’t planned at all. We were craving good Indian food and already out, which is often how the best meals happen. One glass of wine turned into another at Goodbye Horses nearby, and somewhere between that second pour and a short walk, we decided to try our luck.

The room was already buzzing when we walked in. Small, dark, and full in a way that felt energized without being chaotic. Tables sat close together. Coats landed on chair backs. Conversations overlapped. It immediately felt like the kind of place where you order quickly and stay longer than you planned. We got lucky and found a spot, which set the tone for the rest of the night.