Mint Leaf is an Indian restaurant on Shattuck and Cedar, and is an extremely popular place among the Berkeley rich hippie crowd. I don’t know what difference it makes, but 90% of its patrons are older than 40, white, and housewives.
Decor: 7
The place looks like a hipster bar and restaurant. There’s an open bar when you come in and a lot of tables. There’s also an option for sitting on the balcony outside, although be warned that hobos like to sit next to the balcony and beg for change from patrons. Most of them pay to be left alone, which doesn’t work, lolol. The tables are a bit too small and somehow someone is always walking around you, which speaks to a bad configuration. But they’re going for that busy look, so it kind of works.
Service: 6
Service was prompt for such a busy restaurant. The one thing I didn’t like is the delay in getting the entree, as though it were cooked to order. Look, it’s an Indian restaurant and they’re making curry. I know it’s made in big pots in the back and kept warm. One delight of Indian food is that you can get it extremely quickly because of this. But unlike the hippies of Berkeley, I don’t need to be lied to about the source of my food to be reassured.
Food: 7
I ordered samosas for appetizer and lamb tikki masala for entree. Those are two orders that are pretty hard to screw up, but this place delivered nicely. The quality is higher than you can find at cheaper Indian restaurants, although the prices are still a bit too high for what you get. The nan in particular is much better than you get typically, but it is outrageously priced at $5 per piece. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the best Indian food I’ve ever had, but it’s some of the better curry I’ve had in Berkeley for sure.
Ambience: 6
The place is jumping with activity, one of the few restaurants still open at 9 PM. It is crowded and popular, so it’s good if you like rubbing elbows with a lot of old housewives. It’s a place for a lively date, perhaps a fourth or fifth one when you’re past trying to get to know the date and just keeping the ball rolling. Or a place to go after you’re married with all your other shrew friends that hate their families.
Score: 26/40
Price: $20 per person (drinks, appetizers, entree)
Verdict: Try this place once. But unless you love old hippies, you won’t crave this place.