By Sherman Chan,
Special to The Post

When we think of posh and trendy, Indian food doesn’t necessarily come to mind, until now. With their stylish decor and good food, Tasty Indian Bistro has changed how we experience Indian food in a good way. I had a good experience on my last visit, so it didn't take much convincing to accept an invite from a friend.
We were treated to several appetizers, including Chili Mushroom, Chicken Samosa and Fish Pakora. Despite the name, the chili mushroom was not really that spicy. There was a nice kick to it, and it went well with the crispy battered mushrooms. The samosas were not bad, and featured a nice crispy exterior and moist chicken with a bit of spice. I liked the fish pakora the most as it was lightly battered and crisp, while inside, the fish was flaky and moist.
Onto the mains, I took a sample of the Butter Chicken first. This version was on the creamier side with only minor hits of tartness from the tomato. I found it quite sweet with a noticeable spice level ,and the big chunks of chicken were sufficiently moist and tender to the chew. With ginger and onion notes, the Halibut Curry was full of flavour that included a definite spice that was balanced off by the mild fish and peppers. By nature, halibut can be rather dry if overcooked, yet in this case, it was okay, although I wouldn't call it flaky.
My favourite dish was the Kadahi Lamb, partly because I'm biased when it comes to the meat. There was a good spice level which was accented by ginger and a rich sweetness. The lamb itself exhibited a gelatinous tenderness. 
Bathed in a creamy sauce, the Portabello Mushroom Curry was a pleasant vegetarian offering. The slices of tender mushrooms provided some meatiness to this meatless dish, and the ginger and vinegar notes added noticeable heat. I also sampled the Aloo Gobi. This was a nice departure from all the rich curries and I didn't mind a non-meat dish at this stage of the meal. The cauliflower was toothsome and completely cooked, and the potatoes were intact and fluffy inside. 
We were served rice and Naan, which were done right with a slightly charred exterior that was a crispy and chewy on the inside.
For dessert, we were served Gulab Jamun served in kheer. Naturally, it was very sweet, but the creamy kheer lessened the sting of the rosewater soaked ball.  
Overall, I thought the food was the same as the first time visited this location, which is a good thing as it was indeed "tasty." However, the food is quite rich and on the saltier/sweeter side.
*All food and drinks were complimentary*

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.

Tasty Indian Bistro
8295 120 Street, Surrey
(604)507-9393

The Good:
• Place has got style
• Food is indeed flavourful

The Bad:
• Food is on the saltier/sweeter side
• Although not expensive, it ain't cheap