The Clay Pit restaurant on Guadalupe in Austin (photo by Kenn Stearns)

When we met friends and family at The Clay Pit, many of them remarked they’d seen the sign when driving by and had always wanted to stop. I’m no expert on Indian food, but I like bread, attentive service, diverse menu choices, and the ability to throttle spiciness. The Clay Pit delivered in all cases. Our group included a vegetarian, queasy stomach, low tolerance for spicy food, and enthusiastic support for extremely spicy food. Our waiter accommodated everyone’s requests. The Naan was hot, crisp, and tasty – we tried garlic and basil, onion and cilantro, and regular. We particularly enjoyed the Somosas (we tried chicken and vegetable), Tandoori Vegetables, and any Biryanis.

We read the criticisms from online reviewers claiming the food was not authentic, too spicy, not spicy enough, spotty service, etc. We didn’t have those problems and were delighted with the overall experience.

The Clay Pit's expansive main dining room in the old Bertam building (photo by Kenn Stearns)