Happy Hour: Belltown's Madhu offers bar food for a buck

Happy hour |

Madhu is a generic-looking Indian restaurant, complete with lunch-buffet station. But what a happy-hour deal: Well drinks are $2 and bar food is $1, sort of a way for this 2-month-old spot Indian restaurant to announce its presence in Belltown.

Rob Roy next door is a bar with more personality and better craft cocktails. But Madhu is decent enough for a thirst-quenching gin and tonic or two on a sunny day. Or for popping down some deep-fried munchies while you debate the World Cup or BP before making the rounds in Belltown.

There are three choices on the $1 menu, the best being the tapas-size plate of fritterlike pakoras, stuffed with spinach, cauliflower, potato, eggplant, onion and a hint of jalapeño. Deep-fried, though not greasy, and addictive enough that you will gobble one pakora after another and order more, because they're only a buck.

Go no further than the crunchy pakoras and you'll be content.

That naan was bland and too doughy. That samosa, supposedly filled with potato, green peas, cheese and raisin, tasted mostly of potatoes. Not bad, just tasted more like a croquette.

Madhu, 2330 Second Ave., offers happy hour 4-8 p.m. daily with $2 well drinks and $1 bar-food menu (206-441-7017 or seattlemadhu.com).

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com