I've been to Masala many times--I used to go frequently because it was the only Indian place in the city. The ambiance is the draw; the floor seating (small space with cushions & tables) isn't 100% comfortable but it's unique and the room is richly decorated with tapestries; definitely makes for a fun experience! The restaurant overall is cozy and well decorated. The menu variety is good--features the standard north Indian offerings. The service, in my opinion, is deplorable, the waiter I had last time was grim, unhelpful, and forget about getting a smile, though we were polite and in good spirits. The food is unfortunately not authentic--not surprisingly, Indians living in Panama don't go much (Panama has a large Indian community, the best indicator of authenticity is a room full of community members). The samosas & pacoras are good, go for those as appetizers, especially the chat samosa. The rotis are awful, thick lumpy messes; opt for nan or kulcha, instead, if you want bread (the latter are lovely). The main course dishes aren't consistently good, and I'd stay away from the potato ones (sad, because Indian potato dishes are the best when done well). The lamb rogan josh and biryanis seem to be good most of the time. The other veggie dishes are okay though I thought the dal was too watery. The Indian chai (tea) and carrot halwa dessert are yummy, definitely worth ordering and a nice way to finish the night. Unfortunately, you can't get really spicy food here even if you ask for it, they'll ask you how hot you want it but to me all the food is mild. So Masala wins my vote for ambiance but not for authentic food.
Masala is good for dates (cozy), first-timers (with Indian cuisine), or a small, close knit group (reserve the floor seating). Don't take peeps from India, England, or anywhere else with great Indian cuisine; they may be polite and say it's fine but they won't be impressed.
