Since this is my last post that will be made to fulfill an assignment in Dr. Silverman's course, I decided to use this post to look back over all of the buffet visits we've made this semester, and pick out superlatives.
Most frequently seen dish: Chicken Tikka Masala. 6 out of 10 buffets had it. I'm not surprised by this, seeing how it is probably the best known dish in Indian Cuisine. It was the first one I had heard of prior to gaining interest for Indian cuisine.
Cheapest buffet: Rasoi of Albuquerque, NM. $9.45 on a weekday, tax included. The out-of-towner wins it! Perhaps it has to do with a relatively low cost of living in New Mexico, or perhaps it can be attributed to the relatively small buffet selection. The small selection didn't take away from my enjoyment at all, the offerings were high quality.
Most expensive buffet: Pongal of Billerica, MA. $11.66 on a weekday, including tax. Conversely, this buffet had a relatively large selection. I would've been sold on this price if I really like the selections, but that didn't happen.
Highest rating: It's a four way tie between Priya of Lowell MA, Rasoi of Albuqurque, NM, Bombay Mahal of Waltham, MA, and India Palace of Chelmsford, MA, all with 4.8's. I still can't decide which one I like the best. The three buffets in MA are what I'd recommend to the reader of this blog who hasn't been to an Indian buffer before. What made these the best (in my book), was that each had high quality dishes at relatively low costs.
Favorite dish and where: I'm going to pick two: The saag paneer at Rasoi and the Chicken Tikka Masala at both India Palaces. Take heed from my inclinations. This curry is GOOD. These dishes are not to thick or thin and are bursting with flavor.
Most items (not counting sauces, naan, plain basmati rice, and salad): Bombay Mahal with 18 items. Well, no wonder the buffet was so pricey. I just wished the food was more to my liking. It seems very South Indian-centric. Which is good for dosa, yet bad in my book when it comes to entrees.
Least items (not counting sauces, naan, plain basmati rice, and salad): Rasoi with 8. it must be no coincidence that these two buffets (Pongal and Rasoi) are, respectively, the most expensive, and cheapest. I'm pretty sure I'd rather have a small selection of delicious items, than a wide selection of "meh" items.
I hope one was able to deduct some useful conclusions about these buffet stats so far. As to that the future holds for endless spice, perhaps branching off into other cuisine, or showcasing the cooking of me and those I know. All I do know is that the possibilities are wide open from here...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
India Palace, Chelmsford, MA
India Palace313 Littleton Rd., Chelmsford, MA
This week's buffet survey is unique in that we're visiting a restaurant that is part of a chain. We visited their Nashua location in my first review. Today, we get to see how a chain of Indian restaurants compare from one location to the next in their buffet quality...
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
raitha: Once again, I could not decipher and distinct deviations in flavor from how this spiced yogurt always tastes.
onion: n/a. It looked like what they serve in Nashua.
mint: n/a
tamarind: I'm having a hard time recalling how the tamarind chutney tasted in Nashua. Their chutney was quite good, but a little on the sweet side. It must be similar because I mentioned the tamarind chutney having the same flavor characteristics.
(left to right: empty bowl of seaweed salad?, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, and salad fixings at top)
Salad: Their salad section, unlike their Nashua counterparts, had the fixings (iceberg lettuce, carrot, red onion, green chili, and lemon wedges, separated out, so that one could fix at their own risk. I find this arrangement optimal for concocting the perfect salad to begin my Indian feast. I would also like to note that there was an empty bowl (you can see it in the picture) that appeared to have contained seaweed salad. If it was, in fact, seaweed salad, I'm sad to have missed out.
Soup:
lentil soup: It appeared to be an assortment of lentils and mixed vegetables in a spicy broth. I didn't try it.
Bread:
naan/garlic naan: Just like their Nashua location, they make their naan bread available in a pan up at the buffet. I am therefore to take as much or little naan as I like, so long as they keep it adequately stocked. Also like the Nashua India Palace, they have both regular and garlic naan available. It did seem, though, that their naan was thinner then that of their Nashua location and, perhaps, the thinnest I've seen. This isn't too much of an issue, it still tasted pretty good.
Appetizer:
onion pakora: Their pakoras had an interesting batter. it was more orange and bready than what I'm used to for pakora batter. I prefer the crispier, flakier crust.
Entrees:
(clockwise from top left: malai kofta, aloo gobi, mushroom chicken, and saag chana)
(clockwise from top left: aloo gobi, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and mushroom chicken)
dal makhani: Their dal was simultaneously creamier, sweeter, and tangy-er than what I'm used to tasting.
saag chana: I'm happy to finally see this dish at a buffet. This dish combines my love for chickpeas with my love for creamy saag. This particular dish was so sweet and creamy, its flavor resembled malted milk. I was thrown off at first, but I found the more I tasted, the more I enjoyed it.
malai kofta: I've been wary of this dish in the past because it seemed so heavy: battered dumplings in a sweet, yellow cream sauce, similar to that of vegetable korma. Today I finally bit the bullet and gave it an honest try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The balls were lighter than I expected. They almost tasted like lighter matzah balls. Not bad.
aloo gobi: I am consistently only mildly enthused by this dish and this experience was no different. I think my lack of passion for aloo gobi can be attributed to the dish's dryness, and it's supposed to be dry. It's okay, it's my fault, not India Palace's, or the fault of anyplace else I've tried this dish.
mushroom chicken: What a treat! Juicy chicken in a tangy sauce with mushrooms! I've seen this dish with only mushrooms in the past. I think chicken was the missing link in my book. Either mushrooms alone don't cut the mustard, or this place knows how to properly flavor a mushroom curry. I'd say it's the latter.
chicken tikka masala: This was exactly the way I remember it being in Nashua: AMAZING. Bright red sauce that's both sweet and tangy at the same time. Juicy, pre-marinated chicken. India palace still is the best when it comes to this dish.
tandoori chicken: I've tasted moister tandoori chicken in my visits. That said, this tandoori chicken was good, but nothing to write home about.
Desserts:
laddu: This was my first time ever seeing this dessert. They looked and tasted like balls of sugar and dough. Their neon orange color made them more eye-catching than flavorful. As far as flavor goes, they just taste like...sweet. No real other flavor here.
mango pudding: This, I'm pretty sure, is the same dessert they serve at the Nashua location. It has a very sweet, creamy flavor. It reminds me of "champagne" flavored Jelly Bellys. I like the added touch of assorted fruit chunks.
paysam: Speaking of assorted fruit chunks, I was pleasantly stunned to find them in this dessert which I've never seen before. I love vermicelli in sweet cream. This dessert is a variation on the classic kheer. under this name, I usually witness it served warm and with noodles, instead of rice.
Price: $10.09 (weekday. including MA tax)
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
raitha: Once again, I could not decipher and distinct deviations in flavor from how this spiced yogurt always tastes.
onion: n/a. It looked like what they serve in Nashua.
mint: n/a
tamarind: I'm having a hard time recalling how the tamarind chutney tasted in Nashua. Their chutney was quite good, but a little on the sweet side. It must be similar because I mentioned the tamarind chutney having the same flavor characteristics.
(left to right: empty bowl of seaweed salad?, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, and salad fixings at top)
Salad: Their salad section, unlike their Nashua counterparts, had the fixings (iceberg lettuce, carrot, red onion, green chili, and lemon wedges, separated out, so that one could fix at their own risk. I find this arrangement optimal for concocting the perfect salad to begin my Indian feast. I would also like to note that there was an empty bowl (you can see it in the picture) that appeared to have contained seaweed salad. If it was, in fact, seaweed salad, I'm sad to have missed out.
Soup:
lentil soup: It appeared to be an assortment of lentils and mixed vegetables in a spicy broth. I didn't try it.
Bread:
naan/garlic naan: Just like their Nashua location, they make their naan bread available in a pan up at the buffet. I am therefore to take as much or little naan as I like, so long as they keep it adequately stocked. Also like the Nashua India Palace, they have both regular and garlic naan available. It did seem, though, that their naan was thinner then that of their Nashua location and, perhaps, the thinnest I've seen. This isn't too much of an issue, it still tasted pretty good.
Appetizer:
onion pakora: Their pakoras had an interesting batter. it was more orange and bready than what I'm used to for pakora batter. I prefer the crispier, flakier crust.
Entrees:
(clockwise from top left: malai kofta, aloo gobi, mushroom chicken, and saag chana)
(clockwise from top left: aloo gobi, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and mushroom chicken)
dal makhani: Their dal was simultaneously creamier, sweeter, and tangy-er than what I'm used to tasting.
saag chana: I'm happy to finally see this dish at a buffet. This dish combines my love for chickpeas with my love for creamy saag. This particular dish was so sweet and creamy, its flavor resembled malted milk. I was thrown off at first, but I found the more I tasted, the more I enjoyed it.
malai kofta: I've been wary of this dish in the past because it seemed so heavy: battered dumplings in a sweet, yellow cream sauce, similar to that of vegetable korma. Today I finally bit the bullet and gave it an honest try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The balls were lighter than I expected. They almost tasted like lighter matzah balls. Not bad.
aloo gobi: I am consistently only mildly enthused by this dish and this experience was no different. I think my lack of passion for aloo gobi can be attributed to the dish's dryness, and it's supposed to be dry. It's okay, it's my fault, not India Palace's, or the fault of anyplace else I've tried this dish.
mushroom chicken: What a treat! Juicy chicken in a tangy sauce with mushrooms! I've seen this dish with only mushrooms in the past. I think chicken was the missing link in my book. Either mushrooms alone don't cut the mustard, or this place knows how to properly flavor a mushroom curry. I'd say it's the latter.
chicken tikka masala: This was exactly the way I remember it being in Nashua: AMAZING. Bright red sauce that's both sweet and tangy at the same time. Juicy, pre-marinated chicken. India palace still is the best when it comes to this dish.
tandoori chicken: I've tasted moister tandoori chicken in my visits. That said, this tandoori chicken was good, but nothing to write home about.
Desserts:
laddu: This was my first time ever seeing this dessert. They looked and tasted like balls of sugar and dough. Their neon orange color made them more eye-catching than flavorful. As far as flavor goes, they just taste like...sweet. No real other flavor here.
mango pudding: This, I'm pretty sure, is the same dessert they serve at the Nashua location. It has a very sweet, creamy flavor. It reminds me of "champagne" flavored Jelly Bellys. I like the added touch of assorted fruit chunks.
paysam: Speaking of assorted fruit chunks, I was pleasantly stunned to find them in this dessert which I've never seen before. I love vermicelli in sweet cream. This dessert is a variation on the classic kheer. under this name, I usually witness it served warm and with noodles, instead of rice.
Price: $10.09 (weekday. including MA tax)
Final Score: 4.8/5 (Better than Nashua)
I find it a pleasant coincidence that the past three buffets I've been to have all been excellent quality and worthy of "A" range scores (all 4.8's to be exact). Overall, this location surpasses that of Nashua in quality. They had a neater salad section. I liked their setup better too. In Nashua, one must walk into a separate room to access the buffet. At this location, the buffet line is alot closer to the dining room, which is also set up better. I hated having to squeeze in between tables on my way up to the Nashua buffet. They also had one more desert than did Nashua. The only questionable feature of Chelmsford was their naan quality. it seemed thinner and doughier than Nashua's naan, which was oily and crispy. Oh well, I declare Chelmsford the better location
Monday, May 3, 2010
Bombay Mahal, Waltham, MA
Bombay Mahal Restaurant458 Moody St., Waltham, MA
For this post, we're back to a good, ol' fashioned Boston area Indian Buffet review, no far away specials, no two-part specials, etc. On another note, I'm beginning to worry and become relieved at the same time that my cravings for Indian food are weakening. I'm worried because it could hinder the thoroughness of my perception of the flavor of the buffet offerings. I'm relieved because I think it's unhealthy (mentally) to consistantly crave the same type of food. While Indian food does contain a lot of zesty spices, variety is the true spice of life... On to our perusals!
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
(top to bottom of row, then left to right: pickle, raitha, mango chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, kheer, salad)
pickle: I didn't try it, but one of my friends did and it made him cringe, just as I have when trying this item in the past. I'm guessing it's from the salty/lemony flavor that attacks the taste buds.
raitha: I didn't notice anything different from the usual tangy, yogurty taste it always has, everywhere I go.
mango: n/a
mint: n/a
tamarind: I only got to try a little bit of this because there was no small cup or ramekin for me put it in for dipping purposes. They insisted that the small bowls were for desert ONLY. I remember it being sweet. Other than that, I didn't get much of the flavor because it started mixing with the other curries on my plate :( Partly my fault for being clumsy in the face of sauce-adversity, and partly theirs for putting me in the face of sauce-versity.
Salad: It was pre-mixed with lemon wedges, carrot, and green bell pepper slice over iceberg lettuce. It was much like my other encounters with this method of salad presentation, which make up the majority of what I've witnessed in my Indian buffet adventures. Nothing to discredit them for here, only good.
Bread:
naan: They made the naan available on the buffet line. I've missed this method of obtaining naan. I do love to "naan at my own risk". as far as the quality goes, it wasn't great but definitely didn't suck. It was soft and dry; definitely one of the less flavorful naans I've tasted.
Appetizer:
(clockwise from bottom left (green): saag paneer, chana kabuli, pakora, basmati rice, veg. basmati rice, naan)
pakora: This would be the second review in a row where I've experienced huge, spinachy pakoras and I couldn't be more happy. I think these ones were even larger than those at Rasoi. They had a good crisp and were savory as hell; nothing bad to say about these.
Entrees:
(clockwise from bottom left: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, "best mushroom's", chicken chilli)
vegetable rice: Ah, a rare encounter with a buffet that has two types of rice, plain and augmented with a vegetable/fruit flavoring. The vegetable used in this rice was peas. This was especially interesting because the only rice offered in past buffet experiences contained peas. This rice just contained more than usual.
saag paneer: It was delicious. Perfect consistency: not to think or thin. It was significantly creamy, but unlike Diva, this saag paneer was still packed with sweet, sweet flavor.
chana kabuli: This was essentially chana masala/chole with bits of potato. It tasted notably buttery. It was also a good mix of sweet and spicy.
baignan bartha: As much as I don't care for eggplant, this dish was quite nice to my tastebuds. The sauce was sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same time, which is why I fell in love with Indian cuisine in the first place.
veg. jalfrezi: n/a. I fucked up and got too full off of the saag paneer, chana kabuli, and chicken tikka masala. I never ended up trying this dish or the grammatically incorrect "best mushrooms".
"best mushroom's": n/a, though I've yet to be impressed with Indian mushroom dishes.
chicken chilli: This dish consisted of seemingly tandoori grilled boneless chicken in a sauce that included roasted peppers, onions, tomato, and Indian spices. It almost reminded me of kadai paneer, except with chicken, instead of Indian cheese cubes. I like it, but I think, in general, it's not my favorite dish. I'm more of a sucker for sweeter, creamier curries.
chicken tikka masala: It was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy, and pre-marinated. The sauce was simultaneously creamy and tangy. One small criticism of this fine-tasting item was that the sauce was slightly thin for my liking. Something I might overlook depending on my mood.
tandoori chicken: This dish doesn't stand out in my mind as having any notably good or bad characteristics. I believe it was adequately spiced, juicy, and smokey.
Dessert:
kheer: It was on the thicker side and tasted of sweet cream. It was smooth and had a subtle sweetness that I enjoyed.
Price: $10.08 (weekday w/ MA meals tax) Average.
Final Score: 4.8/5
They did a damn goo djob on most of their offerings. Also contributing to their high score was the decent size of the buffet. I really wish they had bows that could've been used for salad chutney though. Basically we're looking at (mostly) North Indian cuisine done pretty damn well.
raitha: I didn't notice anything different from the usual tangy, yogurty taste it always has, everywhere I go.
mango: n/a
mint: n/a
tamarind: I only got to try a little bit of this because there was no small cup or ramekin for me put it in for dipping purposes. They insisted that the small bowls were for desert ONLY. I remember it being sweet. Other than that, I didn't get much of the flavor because it started mixing with the other curries on my plate :( Partly my fault for being clumsy in the face of sauce-adversity, and partly theirs for putting me in the face of sauce-versity.
Salad: It was pre-mixed with lemon wedges, carrot, and green bell pepper slice over iceberg lettuce. It was much like my other encounters with this method of salad presentation, which make up the majority of what I've witnessed in my Indian buffet adventures. Nothing to discredit them for here, only good.
Bread:
naan: They made the naan available on the buffet line. I've missed this method of obtaining naan. I do love to "naan at my own risk". as far as the quality goes, it wasn't great but definitely didn't suck. It was soft and dry; definitely one of the less flavorful naans I've tasted.
Appetizer:
(clockwise from bottom left (green): saag paneer, chana kabuli, pakora, basmati rice, veg. basmati rice, naan)
pakora: This would be the second review in a row where I've experienced huge, spinachy pakoras and I couldn't be more happy. I think these ones were even larger than those at Rasoi. They had a good crisp and were savory as hell; nothing bad to say about these.
Entrees:
(clockwise from bottom left: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, "best mushroom's", chicken chilli)
vegetable rice: Ah, a rare encounter with a buffet that has two types of rice, plain and augmented with a vegetable/fruit flavoring. The vegetable used in this rice was peas. This was especially interesting because the only rice offered in past buffet experiences contained peas. This rice just contained more than usual.
saag paneer: It was delicious. Perfect consistency: not to think or thin. It was significantly creamy, but unlike Diva, this saag paneer was still packed with sweet, sweet flavor.
chana kabuli: This was essentially chana masala/chole with bits of potato. It tasted notably buttery. It was also a good mix of sweet and spicy.
baignan bartha: As much as I don't care for eggplant, this dish was quite nice to my tastebuds. The sauce was sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same time, which is why I fell in love with Indian cuisine in the first place.
veg. jalfrezi: n/a. I fucked up and got too full off of the saag paneer, chana kabuli, and chicken tikka masala. I never ended up trying this dish or the grammatically incorrect "best mushrooms".
"best mushroom's": n/a, though I've yet to be impressed with Indian mushroom dishes.
chicken chilli: This dish consisted of seemingly tandoori grilled boneless chicken in a sauce that included roasted peppers, onions, tomato, and Indian spices. It almost reminded me of kadai paneer, except with chicken, instead of Indian cheese cubes. I like it, but I think, in general, it's not my favorite dish. I'm more of a sucker for sweeter, creamier curries.
chicken tikka masala: It was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy, and pre-marinated. The sauce was simultaneously creamy and tangy. One small criticism of this fine-tasting item was that the sauce was slightly thin for my liking. Something I might overlook depending on my mood.
tandoori chicken: This dish doesn't stand out in my mind as having any notably good or bad characteristics. I believe it was adequately spiced, juicy, and smokey.
Dessert:
kheer: It was on the thicker side and tasted of sweet cream. It was smooth and had a subtle sweetness that I enjoyed.
Price: $10.08 (weekday w/ MA meals tax) Average.
Final Score: 4.8/5
They did a damn goo djob on most of their offerings. Also contributing to their high score was the decent size of the buffet. I really wish they had bows that could've been used for salad chutney though. Basically we're looking at (mostly) North Indian cuisine done pretty damn well.
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